John Durante, Montco sheriff, dies

John P. Durante, a fixture in Montgomery County law enforcement for nearly four decades - first as a detective and for the last 10 years as sheriff - died early today at Montgomery Hospital.

Mr. Durante, 60, was pronounced dead after being stricken last night with a heart attack, said his daughter, Channel 10 news reporter Deanna Durante. He had not been ill recently and had not been shoveling, she said. She characterized the death as "sudden."

Born in Germantown, Mr. Durante was a longtime resident of Conshohocken. He had a high-school education, and trained on the job as a county detective, learning crime-scene analysis under the tutelage of former county coroner Halbert Fillinger.

Mr. Durante's daughter, who accompanied him to crime scenes when she was a girl, said he was fascinated by forensic science, which allowed him to take the most minimal evidence and pinpoint the "whodunnit" behind a crime scene. He was known as an expert in fingerprint analysis.

"He was amazed when he could put it together and tell people what had happened to their loved ones," Deanna Durante said. "Every crime bothered him. I got my nose, for wanting to know whodunnit, from him."

Mr. Durante served 28 years as a county detective, from 1971 to 1999. He trained in the sheriff's department, then catapulted himself into office as sheriff in 1999 on the Republican ticket, serving with former District Attorney Mike Marino and then D.A. Bruce Castor, now a county commissioner.

Deanna Durante said her father learned forensic science before the "technology that is available today," such as DNA matching. Castor concurred.

"He was a professional lawman, and expert in CSI when no one in the public even knew the term," Castor said. "John helped put away many of the county's worst criminals, and did so without fanfare or desire for recognition.

"He brought stature to the Sheriff's Department, and had the respect of his peers and many friends. Above all, John had a heart of gold."

In public and in his personal life, Mr. Durante was known for being outspoken, his daughter said.

"You couldn't get a word in edgewise, and God forbid you disagreed," she said.

Today, county officials remembered the sheriff as a dedicated law enforcement officer. Deanna Durante said she had been told that the county would likely sponsor a memorial ceremony, but it was not clear when it would be.

"John was a wonderful man who dedicated his life to law enforcement. As sheriff, he did a wonderful job serving the needs of the court," Montgomery County President Judge Richard J. Hodgson said.

"We've lost an unparalleled personality from the courthouse," Montgomery County Commissioners Chairman Jim Matthews said. "He was driven and patriotic. Our hearts go out to his wife and family."

Mr. Durante was married to Jill Bukata, whom he met at a civil air patrol meeting when they were in their teens. The couple later divorced. Mr. Durante then married Maria Durante.

Surviving Mr. Durante in addition to his daughter, wife and ex-wife are another daughter, Christina Visco; three brothers; two sisters; and three grandchildren.

Services have not been set.