CAMPBELL — The city has lost a longtime leader and, for many in town, a beloved friend.

City Council President George Levendis confirmed Wednesday that Mayor Brian Tedesco died in his sleep Tuesday night at the age of 67.

After serving as a 2nd Ward Councilman for more than 20 years, Tedesco, a Democrat, was elected as mayor in 2021, defeating incumbent Nick Phillips.

Now in his seventh term as council president, Levendis has worked with four mayors in his 15 years. He said he worked hand-in-hand with Tedesco and considered him a friend.

“The mayor was a great person, and he deeply cared about our city. It was city first, all the time,” Levendis said. “He was a great councilman and a great mayor, and he will be deeply missed, especially by me. He was, by far, the best mayor out of the four I’ve worked with.”

Levendis said that, to the best of his knowledge, Tedesco had not been ill.

“It’s just shocking,” he said.

Levendis said the city charter states that the position of mayor is a part-time job, but Tedesco worked at it full-time.

“I really don’t think people know how much time he gave to the city,” he said. “Bryan never wanted accolades, he just did whatever needed to be done. He was never afraid to get his hands dirty.”

Levendis said that most recently, Tedesco had been working tirelessly to obtain grants for city projects, especially for an access road near the middle school and funding for restoration of the brownfields in the CASTLO (Campbell, Struthers and Lowellville) area.

The city received about $670,000 from the office of then-state Rep. Al Cutrona, R-Canfield, to build an access road off state Route 616, to provide space for a full-service grocery store to be built.

Tedesco also secured about $640,000 to remediate 130 acres of brownfield property near the Mahoning River, from then-U.S. Congressman Bill Johnson’s office, along with $70,000 for cybersecurity.

Tedesco also was trying to buy another 37 acres of brownfield property from Sherman International, the Pittsburgh-based company that razed the old steel mills and owned the land.

He was instrumental in tearing down dilapidated and dangerous housing in the city, including several of the historic Youngstown Sheet and Tube company homes that had fallen into irreparable condition.

In 2023, Tedesco led a successful levy campaign to secure $225,000 a year in local funding for ambulance service in the city, after Medstar Ambulance left citizens without coverage for more than 36 hours in April that year.

He also was known for bringing back two beloved events — City Fest and Christmas in the City, both at Roosevelt Park. Within the past 18 months, Tedesco started hosting monthly town hall meetings at the community center there, discussing matters such as water rate increases, brownfields, blighted homes and just letting residents ask questions.

Last year, with an eye toward the safety of local children, he also directed the police department to use traffic cameras to slow down drivers in school zones,

“He just did so many things, in both offices,” Levendis said. “But Mayor Tedesco was a hands-on mayor.”

The city’s charter states that Levendis will be sworn in as mayor to fill the remainder of Tedesco’s term. City council will appoint a new president to replace Levendis, at least temporarily.

“In November, I will have to run either for mayor or run for council president again,” Levendis said, and he already has made up his mind about which it will be.

“I enjoy being the council president and that will be my main goal in November, to seek reelection for that,” he said.

Council can appoint a sitting council member as president and then appoint someone to replace that person on the panel, from the new president’s ward. They also can opt to leave the seats as they are and appoint an outside candidate to fill Levendis’ seat.

If council does not make an appointment within 30 days, then the charter leaves the decision to Levendis.

Tedesco leaves behind a wife, Monica, and two sons. His son Joshua is a Campbell police officer, and his other son, Brandon, lives in Arizona. He also has several grandchildren.