Father Of State Rep. Maria Collett Dies After Being Struck By Car

LOWER GWYNEDD, PA — The father of Montgomery County's State Rep. Maria Collett passed away on Saturday after being struck by a vehicle near his home in Lower Gwynedd last week. Collett announced his passing in a statement Sunday evening.

Emmanuel Tzanakis was an immigrant from Greece who had a PhD in economics, Collett said. He was going for his morning near the home he shared with Collett and her family last Wednesday morning, Oct. 14, when the incident occurred.

Tzanakis arrived in the United States in 1970 and served for years in the federal government.

"(He) proudly watched his son become a county prosecutor and his daughter become a state senator. He lived the American dream in its truest sense," Collett said Sunday. "I hope that his life reminds us all of the ideals and infinite potential of our great Commonwealth and country."

Collett also praised the emergency crews who arrived on the scene to assist following the accident, including the Lower Gwynedd Police Department and Community Ambulance Association of Ambler.

"This terrible accident has reminded me how thankful I am to live in a community with incredible first responders," she said, adding that she recognized "how fortunate my family is to be able to take paid leave when we need it to deal with an unexpected emergency like this; and how important it is that our health care providers have adequate staffing and equipment to deliver the top-notch care they do."

Services have not yet been announced.