BILL O ' BOYLE boboyle@timesleader.com
KINGSTON
– Bernie Dubaskas cried at the end of his final run Friday afternoon.
Dubaskas
traversed the streets and towns of run No. 12 for the final time – bringing an
emotional end to a 40-year career as a bus driver for the Luzerne County
Transportation Authority.
The
63-year-old mayor of Edwardsville ended his bus driving days with an unblemished
record.
After
making his last trip through Kingston, Edwardsville, Larksville and Plymouth,
Dubaskas – or “Ace” as he is known – pulled the bus onto Public Square and his
final passengers wished him luck as they exited.
But
the bus wasn’t empty. About 25 friends and relatives joined him on his last
drive to the LCTA terminal in Kingston – including agency Executive Director
Stanley Strellish and Operations Manager Robb Henderson.
Dubaskas,
a father of four and grandfather of eight, started carting riders from the West
Side to Wilkes-Barre’s Public Square in 1968.
He
plans to spend time on fishing trips and at family events and says he will miss
the people he met along the way.
“A
lot of my riders have passed away,” Dubaskas said. “In fact, a lady who rode my
bus for years died in November and that really made me think maybe it was time
for me to give it up.”
Strellish,
who has headed the LCTA for four years, said he pulled Dubaskas’ personnel file
to review and was amazed at what he saw – or didn’t see.
“There
was nothing bad in the file,” Strellish said. “No complaints, phone messages,
nothing negative at all. Everything in there is positive.”
Strellish
said Dubaskas was once named Bus Driver of the Year and came in to help during
times of crisis several times, like in 1972 when the flood hit.
“He
donated his time to man the phones or do whatever was asked,” Strellish said.
“He is a tough guy to lose; it’s impossible to replace a guy like Bernie.”
Coco
Johnson of Kingston, who has been riding with Dubaskas for two years, said he
made the bus rides enjoyable; she gave him a retirement card.
“He’s
a great guy,” Johnson said. “He always talked to the kids and gave them snacks.
I’ll miss him.”
Pauline
Malenovitch of Larksville has known Dubaskas for three years. “Now I don’t have
anybody to give my baked goods to,” she said.
Don
Kennedy, who was on the final run with his 11-year-old son Ian, described
Dubaskas as “courteous, compassionate and helpful.” He said he has been riding
buses since he was 10.
“Bernie
and Ron (Pokrinchak) have driven me around for more than 20 years,” Kennedy
said. “They are always on time and they made the time go faster. Not too many
people can say they developed a rapport with their bus driver, but these guys
are great.”
Pokrinchak,
62, ended his LCTA career Friday – after 35 years of service.
Bill
Roberts, 96, of Hanover Township, takes advantage of LCTA’s free pass program
for people over 65. He said he rides the county buses every day because he
likes to talk to people.
“Most
of my friends are either in nursing homes or in the ground,” Roberts said. “I
always kid Bernie and the other drivers that I’ll drive if they want to take a
break.”
Dubaskas’
wife Gerri, joined her daughter Sherri and sons Brian and Bernie and their
families on the bus. Their son, Chris, couldn’t make it.
“I
still love the job,” Dubaskas said. “It’s been great for me and my family. We
bought a home, raised our kids and never had to worry.”
Dubaskas
has seen many changes in the last four decades – changes in the buses he’s
driven, the people he’s served and the landscape of his routes.
“When
I started, a lot of working class people rode my bus,” Dubaskas said. “They
worked in the shoe factories and dress factories. Today is different. Most of my
riders are senior citizens and retirees.”
He
is proud that he has never had a “chargeable accident” during his career.
“I’ve
learned so much about people,” Dubaskas said. “We all have the same problems;
we’re all God’s children.”
Dubaskas
has accumulated many recipes from customers, including the best sweet potato
pie he has ever tasted. He plans to spend most of his time with his
grandchildren, who, he says, think he’s the mayor of New York City – not
Edwardsville.
His
wife said she hopes he sleeps a little later in the morning and spends a lot
more time at the mayor’s office.
“I
may be sending him back to the LCTA real soon,” she joked.