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Obituaries

Peter A. DeLiberty Sr. | Lawyer, civic leader, 65

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Peter A. DeLiberty Sr., 65, of Newtown Square, a lawyer and civic leader, died Friday at Bryn Mawr Hospital of complications from heart surgery.

Since the early 1970s, Mr. DeLiberty had maintained a general law practice on West Chester Pike in Broomall.

"He was a true country lawyer," his daughter, Stephanie, said. He gave special attention to each of his clients, she said, and never charged by the hours, sometimes accepting payment in ricotta pies. When spouses consulted him about a divorce, he sent them home to think about it, she said. In the 1980s, he was also an instructor at the Main Line Paralegal Institute.

Mr. DeLiberty won election to the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors as a maverick Republican in 1991. He served on the board for 12 years and was past board chairman.

A proud Italian American, he hung both the U.S. and Italian flags from his home, his daughter said.

He enjoyed his wife's cooking, birding, fishing, boating, family vacations at the Jersey Shore, and cruises to Bermuda.

In addition to his daughter, Mr. DeLiberty is survived by his wife of 43 years, Stephanie Nelepka DeLiberty; sons Peter Jr.,  Nicholas and Daniel; a sister; a brother; and two granddaughters.

A Funeral Mass will be said at 11 a.m. today at St. Anastasia Church, 3301 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square. Friends may call from 9 a.m. Mr. DeLiberty was past president of the church school's parents association. Burial will be in SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Marple Township.