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Kevin Porter gives Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins OT win vs. Hershey

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State officials tout life-saving drug in visit to Wilkes-Barre

<p>Albert Boscov, who played a vital role in the revival of downtown Wilkes-Barre, died Friday in Reading.</p><p>According to a press release from Esta Neugroschel, vice present of public relations for Boscov&#8217;s Department Stores, the former chairman and founder of the chain of department stores that bear his name died Friday from pancreatic cancer.</p><p>Boscov announced he had late-stage cancer on <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/local/630872/albert-boscov-tells-employees-he-has-late-stage-cancer" target="_blank">Feb. 1 by sending out a memo</a> to his employees.</p><p>&#8220;I have pancreatic cancer and there is no cure. I don&#8217;t have a lot of time,&#8221; Boscov said in the letter.</p><p>According to the Boscov.com website, the largest family-owned department store chain in the nation has 7,500 employees with 25 stores in Pennsylvania and 25 other stores throughout New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Delaware, Connecticut and Ohio.</p><p>Locally, Boscov&#8217;s Department Store has locations in downtown Wilkes-Barre, Scranton and Hazleton. The department store has been in Wilkes-Barre for 37 years. Last year, the Wilkes-Barre store <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/opinion/632026/our-view-we-all-owe-al-boscov-a-thank-you" target="_blank">underwent a $2.5 million overhaul</a>.</p><p>&#8220;Albert Boscov was truly one of the giants in the retail industry,&#8221; Jim Boscov, Boscov&#8217;s chief executive officer, said. &#8220;He was a man of vision and passion, and he had a profound influence on the retail business community and the community at large. We are committed to continue on the strong foundation he has created and to carry on in the spirit and philosophy he&#8217;s instilled. Building on his legacy we will remain the largest family-owned department store in the country.&#8221;</p><p>Wico van Genderen, president of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce, was quick to credit Boscov for the impact he&#8217;s had on the city&#8217;s downtown.</p><p>&#8220;Al has been a great steward for the business, retail, entertainment, foot traffic and economic renaissance of the downtown,&#8221; van Genderen said last week.</p><p>Van Genderen also complimented Boscov&#8217;s commitment and passion for the area. He could not be reached Friday night.</p><p>Will Beekman, executive director of the F.M. Kirby Center, agreed with van Genderen&#8217;s assesment, calling Boscov a &#8220;savior.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;He would be the first to deflect the credit and call it a community effort, which is very true, but he was the leader of that effort, and that effort, some 30 years ago, saved our building and turned a vacant, rundown movie theater into a beautiful, vibrant performing arts center,&#8221; Beekman said via email Friday night.</p><p>Boscov purchased the former &#8220;Fowler, Dick &amp; Walker &#8212; The Boston Store&#8221; on South Main Street in Wilkes-Barre in 1980 as the city was struggling to rebound from the Agnes Flood.</p><p>He changed the name of the store to &#8220;Boscov&#8217;s&#8221; and was highly visible in promoting his new location. He used &#8220;Did you Boscov today?&#8221; and &#8220;Albie Award&#8221; promotions to try to drive business in the downtown store.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_boscov05-cmyk-11.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Boscov </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_boscov05-cmyk-11.jpg</photo0><caption0>Boscov </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_BoscovLeighton-4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Former Wilkes-Barre mayor Tom Leighton hugs Boscov during a breakfast gathering at Genetti&#8217;s in Wilkes-Barre in 2009. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_BoscovLeighton-4.jpg</photo1><caption1>Former Wilkes-Barre mayor Tom Leighton hugs Boscov during a breakfast gathering at Genetti&#8217;s in Wilkes-Barre in 2009. </caption1><photoCredit1>Times Leader file photo </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_Al-Boscov2-4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Al Boscov walks through his downtown Wilkes-Barre store in 2014. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_Al-Boscov2-4.jpg</photo2><caption2>Al Boscov walks through his downtown Wilkes-Barre store in 2014. </caption2><photoCredit2>Times Leader file photo </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Melanie Mizenko</p><p>mmizenko@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Melanie Mizenko at 570-991-6116 or on Twitter @TL_MMizenko.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Cancer claims business icon Al Boscov, 87