Jeff Landy, a driving force in Mt. Pleasant Borough, dies at 65

Jeff Landy brought a little piece of Disney to Mt. Pleasant Borough.

As one of the driving forces behind the Mt. Pleasant Glass & Ethnic Festival, he was always looking toward the entertainment giant and magical amusement park for inspiration to make his town’s celebration better than the previous year’s.

“That’s what he wanted, just like Walt Disney,” said his daughter, Kelsey Beckas of Hempfield. “My dad wanted people to come to that festival and enjoy it, be immersed in that festival.”

The three-day event celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2022. This September will mark the first without Landy, 65.

He died Thursday, May 4, 2023, after complications related to a liver transplant.

Landy was well known as the Mt. Pleasant Borough manager and organizer of the glass festival, which he founded with friend Jerry Lucia, who served as fire chief and mayor before his death in December 2021.

Beckas said she intends to help her dad’s legacy with the festival live on.

A borough native, Landy had been Mt. Pleasant’s manager since 2006. He was planning to get back to work soon after recovering from a liver transplant on Dec. 29, his daughter said. He had sought a living donor after being diagnosed with liver cancer and cirrhosis of the liver not related to alcohol use in 2022, but ultimately received a cadaver organ.

“He was doing borough work on the phone,” Beckas said. “He was still in the hospital and he was answering questions.”

That level of dedication has been evident throughout his time working with the borough, said Mayor Diane Bailey.

“He could see things, and he could imagine things. And when he thought it was something that he really thought would benefit the community, he would roll up his sleeves and dig right in,” she said.

Landy could be a “tough cookie,” Bailey said, but his goal was always to improve the borough. And if it meant more discussions to get fellow leaders on board, he wouldn’t hesitate to do that, she said.

He created an annual seminar among area communities during which leaders would gather and hear from speakers.

Landy was the driving force behind naming the borough’s campus after Lucia before Lucia’s death.

He was an idea man, Bailey and Beckas agreed. Landy focused on growth and betterment of the borough, while protecting it, keeping it up to date, preserving tradition and offering leadership. He did a lot for the community, as well as his family.

“I just want everybody to know that I am incredibly proud of him,” Beckas said. “He accomplished so much because of his leadership skills. I look up to him.”

Landy loved Disney, taking more than 35 trips to the amusement park with his daughter and, later, her family. Beckas called it a lifestyle for him, a joy they ultimately shared.

“That was my dad’s thing,” she said. “That was something that he loved, and that transcended into something I loved.”

It’s also been passed down to Beckas’ 3-year-old daughter, Kyla, and Beckas’ husband, Nicolas. Landy got to visit Disney three times with Kyla, a granddaughter with whom he shared a birthday. His grandson Niko is due in September.

Landy also is survived by Leigh Langgle, Beckas’ mother.

Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday and 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Galone-Caruso Funeral Home, 204 Eagle St., Mt. Pleasant. Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Pius X Parish, Summit and South Silver streets, Mt. Pleasant. Interment will be in the church cemetery.

Renatta Signorini is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Renatta by email at rsignorini@triblive.com or via Twitter .