February 16, 2022 - ChaddsFordLive.com

Andrew Joseph O’Sullivan of Kennett Square

Andrew Joseph O’Sullivan, 81, died Saturday, Feb. 12, at his home in Kennett Square, where he lived for a short time.

Born August 12, 1940, in Brooklyn N.Y., Andy was the son of the late Patrick and Annie (Lohan) O’Sullivan. He grew up in Manhattan and graduated from St. Ann’s Academy/Archbishop Malloy High School, he then attended Pratt University and Columbia University, before receiving his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture and civil engineering from the Newark College of Engineering (now New Jersey Institute of Technology).

Andy was the owner for more than 40 years of the architectural firm of A.J. O’Sullivan, P.A. where he specialized in corporate, municipal and residential construction projects. He also was the president of Enviro Resources in Flemington N.J. One of his proudest achievements was the work completed on the design of the Hunterdon County Veterans Memorial on Main Street in Flemington.

Andy was very involved in the community and was a former member and past president of the Flemington Rotary Club, a former member of the Lexington Rotary Club, a member of the Honorary Civil Engineering Fraternity Chi Epsilon, as well as the Rockbridge County Virginia Photography Club, and a Member of Hiking Club of Lexington Newcomers in Virginia. Andy moved to Cape May N.J. after his retirement in 2000 to own and operate with his wife, Carrie, the Cape May Day Spa and Victorian Lace Inn. Later, the couple moved to Lexington. Va. for many years before the move to Kennett Square in 2021.

In his spare time, Andy enjoyed being a sculptor, painting, carving and photography, as well as reading, gardening, boating, and camping. However, his most cherished time was spending time with his family, especially his beloved grandchildren. The motto that he lived by until the end of his days said it all…”I can choose to die each day, or I can choose to live each day and die once.”

In addition to his parents, Andy was predeceased by his daughter, Lorraine O’Sullivan in 1992. He is survived by his wife, Carrie (Schultz) O’ Sullivan, his four children, and their spouses, Brian and Lisa O’Sullivan of Arlington, Mass., Kevin and Kate O’Sullivan of Spring Grove Ill., Karen and Brian Shevitz of Wilmette Ill., and Robert and Lorie O’Sullivan of Chadds Ford, as well as his nine grandchildren, Hannah Streuver, Maggie O’Sullivan, Hailey Shevitz, Claudia Shevitz, Adelaide Shevitz, Charlie O’Sullivan, Chase O’Sullivan, Van O’Sullivan, and Hudson O’Sullivan, and his brother, Neil O’Sullivan of Fort Myers Fla.

A Celebration of Life will take place on Friday, Feb. 18, from 3 to 6 p.m. at The Gables at Chadds Ford, 423 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, PA 19317. Interment in Prospect Hill Cemetery in Flemington, N.J. will take place privately under the direction of Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105 or to the NJIT Office of Development & Alumni Relations, Eberhardt Hall, 323 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, University Heights, Newark, NJ 07102-1982. For further information or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.holcombefisher.com. Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home 147 Main St. Flemington NJ 08822 908.782.4343

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ura May Bramble of Lincoln University

Obituaries

Laura May Bramble, 101, of Lincoln University, died Friday, Feb. 11, at her residence. She was the wife of Robert B. Bramble who died in 1999, and with whom she shared 55 years of marriage.

Born in Springfield, she was the daughter of the late William Fred Bachofer and the late Ida Snyder Bachofer.

Mrs. Bramble was the owner/operator of the Kennett Laboratory in Kennett Square for many years.

She was a member of the Soroptimist Club in Kennett Square, the American Association of Bioanalysts, and was in the Worlds Who’s Who of Women in November 1979.

She enjoyed traveling to Bermuda, playing golf, playing cards, especially pinochle, helping rescue cats, and being with her family and friends.

Mrs. Bramble is survived by two sons, Robert Wayne Bramble and his wife Harriet of Walhalla, N.D. and Larry B. Bramble and his wife Robin of Lincoln University; four grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson.

She was predeceased by one brother, Henry Bachofer.

You are invited to visit with her family and friends from 10 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 23, at the Foulk Funeral Home of West Grove, 200 Rose Hill Road, West Grove. Her Memorial service will follow at 11. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, a contribution may be made to Alley Cat Allies, P.O. Box 98179, Washington DC 20077-8179, or to the West Grove Fire Company Ambulance, P.O. Box 242, West Grove, PA 19390-0242

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Op/Ed: Above the law

Opinion

On Dec. 10, 2021, in Corman v. Beam, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court declared that the mandatory mask order issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Health was void ab initio, meaning it was unenforceable from the moment it was issued in August 2021. In so holding, the court determined that the department did not have the legal authority to mandate masking in public schools.

The Court specifically noted that “it is not our prerogative to substitute our views for those of the policy-making branches of our Commonwealth’s government….” In other words, the Court made it perfectly clear that absent a valid and enforceable emergency order (which is not present here), only the General Assembly, or an executive branch agency acting with clear authority, can issue and enforce a mandatory masking law.

A school district is a municipal government entity. It is not a legislative body or an executive branch agency. In the hierarchy of governmental bodies, school districts are at the bottom. That means that a school district may only exercise the legal authority expressly granted to it by the General Assembly, in this case, pursuant to the Public School Code of 1949. Unless a school district can clearly and unambiguously identify the source of its legal authority it may not act. If a school district attempts to act without legal authority, residents have no obligation to follow any such unlawful policies.

