THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY McILHINNEY, TOMLINSON, GREENLEAF AND MENSCH, MAY 1, 2012

INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, MAY 1, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Mourning the loss of the Honorable Frank J. Montemuro, Jr., who

died on March 29, 2012, in Newtown, Bucks County, at 86 years

of age.

WHEREAS, The Senate of Pennsylvania mourns the loss of

Justice Montemuro, noted trial court and appellate court jurist

in this Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Justice Montemuro was a retired Senior Justice of

the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and Senior Judge of the

Pennsylvania Superior Court and a former judge and

administrative judge of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas;

and

WHEREAS, A United States Navy veteran of World War II,

Justice Montemuro served our nation with honor and distinction

from 1944 to 1946; and

WHEREAS, Justice Montemuro graduated from Temple University

and earned a law degree from Duke University; and

WHEREAS, Justice Montemuro began his judicial career when

appointed as a judge of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas

in 1964, and he was elected to a ten-year term the following

year; and

WHEREAS, After consolidation of the Philadelphia courts in

1968, Justice Montemuro was named administrative judge of the

Philadelphia Family Court; and

WHEREAS, Justice Montemuro was appointed to the Pennsylvania

Superior Court in 1980; and

WHEREAS, Justice Montemuro began an interim appointment to

the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 1992 and was later sworn in as

Senior Justice; and

WHEREAS, Justice Montemuro completed his judicial career as

Senior Judge of the Superior Court, retiring at 80 years of age;

and

WHEREAS, To his great credit, Justice Montemuro was the first

Chairman of the Philadelphia Regional Planning Council's Law

Enforcement Assistance Administration and served a four-year

term as a member of the Pennsylvania Judicial Inquiry and Review

Board; and

WHEREAS, Justice Montemuro was a member of the board of

Catholic Charities for the Philadelphia Archdiocese, trustee of

the Community College of Philadelphia and former national

President of the Supreme Lodge of the Order Sons of Italy in

America; and

WHEREAS, In recognition of his exceptional service, Justice

Montemuro received numerous awards and accolades, including the

Humanitarian Award from the Justice Lodge of B'nai B'rith and

the Pioneer Award from Frankford High School; and

WHEREAS, Pope John Paul II named Justice Montemuro a Knight

Commander of the Order of Saint Gregory the Great; and

WHEREAS, Justice Montemuro was named a Commendatore of the

Order of Merit of the Italian Republic and was later named a

Grande Ufficiale of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic;

therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate note with great sadness the passing

of the Honorable Frank J. Montemuro, Jr., whose life greatly

enriched all who lived, served and worked with him, and extend

heartfelt condolences to his wife, Margaret Gigliotti Montemuro;

sons, Frank J. III, Michael C. and Anthony; six grandchildren;

and other family members and friends; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to

Mrs. Margaret Gigliotti Montemuro, Newtown, PA 18940.