Family and colleagues of Ed “Pookie” Kreeger gathered last week at Jardel Recreation Center to honor the life of a man who all agree went above and beyond in his job with the city Department of Parks and Recreation.
Kreeger’s parents, brother, sister-in-law, nephew and niece joined City Councilman Anthony Phillips, Parks and Recreation Commissioner Susan Slawson and about 100 Parks and Rec employees for the dedication of a memorial bench and a kousa dogwood tree at Jardel.
The bench and tree are located just inside the fence on the St. Vincent Street side of the rec center, across the street from where Kreeger lived.
Kreeger, 46, died in March. He was a graduate of W.B. Saul High School who began his career with the city in 1994 as a vocational intern (the city’s Department of Recreation and Fairmount Park Commission merged in 2009).
Over the years, he rose up the ranks to become a facilities caretaker, crew chief, supervisor and operations manager.
“Pookie cared deeply about our parks and recreation centers,” Slawson said.
Slawson, who was recreation commissioner at the time of the 2009 merger, said Kreeger took particular care of picnic areas, ballfields, trails, facilities and swimming pools, led snow removal efforts and supported volunteer cleanups.
“The list goes on,” she said.
Kreeger was known to do the job right, as the guy who was the first one to report to work and the last to leave, to answer his phone off hours and even work on days off. He is greatly missed.
The bench is inscribed with the words, “A dedicated Parks & Recreation Operations Manager and beloved friend to all.”
“We were extremely fortunate to have him as part of our lives,” Slawson said. “He’ll always be a part of Parks and Recreation.”
Family members on hand were Kreeger’s parents, Elaine and Edward; brother Kevin; sister-in-law Ambyre; nephew Killian; and niece AnnaMae.
Then there was the large turnout of his Parks and Rec family.
“It just shows how much Ed was loved,” said Sue Buck, deputy commissioner of operations. “He meant so much to us.”
Ruffian Tittmann, executive director of Friends of Wissahickon, recalls her group looking for assistance from the city. Buck told her, “I’m sending you my best guy,” referring to Kreeger.
John Raisch, of the Friends of the Cresheim Trail, recalled Kreeger’s enthusiasm as they worked to extend the trail at the site of an old Pennsylvania Railroad line. The trail extension opened on March 16, the day Kreeger died.
Stephanie Phillips, executive director of Riverfront North Partnership, said Kreeger made parks welcoming and safe.
“He was a special person that was gone too soon,” she said.
Phillips presented a citation in Kreeger’s memory to his family.
“Pookie must have been very, very special,” Phillips said as he looked at all the Parks and Rec staff on hand. ••