Following the Supreme Court’s decision in Corman, I asked the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District board to publicly disclose and explain the source of its purported legal authority to continue to enforce its masking policy. The district has not responded. The only reasonable inference one can draw from the district’s silence on this matter is that it concedes that it does not have the legal authority to do what it is doing. What is most egregious is that our elected school board members know they do not have the legal authority to enforce the policy, but they are doing it anyway.

On Monday, Feb. 14, parents from across the district publicly shared deeply personal accounts of the damage the district’s policies are causing their children. These parents reported severe cases of anxiety, depression, and learning difficulties. Several parents reported that their children have been bullied by students, staff, and even school administrators for “failure to properly mask.” One parent reported that she had to seek emergency medical attention for her young daughter due to a debilitating panic attack following a coughing fit. Her daughter was terrified because she was told in school that she is “at risk” because she only wears one mask.

Another parent explained that her child has developed a facial tic caused by prolonged masking. These reports of intentional abuse of children by school officials would shock the conscience of any just and humane society.

Nevertheless, the school board defiantly continues to enforce its unlawful masking policy. In essence, even though they lack the actual legal authority to do so, the members of the school board have determined that their personal views on masks carry more weight than the rule of law. They have decided, without any legal authority, that continuing to force children to mask against the will of their parents is appropriate, even if doing so means that some of those children will suffer from life-altering psychological and physical trauma.

In a Republic, the rule of law either means everything or it means nothing. When government actors willfully violate the law, our entire system of government is at risk. If elected officials are permitted to determine for themselves whether to follow or ignore the law, we can no longer trust the government. This is not a partisan political issue. This issue represents a fundamental question concerning the limits of government, in which we all have a vested interest.

The school board’s unlawful actions set an incredibly dangerous precedent. If the district honestly believes it has the legal authority to compel masking (even without parental consent), then it has a duty to unambiguously cite the source of its purported authority. The fact that it cannot or will not do so tells us everything we need to know.

By failing to clearly explain the source of its authority the district and every elected school board member have declared themselves to be above the law. At some point, citizens in this community must consider the implications of tolerating intentionally unlawful behavior by our elected officials.

Chad Williams
Birmingham Township

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Frank A. Rybinski Jr. of Oxford

Obituaries

Mr. Frank A. Rybinski Jr., 84, of Oxford, died Friday, Feb. 11, at Twin Pines Health Care Center, West Grove, joining his beloved wife Florence “Pat” (Hamilton) Rybinski in Heaven. Born on Feb. 19, 1937, in Wilmington, he was the son of the late Frank A. and Helen (Ruszkowski) Rybinski.

Frank graduated from Wilmington High School in the class of 1955. He advanced his education earning a degree from the University of Delaware in accounting. His career with Hercules, Inc. in Wilmington, spanned for almost 40 years, retiring in the mid-1990s. Frank, an avid Phillies Fan, was a season ticket holder for many years with the Philadelphia Phillies. Frank and his wife, Pat, enjoyed traveling to different ballparks around the county to watch baseball games as well as attend Phillies Spring training in Florida. He was a big movie buff and especially enjoyed western movies in his youth. He was a good conversationalist, a good listener, and had a great sense of humor. Most of all, he was a supportive and loving husband, father, grandfather, and brother.

Frank is survived by his son Craig Rybinski (Margaret) and daughter Stephanie Crecco (Keith), grandchildren Bradley Rybinski (Vianey), Aidan Crecco, and Megan Crecco and his brother, Richard Rybinski.

All services will be private. Arrangements are by the Kuzo Funeral Home, Kennett Square; please visit Frank’s online memorial by going to www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com

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Harry F. Zunino Sr.

Obituaries

Mr. Harry F. Zunino Sr., 90, died Monday, Feb. 14, at his residence. He was the loving husband for over 61 years of Eddie (Teel) Zunino. Born on Dec. 21, 1931, in New Garden Township, he was the son of the late Augusto J. and Alfonsina (Geranio) Zunino.

Harry and his brother Joseph owned and operated Zunino Brothers Mushrooms in Toughkenamon for over 30 years. He was a member of St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother Catholic Church in Avondale where he was an usher and helped clean the church on Saturdays. He loved cooking his special sausage, peppers, and onions for his friends and family and taking care of his yard and home. Most of all, he loved his family, especially his grandchildren.

In addition to his wife Eddie, Harry is survived by his children, Harry ‘Gus’ Zunino (Amy), Andrew S. Zunino and Nancy Zunino McGready (Kevin), grandchildren John, Katie and Michael Zunino, and brother Anthony Zunino (Kay). In addition to his parents, Harry is preceded in death by his siblings Anna Marrone (Albert), Joe Zunino (Jeannie), Lena Lovisa (Frank), and Teresa Waller (Pat).

Friends will be received on Monday, Feb. 21, from 9:30 – 11 a.m. at St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother Catholic Church, 8910 Gap Newport Pike, Avondale, PA 19311 where a Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11. The interment will follow at St. Patrick Cemetery, Kennett Square. Arrangements by the Kuzo Funeral Home; please visit Harry’s online memorial by going to www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to the Avondale Fire Company and EMTs.