Remembrance set for Brewster Filotei

By JEFF STITT

jstitt@yourmvi.com

In a somber tone at this month’s council meeting, McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko reflected on the upcoming one-year anniversary of the passing of late council Vice President Jamie Brewster Filotei.

Brewster Filotei, who had just retired from her position as a McKeesport Area School District teacher, passed away May 12, 2020, following a long and hard-fought battle with cancer. She was 46.

At 6 p.m. May 12, city officials, Brewster Filotei’s loved ones and others will gather at the Sulphur Springs Baseball Field at Renzie Park to remember the life and contributions of the late community leader and educator, who had a teaching career spanning nearly two and half decades.

“We will be renaming the baseball field after Jamie,” Cherepko said. “That was one of the fields that was built back under Mayor (Jim) Brewster back when he was sitting in this seat.”

Brewster, a Democrat, served as McKeesport’s mayor prior to being elected to the state’s 45th Senatorial District seat, which he still holds. He and his wife, Linda Brewster are the parents of the late council vice president.

Councilwoman Jill Lape, Brewster Filotei’s sister, was appointed to the seat in June 2020, carrying on the family legacy of public service. 

As Lape listened to Cherepko’s words from the council dais Wednesday, tears were rolling down her masked face as she remembered her beloved sister.

“Obviously we know what Jamie meant to this community,” Cherepko said. “We know her extreme commitment to our youth professionally, and we know her as an athlete from her involvement and knowledge, whether it was coaching with kids or whether it was playing as an athlete who received a basketball scholarship.”

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