With heavy hearts, the attorneys and staff of Pond Lehocky Giordano announce the sudden and tragic passing of our beloved partner, colleague, and friend, Kevin E. Harchar, on December 23, 2022.
Kevin was a partner in our firm’s workers’ compensation department, and led the firm’s Scranton, Pa. office, which he helped open in 2014.
Born and raised in the Scranton area, Kevin felt it was a privilege and honor to represent the hardworking men and women in that community who were almost embarrassed to admit that their workplace injuries might force them to have to miss work. He prided himself on getting to know his clients, taking a holistic approach to their health and legal issues, and working closely with them to secure the outcome that was both what they wanted and that was best for their families. His clients adored him because of his attention to detail and his sincere concern for their and their families’ health and well-being.
To Kevin, the best part about his job was helping a client secure the outcome they wanted and then watching his client react to that good news. One of his favorite memories of practicing law was the first time one of his clients at Pond Lehocky Giordano shook his hand, looked him in the eye, and said, “Thank you.”
Kevin’s kindness, warmth, positive attitude, and selflessness was contagious. He could light up any room he walked in. And he could help turn his clients’ bad days into good days with a simple phone call.
Well-known in the Pennsylvania workers’ compensation bar, Kevin was an attorney who workers’ compensation defense attorneys would tell you they were happy to see on the other side of their cases because of the man he was. While they’d be in for a fight—Kevin was a fierce advocate for his clients and wasn’t afraid to aggressively represent their interests, even if doing so would draw a judge’s ire—defense attorneys knew they would be litigating against someone who was affable and would treat them like human beings.
But Kevin was more than a committed and effective lawyer. He was a committed and loving husband to his high school sweetheart Alison, and a committed and loving father to his children Dominic and Alexa.
He coached Dominic’s basketball and baseball teams, as well as Alexa’s basketball and softball teams. He was a fixture at their games and school events—often with his laptop or phone in hand, responding to emails from clients or opposing counsel. Dominic’s teammates loved Kevin’s famous homemade chocolate chip cookies, which he brought to Dominic’s tournaments.
Kevin believed in serving his community, which he did by spending countless hours volunteering for numerous organizations.
Kevin served as a member of the Riverside School District’s Board of Education since 2018, and was most recently board treasurer.
Kevin served as a committee member of Coaches vs. Cancer since 2015, for which he raised money to support cancer patients in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
He was also an executive committee member for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Eastern Pennsylvania – Delaware Region, and was named its inaugural Northeast Pennsylvania Man of the Year in 2019.
Kevin served as Co-Chair for the Lackawanna Bar Association’s Wills for Heroes program, which provides free estate documents to all first responders.
And, since 2018, Kevin and Alison sponsored the Moosic, Pa., Borough Police Department’s annual Santa Ride throughout the borough. Kevin and Alison committed to raise funds to ensure every child in Moosic would receive a stocking full of goodies from Santa.
Kevin joined Pond Lehocky Giordano in 2013, and was named a partner in 2021. Prior to joining Pond Lehocky, Kevin practiced as a workers’ compensation defense attorney from 2009 to 2013 at Weber Gallagher Simpson Stapleton Fires & Newby LLP. Before that, he practiced at a small insurance defense law firm from 2008 to 2009.
Kevin graduated from the Widener University School of Law in 2008, and from Arizona State University in 2004.
Kevin’s obituary can be found here. Memorial contributions can be made in Kevin’s name to Vikings Helping Vikings, c/o Paul Brennan, Riverside School District, 601 South Main Street, Taylor, PA 18517.