Santarsiero Presents Resolution to Montemuro Family

State Rep. Steve Santarsiero, D-Bucks, last week presented the Montemuro family with a copy of the House resolution honoring the late Frank J. Montemuro Jr., a former Pennsylvania Supreme Court justice.

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives paid tribute to the Newtown native May 1 with the unanimous adoption of H.R. 673 in Montemuro's memory. Santarsiero presented the resolution to the judge's widow Margaret and his son Michael. 

"Justice Montemuro spent parts of five decades as a respected jurist, which is a testament to his abilities as well as his love for the law," Santarsiero said.

"His legacy represents the finest tradition of good citizenship and public service. I am deeply appreciative that my colleagues in the House have formally recognized his many contributions, and I am pleased to be able to present his family with a copy of the official resolution."

Montemuro died March 29 in Newtown. He was 86. In a 42-year span on the bench, which ran from 1964 to 2006, he also served as a judge on the Pennsylvania Superior Court and for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, where he was a long-time Family Court jurist. 

Santarsiero said Montemuro’s civic accomplishments included serving as national president of the Supreme Lodge of the Sons of Italy in America, a trustee of the Community College of Philadelphia and a board member of Catholic Charities of Philadelphia. 

Montemuro also was honored by Pope John Paul II, who named him a knight commander of St. Gregory the Great in 1982, and he was bestowed the humanitarian award by the Justice Lodge of B’Nai B’rith in 1967. Academically, Montemuro’s article "The Family – One Hundred Years of Neglect" was published by the Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare in 1976.