ALLENTOWN, Pa. — John Kalynych, the former director of Lehigh County Emergency Management (LCEM), died Sunday at the age of 50.
LCEM confirmed Kalynych’s death in a Facebook post on Sunday afternoon, writing that he was “a wealth of knowledge in the leadership, rescue, and hazmat (hazardous materials) community, and was a friend and confidant to many.”
During his career, Kalynych served as LCEM’s director, the coordinator/chief of Lehigh County Special Operations, deputy chief for Catasauqua fire and was a current safety officer for Lower Saucon Fire Rescue. Most recently, he worked with the Municipal Emergency Response Team of the Lehigh County District Attorney’s office, according to LCEM’s Facebook post.
Many people took to social media to honor and remember him. Dozens of vehicles took part in a procession held Sunday.
Kalynych’s cause of death has not yet been revealed.
