INTERMEZZO CHOIR MINISTRY SINGS AT THE HOMEGOING OF HONORABLE ROBERT A. WRIGHT, THE FIRST BLACK JUDGE OF DELAWARE - February 13, 2010
Dr. Verolga Nix and The Intermezzo Choir Ministry ministered at the Homegoing service for the first black judge in Delco.
Family and friends were thrilled at the beautiful, comforting and inspiring music. One judge was moved to tears at the close of "We Shall Behold Him."
The entire audience was
mesimerized at the lyrics, the singing and "signing"
performed during HOLY.
First black judge in Delco, Robert Wright, dies at 90
By MARLENE DiGIACOMO, mdigiacomo@delcotimes.com
MEDIA COURTHOUSE — Retired Judge Robert A. Wright — who broke racial barriers by becoming the first African-American to serve in the Delaware County District Attorney’s office and on the county court — died Wednesday at Glen Mills Senior Living, where he had resided for the past three years. He was 90.
As a father and judge, he had the unique privilege of swearing in his own son, Robert C. Wright, to the bench in 1992. The son stepped down in 2008 because of serious health issues.
The two also had the historic privilege of being the first father and son to serve together on the county Common Pleas Court.
Wright, a Chester native, once said in an interview that he never tried to influence his son’s choice of careers. But he was quick to add: “It makes you feel good when a child follows in your footsteps.”
Florence Wright, an attorney and wife of the younger Wright, said father and son were together toward the elder Wright’s last days.
“I put their hands together and they held hands,” she said.
She said she and the senior Wright had a close relationship from the first time they met.
“He never referred to me as his daughter-in-law, but as his daughter. He once said, ‘There are no in-laws in this family,’” she said.
She said he was in failing health for the past few years and she visited him several times a day. She recalled that Judge Wright once expressed concern that it was too much on her to come so frequently.
“I replied if I were in that bed would you would be here, and he said, ‘I guess I would.’ He was a wonderful human being and the best father. You could never find a person more loyal or somebody with more integrity,” she said.
President Judge Joseph Cronin said Judge Wright “devoted” 45 years of his life to the community and was first elected to the bench in 1970 before retiring in 1989, when he assumed a post as a court conciliator.
“Mere words cannot adequately express the love, respect, esteem and also the deep feeling of loss that his colleagues on our court, past and present, and the entire legal community of Delaware County sense at this moment.”
Cronin said Judge Wright will be remembered as “a learned jurist who combined integrity and compassion with his strong knowledge of the law; always reaching a fair and just result.”
Judge Frank T. Hazel said there is no doubt Judge Wright was “a good lawyer and a good judge, but he was much more than that. He was beloved by all of us on the bench,” said Hazel. “I will always remember Bob for his decency, his integrity and his humility. That’s his legacy.”
Hazel remembered early in his career as a judge that he was handed a high-profile case.
“Judge Wright came in and casually referred to the matter. He turned to me and said, ‘This case could not be in better hands,’ and he left. That was a real confidence builder,’” said Hazel.
Senior Judge William R. Toal knew Judge Wright since their early days in the district attorney’s office in the 1960s. He described Judge Wright as a “wonderful man and a great friend.”
He said Judge Wright always expressed concern for the “little guy,” especially when the court was considering raising fees.
“He was like our conscience,” said Toal.
“He was such a sweet, kind man and a very good judge,” added Media attorney Arthur Donato.
Donato recalled several high-profile cases that had very complex issues that Judge Wright handled effortlessly.
“Judge Wright was very good in keeping everyone’s emotions at an appropriate level,” said Donato. “He made it pleasurable to try a very difficult case in front of him. You knew he was in control, but he was always pleasant and very courteous to lawyers. Judge Wright had a very quick and analytical mind. He didn’t have a mean spirit in his body. He was laid back, but that didn’t mean he didn’t command respect.”
Fellow attorney John Prodoehl recalled a case decades ago that was described as the “coffee-cup” marriage. Judge Wright ruled that even though the couple said their vows over coffee, the marriage was legally binding.
“He went by the law,” said Prodoehl. “I remember meeting him later and he said, ‘Mr. Prodoehl, if I could have ruled against you I would have.’”
Former President Judge Edward Zetusky, who now serves as a senior judge, described Judge Wright as a “gentleman, a lawyer’s judge. He was knowledgeable, fair and hardworking. He was one of those few human beings that everybody liked. Even when he ruled against, you still liked him,” said Zetusky.
Zetusky recalled that Wright was a big booster of his alma mater, Chester High School, and for years attended all its basketball games, even when they were away games.
A graduate of Temple Law School, Judge Wright was appointed to the court in 1970 and was elected to his first 10-year term in 1971. In December 1989, he was appointed to a senior status on the court until 2003, when he was named a court conciliator.
Prior to becoming a judge, he served six years as an assistant district attorney.
