Tony DeLuca (politician)

For other people with the same name, see Anthony DeLuca.

Anthony M. DeLuca
DeLuca speaks with the press in 2022
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the 32nd district
In office
January 4, 1983[1] – October 9, 2022
Preceded byAlbert Rasco
Succeeded byJoe McAndrew
Personal details
Born(1937-06-03)June 3, 1937
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedOctober 9, 2022(2022-10-09) (aged 85)
Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Constance
​
(died 2021)​
Children4
Alma materCommunity College of Allegheny County

Anthony M. DeLuca Sr. (June 3, 1937 – October 9, 2022) was an American politician of the Democratic Party. A longtime resident of the Pittsburgh suburb of Penn Hills, he was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 32nd District from 1983 until his death. Before being elected to the state legislature, he served on the Penn Hills City Council and was the town's deputy mayor.[2]

Early life

DeLuca was born on June 3, 1937,[3] in the East Liberty neighborhood of Pittsburgh. He graduated from Westinghouse High School and Community College of Allegheny County. DeLuca became a co-owner of DeLuca's Market in East Liberty, which was opened by his father. DeLuca moved to Penn Hills in 1952.[4]

Career

In 1975, DeLuca was elected to the city council of Penn Hills, Pennsylvania.[5] The city council elected DeLuca to become the deputy mayor in 1978.[6]

DeLuca ran for mayor of Penn Hills against Phyllis Kernick in the election in 1979,[7] but lost the election.[8] DeLuca ran in a special election in March 1980 for Pennsylvania's 32nd Representative District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, seeking to fill the remainder of Kernick's term, which she resigned when becoming mayor.[9] He lost the election to Republican Albert Rasco.[10]

In the 1982 general election, DeLuca ran again for the 32nd district in the Pennsylvania House, and he defeated Rasco in a rematch.[11][12] Rasco challenged DeLuca again in 1984,[13] and DeLuca won reelection.[14]

DeLuca won election to the Pennsylvania House for 20 terms. At the time of his death, he was the longest serving member of the Pennsylvania House.[15] He was the top Democratic member on the House Insurance Committee for 20 years.[16] In 2022, DeLuca was reelected posthumously, triggering a special election.[17]

Personal life and death

DeLuca was inducted into Westinghouse High School's hall of fame in 1996.[18]

DeLuca and his wife, Constance, were married for 66 years until her death in 2021, and they had four children.[2][19] Their son, Anthony Jr., was elected to serve as mayor of Penn Hills and as a magistrate judge.[20]

DeLuca died from lymphoma at his home on October 9, 2022, at the age of 85.[2]

References

  1. ^ "SESSION OF 1983 167TH OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY No. 1" (PDF). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Legislative Journal. Pennsylvania House of Representatives. January 4, 1983. pp. 2, 5. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Ulrich, Steven (October 10, 2022). "Rep. Tony DeLuca Passes Away at 85". Politics PA. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  3. ^ Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archives - Anthony M. DeLuca
  4. ^ "22 Apr 1982, Page 97". The Pittsburgh Press. April 22, 1982. Retrieved October 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "5 Nov 1975, Page 12". The Pittsburgh Press. November 5, 1975. Retrieved October 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "4 Jan 1978, Page 16". The Pittsburgh Press. January 4, 1978. Retrieved October 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "19 Apr 1979, Page 65". The Pittsburgh Press. April 19, 1979. Retrieved October 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "16 May 1979, Page 3". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. May 16, 1979. Retrieved October 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "5 Mar 1980, Page 3". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. March 5, 1980. Retrieved October 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "20 May 1982, Page 92". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. May 20, 1982. Retrieved October 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Clipping from Pittsburgh Post-Gazette". Newspapers.com. April 21, 2017. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  12. ^ "3 Nov 1982, Page 11". The Pittsburgh Press. November 3, 1982. Retrieved October 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "18 Oct 1984, Page 39". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. October 18, 1984. Retrieved October 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "8 Nov 1984, Page 113". The Pittsburgh Press. November 8, 1984. Retrieved October 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Longtime Pa. state rep revered for his leadership on health care issues dies at age 85". pennlive.com. January 7, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  16. ^ "State Rep. Anthony DeLuca, the longest-serving member of Pa. House, has died after lymphoma fight".
  17. ^ "Pa. House races: DeLuca wins, triggering special election; several incumbent Democrats hold onto seats". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  18. ^ "13 May 1996, Page 13". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. May 13, 1996. Retrieved October 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ Constance M. "Connie" Deluca. "CONSTANCE M. "CONNIE" DeLUCA". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  20. ^ "Former Penn Hills mayor to assume magistrate role after passing test on 2nd try". Archive.triblive.com. February 11, 2016. Retrieved October 10, 2022.