Volunteer Deb Reardon dies

Posted by Rich Schwartzman on October 13, 2022

Longtime Chadds Ford Township volunteer Deb Reardon died Tuesday, Oct 11. She had been fighting cancer for about six years. She was 74.

Reardon spent about 20 years with the Chadds Ford Open Space Committee. She’s credited with helping to create the township’s first fee-in-lieu ordinance to generate open space funds and wrote the grant that helped create the Harvey Run Trail.

Chadds Ford Republican Party leader Mary Kot said of Reardon, “Debbie was a very special person, a close and dear friend, and a brilliant thinker. She loved life and faced her illness with great courage and positivity. She was a very valuable member of the Chadds Ford Republican Party and served as secretary for more than 10 years. She will be sorely missed."

Rob King, another longtime activist with the township and a new member of the Open Space Committee, said, “I’m grateful for her determination in spearheading open space and getting the Harvey Run Trail open. I was just an outside contractor [on the trail project], but she was a pleasure to work with.”

Bob Reardon, Deb’s husband, and their two adult children were with her when she died at about 8:30 in the evening.

Chadds Ford supervisors also acknowledged Reardon’s death during their Oct. 12 meeting.

Supervisor Frank Murphy said he couldn’t think of “a more dedicated volunteer.”

Chairman Samantha Reiner recalled how Reardon followed her as chairman of the Open Space Committee and how she led the fight for the Harvey Run Trail, calling her “A beloved resident with a commanding presence.”

Vice chairman Noelle Barbone said Reardon was the one who got her interested in volunteering, which led to Barbone being elected to the Board of Supervisors.

“I looked up to her. She was a good role model. I admired her dedication to the township.”

Deb Reardon is survived by Bob Reardon, her husband of 40 years, and her two adult children, Brad and Alexandra.

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.