Eugene V. Alessandroni II, 77, Philadelphia prosecutor

Eugene V. Alessandroni II, 77, of Chestnut Hill, a career prosecutor in the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, died Tuesday, Nov. 25, of cardiac arrest at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Alessandroni, known as "Gene," was the son of Walter E. and Ethel Alessandroni. His father, then state attorney general, had received the Republican Party's endorsement for lieutenant governor. He, his wife, and two others were headed to a campaign appearance on May 8, 1966, when their twin-engine plane crashed near Somerset, leaving no survivors. Icing was blamed.

A graduate of Episcopal Academy, Wesleyan University, and Villanova University School of Law, Mr. Alessandroni came from a long line of lawyers, judges, and public servants. He decided to follow suit.

In the early 1960s, while in law school, he worked as a summer police officer in Ocean City, N.J.

"This reinforced his desire to work for the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office," his family said in a remembrance. "He was a cop at heart."

Except for brief stints as a public defender and assistant counsel to Gov. Raymond P. Shafer, Mr. Alessandroni served his entire 38-year career in the District Attorney's Office, under five district attorneys. At various times, he headed the child-support division and the antiobscenity enforcement division.

He excelled at recovering child support from deadbeat fathers. If he found out one was about to receive money such as an insurance settlement, "he made sure the wife got something," said his cousin Sally A. Downey.

Mr. Alessandroni married Maria Lochetto in 1963. The two maintained homes in Chestnut Hill and Ocean City.

He was active in the Chestnut Hill Community Association. His interests included vintage automobiles and powerboat racing.

He was a member of the American Power Boat Association and the Winding River Boating Club, and a former member of the Ocean City Yacht Club.Surviving, in addition to his wife, is a brother, Eric.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, at Our Mother of Consolation Roman Catholic Church, 11 E. Chestnut Hill Ave. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. at the church. Burial is private.

Donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org/.