Community leaders and close friends said they're left with heavy hearts and a legacy they won't forget after the sudden passing of Campbell Mayor Bryan Tedesco. 

Tedesco passed away in his sleep overnight at the age of 67. 

He served Campbell with decades of dedication: first as a longtime councilman for 22 years and, since 2021, as mayor.

"He loved Campbell more than anything in the world," Struthers Mayor Cat Cercone Miller said. 

The City administrator confirmed his death Tuesday morning, and City Hall closed its doors for the day in a show of respect.

"We're still in shock," Cercone Miller said, "Losing him as a friend is the worst part of it." 

Cercone Miller, who worked closely with him, said the neighboring city is grieving, too.

"He was a very unique individual. There's never going to be anyone like Mayor Tedesco ever again," she said, "Bryan was one of those people you could call on for anything in the world. He would be the first one to protect and defend, and he would he would always show up."

Campbell Councilman Joe Mazzocca said Tedesco's leadership was "one of a kind."

"If you needed a sewage bill paid, Bryan would pay for you. That's the kind of guy he was," Mazzocca said, "It's going to be a big loss for this city, but in his honor, we're going to keep going."

He added that Tedesco wasn't just a great leader but a great friend who worked hard and put his heart into city projects, consistently voicing new plans to make Campbell a better place. He said Tedesco has done just that.

"He was a hard worker, did anything we needed him to do in the city as the mayor. What he did was just amazing, cut grass, pull weeds at City Hall,  just do whatever he could to make the city go, talking to anybody he could to bring monies into the city," he said, "He worked with you. He didn't work against you." 

Mayor Cercone Miller was in Columbus Wednesday for a Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber event, a trip she said Tedesco had planned to attend, where more than 100 Valley leaders held a moment of silence in his honor.

Mazzocca said he hopes to finish the work that Tedesco was passionate about, including his plans to obtain a brownfield grant for Campbell. 

"We're going to keep trying to get the grants that he started, keep them coming in and move forward. I know the Brownfield was his biggest thing, and hopefully, we make that dream come to reality."

He added that Tedesco had accomplished a great deal in the city, including work in the Campbell park, which he said Tedesco dedicated a lot of time into. 

"Just go look at the park. That's Bryan Tedesco," Mazzocca said, "The lights, the drainage, when he put the drainage in there. Bryan wanted to do everything he could for the park, and the city really benefited from it."

In terms of what comes next to fill the void in Campbell, he said the city council is still in "shock." 

"When we get our feet back on the ground and talk it over, the five of us, we'll move from there," he said. "Hopefully, we could learn from what he did, you know, because he kept us going. He tried his best."

Jerusalem Baptist Church Senior Pastor, Derrick Anderson, Sr., also said Tedesco was "truly one of a kind" in a statement he sent to 21 News: 

"Mayor Bryan Tedesco was truly one of a kind — a man who led with heart, grit, and humility. I used to call him “Champ,” not just because of his days as a Golden Gloves boxer, but because he fought tirelessly for the people of Campbell. He was a true champion of the residents, and he deeply supported our police officers and firefighters.

I first met Mayor Tedesco through my childhood best friend, Officer Mitch Zupko, who spoke so highly of him. After our first meeting, I knew Mitch was right. From that day forward, the Mayor and I developed a genuine friendship and a bond of brotherhood. He later honored me by appointing me as the first chaplain for the City of Campbell — the city of my birth. It was one of the greatest privileges of my life to serve alongside him.

Mayor Tedesco deeply loved his wife Monica and their children. He often spoke with pride about his family, and he was especially proud when his son Josh became a Campbell police officer.

He wasn’t the kind of leader who led from behind a desk. It was common to see him working in Roosevelt Park, cleaning up, or helping prepare the baseball fields for the season. He led by example. He was a servant-leader through and through.

He was the people’s champion — a man of faith, family, and service. Like the Apostle Paul, I believe Mayor Tedesco fought the good fight, and he finished his race well. His legacy in the City of Campbell will not be forgotten."