Francis Pileggi, Delco lawyer
Francis G. Pileggi, 87, of Chester, a lawyer active in Catholic organizations and the father of Delaware County Common Pleas Court Judge Dominic F. Pileggi, died Tuesday, May 17.
Francis G. Pileggi, 87, of Chester, a lawyer active in Catholic organizations and the father of Delaware County Common Pleas Court Judge Dominic F. Pileggi, died Tuesday, May 17.
Mr. Pileggi died of a cerebral hemorrhage at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Known as "Frank," Mr. Pileggi was born and reared in Chester. He graduated from St. James Catholic High School in 1945, and earned degrees from Villanova University and Temple University Law School.
He was the founder of the Woodlyn law firm of Pileggi & Pileggi, which handles cases involving personal injury, estate planning, real estate, and property damage, according to its website.
He was the solicitor for the Suburban Contractors Association of Pennsylvania for four decades.
Mr. Pileggi founded the Justinian Society of Delaware County, an organization of lawyers of Italian American heritage. He attended retreats for Catholics at the Malvern Retreat House for more than 50 years. Mr. Pileggi also was the founder of the Christopher Columbus Memorial Association of Delaware County.
Before beginning his law practice, he helped his father and brothers create and run Concord Plywood & Supply Co., Beautiful Home Centers Inc., Concord Real Estate Agency, and the construction company of D. Pileggi & Sons Inc.
He also was involved in the development of the Woodlyn Shopping Center in Delaware County and other real estate ventures.
He was a member of St. Katharine Drexel parish in Chester, where he served as lector, eucharistic minister, and cantor.
Mr. Pileggi met Mary Clorinda Troffo while the two were singing in the church choir. They married in 1956 and had seven children. She died in 2005.
Dominic Pileggi is the former Republican majority leader in the state Senate. He represented the Ninth District in Chester and Delaware Counties from 2002 until January 2016, when he became a County Court judge in Media.
Much of the elder Mr. Pileggi's life was spent with his family and singing, in the choir and elsewhere.
"He had a good sense of humor," said son John. "When he was in the hospital two months ago for a pacemaker, he sang 'O sole mio' to the nurses, and they loved it."
Besides his sons, Mr. Pileggi is survived by children Theresa, Francis G.X., Elisa, Joseph, and Anthony; seven grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; and a brother.
A viewing from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday, May 22, at Carr Funeral Home, 935 S. Providence Rd., Wallingford, will be followed by a second viewing from 9 to 10:45 a.m. Monday, May 23, at St. Katharine Drexel Church, 1902 Providence Ave., Chester. A Funeral Mass is set for 11 at the church. Entombment is in Immaculate Heart Cemetery, Linwood.
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