Robert P. ‘Scats’ Gathercole Jr. remembered for decades of service
By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times
Robert P. “Scats” Gathercole Jr. died suddenly on Wednesday while vacationing with his family in Ocean City., Md., a favorite vacation spot.
The region’s community of first-responders is mourning the death on Wednesday of Robert P. “Scats” Gathercole Jr., 59, a longtime firefighter who passed away suddenly while vacationing with family in Ocean City, Md.
“He was all about family,” said Ray Stackhouse, the Keystone Valley Fire Department chief and president of the Chester County Fire Chiefs’ Association. “His passing will definitely have an impact on the whole western part of Chester County. “He was so entrenched in fire services, and he has relatives in almost every company, medic unit and ambulance corps in the area.”
Stackhouse, who knew Gathercole for decades, said it wasn’t until very recently that he even realized what Gathercole’s given first name was. “I always knew him as Scats,” Stackhouse said, adding that he did not know the name’s origin. Family members told him that the moniker stemmed from Gathercole’s teen years in Pomeroy when friends said he had an uncanny ability to “scatter” whenever the kids were at risk of being reprimanded for any hijinks.
Other longtime associates knew him fondly as “Chief Hometown.” Stackhouse said that name dated back to Coatesville parades when, in keeping with the CASH Red Raiders’ theme, an American Indian served as honorary chief of the festivities. When Gathercole became chief of Westwood Fire Company, that nickname surfaced and then stuck “as a sign of respect,” Stackhouse said.
Gathercole, 59, a safety officer with Keystone Valley Fire Department, first served as chief of Westwood the Company from 1984-1988, and following a two-year break, served again for 10 consecutive years from 1991-2000. In addition to service with Westwood and Keystone Valley, he also served with Pomeroy, Modena and Washington Hose Fire Companies and was a member of the Fire Chiefs’ Association of Chester County, according to his obituary.
Born in Coatesville, Gathercole was the son of the late Robert and Shirley Rubincan Gathercole, Sr. and the husband of Joann Nikodemski Gathercole with whom he shared 39 years of marriage. He was employed for 40 years by Arcelor Mittal Steel Co. in Coatesville as a furnace operator. He was also a board member of the Kingsway Independent Church, and besides serving his community and church, he enjoyed antique cars and country music.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three children; Robert P. Gathercole III of Westwood and his girlfriend, Megan Perine of Pomeroy, Brian E. Gathercole and his wife, Kim, of Coatesville; and Tammy, the wife of Robert Guiney III of Parkesburg; four grandchildren; Nate, Kylee, Brianna, and Kelsey; and five siblings: Kenneth of Modena, Barry of Ronks, Timothy of South Coatesville, Karen Rhodes of Coatesville and Joseph of Modena.
Gathercole’s wife and three children have also been involved in the volunteer emergency service field for many years.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday at noon at Gateway Grace Community Church, 160 Cowan Rd, Parkesburg, followed by interment at the Upper Octorara Cemetery, Parkesburg. Viewing at the church will be held from 9 a.m. to noon. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Gathercole’s memory to the Kingsway Independent Church, 55 Morris Ave. Coatesville, PA 19320.
Stackhouse said a 1937 LaFrance fire truck, one of the first trucks purchased by the Westwood Fire Company, would be part of the funeral procession.