He received the Donald J. Orlowsky Award from the Delaware County Bar Association and the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Award.
Wright was married to the former Mary Maloney, a music teacher and librarian in the Chester School system, who died in 1989.
Family and friends were thrilled at the beautiful, comforting and inspiring music. One judge was moved to tears at the close of "We Shall Behold Him."
The entire audience was
mesimerized at the lyrics, the singing and "signing"
performed during HOLY.
First black judge in Delco, Robert Wright, dies at 90
By MARLENE DiGIACOMO, mdigiacomo@delcotimes.com
MEDIA COURTHOUSE — Retired Judge Robert A. Wright — who broke racial barriers by becoming the first African-American to serve in the Delaware County District Attorney’s office and on the county court — died Wednesday at Glen Mills Senior Living, where he had resided for the past three years. He was 90.
As a father and judge, he had the unique privilege of swearing in his own son, Robert C. Wright, to the bench in 1992. The son stepped down in 2008 because of serious health issues.
The two also had the historic privilege of being the first father and son to serve together on the county Common Pleas Court.
Wright, a Chester native, once said in an interview that he never tried to influence his son’s choice of careers. But he was quick to add: “It makes you feel good when a child follows in your footsteps.”
Florence Wright, an attorney and wife of the younger Wright, said father and son were together toward the elder Wright’s last days.
“I put their hands together and they held hands,” she said.
She said she and the senior Wright had a close relationship from the first time they met.
“He never referred to me as his daughter-in-law, but as his daughter. He once said, ‘There are no in-laws in this family,’” she said.
She said he was in failing health for the past few years and she visited him several times a day. She recalled that Judge Wright once expressed concern that it was too much on her to come so frequently.
“I replied if I were in that bed would you would be here, and he said, ‘I guess I would.’ He was a wonderful human being and the best father. You could never find a person more loyal or somebody with more integrity,” she said.
President Judge Joseph Cronin said Judge Wright “devoted” 45 years of his life to the community and was first elected to the bench in 1970 before retiring in 1989, when he assumed a post as a court conciliator.
“Mere words cannot adequately express the love, respect, esteem and also the deep feeling of loss that his colleagues on our court, past and present, and the entire legal community of Delaware County sense at this moment.”
Cronin said Judge Wright will be remembered as “a learned jurist who combined integrity and compassion with his strong knowledge of the law; always reaching a fair and just result.”
Judge Frank T. Hazel said there is no doubt Judge Wright was “a good lawyer and a good judge, but he was much more than that. He was beloved by all of us on the bench,” said Hazel. “I will always remember Bob for his decency, his integrity and his humility. That’s his legacy.”
Hazel remembered early in his career as a judge that he was handed a high-profile case.
“Judge Wright came in and casually referred to the matter. He turned to me and said, ‘This case could not be in better hands,’ and he left. That was a real confidence builder,’” said Hazel.
Senior Judge William R. Toal knew Judge Wright since their early days in the district attorney’s office in the 1960s. He described Judge Wright as a “wonderful man and a great friend.”
He said Judge Wright always expressed concern for the “little guy,” especially when the court was considering raising fees.
“He was like our conscience,” said Toal.
“He was such a sweet, kind man and a very good judge,” added Media attorney Arthur Donato.
Donato recalled several high-profile cases that had very complex issues that Judge Wright handled effortlessly.
“Judge Wright was very good in keeping everyone’s emotions at an appropriate level,” said Donato. “He made it pleasurable to try a very difficult case in front of him. You knew he was in control, but he was always pleasant and very courteous to lawyers. Judge Wright had a very quick and analytical mind. He didn’t have a mean spirit in his body. He was laid back, but that didn’t mean he didn’t command respect.”
Fellow attorney John Prodoehl recalled a case decades ago that was described as the “coffee-cup” marriage. Judge Wright ruled that even though the couple said their vows over coffee, the marriage was legally binding.
“He went by the law,” said Prodoehl. “I remember meeting him later and he said, ‘Mr. Prodoehl, if I could have ruled against you I would have.’”
Former President Judge Edward Zetusky, who now serves as a senior judge, described Judge Wright as a “gentleman, a lawyer’s judge. He was knowledgeable, fair and hardworking. He was one of those few human beings that everybody liked. Even when he ruled against, you still liked him,” said Zetusky.
Zetusky recalled that Wright was a big booster of his alma mater, Chester High School, and for years attended all its basketball games, even when they were away games.
A graduate of Temple Law School, Judge Wright was appointed to the court in 1970 and was elected to his first 10-year term in 1971. In December 1989, he was appointed to a senior status on the court until 2003, when he was named a court conciliator.
Prior to becoming a judge, he served six years as an assistant district attorney.
He received the Donald J. Orlowsky Award from the Delaware County Bar Association and the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Award.
Wright was married to the former Mary Maloney, a music teacher and librarian in the Chester School system, who died in 1989.