Longtime Pennsylvania State Representative Tony DeLuca Has Died

Pennsylvania state Rep. Anthony M. “Tony” DeLuca died Sunday at his Penn Hills residence after a short battle with lymphoma, a illness he had overwhelmed two instances beforehand, the Pennsylvania Home Democratic Caucus introduced Monday.

At 85, DeLuca was the oldest serving member of the Pennsylvania Home of Representatives.

The Democrat lawmaker held the seat for 39 years, the longest state Home tenure in Pennsylvania historical past. He represented the thirty second District, comprising the communities of Penn Hills township, Verona borough, nearly all of Plum borough and—because of the current legislative redistricting—Oakmont borough, all of that are in Allegheny County.

DeLuca was the Democrat chairman of the Home Insurance coverage Committee for greater than 20 years. After his first lymphoma prognosis and his late spouse Connie’s later breast most cancers prognosis, DeLuca grew to become an advocate for most cancers consciousness and early detection. He launched laws to extend funding for most cancers analysis, higher remedy procedures, and care following a prognosis, the Home Democrats mentioned in a press release.

He was the prime sponsor of over 100 items of laws in simply the 2021–2022 session. In July, he advocated for suspending Pennsylvania’s 58 cent tax per gallon of gasoline till the top of 2022. In Could he proposed permitting faculties to limit pupil use of sensible telephones through the faculty day.

In 2018, DeLuca introduced ahead the Life Insurance coverage Database Act to assist Pennsylvanians be taught in the event that they had been beneficiaries of a life insurance coverage coverage following a liked one’s dying. This system has related households with $5 million yearly.

Dedication to Service

“DeLuca believed serving as a state consultant was a full-time dedication each within the Capitol and within the district and didn’t have outdoors employment,” the assertion mentioned. “Whereas others his age retired and loved their golden years, DeLuca remained deeply dedicated to his legislative obligations—serving his constituents, notably seniors and households, and being a staunch supporter and defender of labor unions and firefighters. Till only a few days earlier than his dying, he remotely participated in Home flooring periods and voted on laws.”

Along with the Home Insurance coverage Committee, DeLuca was a member of the Democratic Coverage Committee and several other different caucuses together with Autism, Most cancers, Firefighters and Emergency Providers, Psychological Well being, Sportsmen, and Metal.

DeLuca was pleased with his Italian heritage and was one of many unique co-founders, and eventual longtime chairman, of the Pennsylvania Legislative American–Italian Caucus, created to fight social injustice and discrimination towards Italian Individuals.

Earlier than being elected as a state consultant, DeLuca served 5 years as a Penn Hills councilman, then two years as Penn Hills deputy mayor.

He had 4 kids, 9 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Along with his late spouse of 66 years, he was preceded in dying by his brother Larry and his mother and father.