Anthony J. DeFino, 86, respected judge who died in South Philly

HE WAS A South Philadelphia kid who never forgot where he came from.

Anthony J. DeFino grew up on East Passyunk Avenue and went from there to a 50-year career in law, as a lawyer and a highly respected Common Pleas judge specializing in criminal cases.

The retired judge died Sunday night in a fire at his home at 20th and Porter streets. He was 86.

The fire, which began about 7 p.m., was brought under control in about 45 minutes. DeFino's wife, the former Rose Graziano, was home at the time and was taken to a hospital apparently unharmed.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

His death in such a tragic manner shocked family and friends.

His daughter, Rose Marie DeFino-Nastasi, who was elected a Common Pleas judge in 2002, couldn't hold back tears when talking about her father yesterday.

"He was the greatest man, and my best friend," she said. "He was my hero. He was the best man who ever lived. He was a lover of people, no matter who they were. He accepted people as they were.

"We were extremely close. This is a nightmare."

Anthony DeFino, who was involved in some of the city's more notorious criminal cases, was among the candidates who were named to replace the eight judges who were removed from the bench in 1988 in a scandal involving bribes by the Roofers Union.

He was elected to a full 10-year term in 1989. He became a senior judge in 1997 and continued to hear cases in the court's major trials division for 10 more years.

"Judge DeFino exemplified the ideals of personal character, sound judgment and professional commitment," said Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor Kathleen D. Wilkinson.

"He was a respected mentor in the legal profession, a touchstone for so many who aspired to the law, and a treasured friend and colleague to countless lawyers, judges and public officials."

DeFino was a popular figure around the courts with his natty attire, friendly manner and sense of humor.

"The judge never changed his pleasant personality, which he had from childhood," his family said in a reminiscence. "He loved to tell jokes and he brightened up the lives of all employees at the Criminal Justice Center, especially on Monday-morning elevator rides with his quick wit."

After he retired from the bench, DeFino was retained by the 1st Judicial District for a year to assist new judges in acclimating to their positions.

His last job was with District Attorney Seth Williams, in which he taught new assistant D.A.s courtroom decorum and acted as a liaison between the judiciary and the D.A.'s office.

DeFino was born in Philadelphia to Julia and Michael DeFino. He graduated from South Philadelphia High School in 1946 and entered the Army. After his service, he enrolled at Temple University and eventually graduated from Temple's law school in 1955.

While attending college, he taught in the Philadelphia School District. He married Rose Graziano in 1952.

Among the high-profile cases he handled was the sentencing of Thomas Jones to 18 to 37 years on robbery charges. His videotaped beating by Philadelphia police in 2000 attracted international headlines.

He sentenced Hector Frazier, son of boxing legend Joe Frazier, to 23 to 46 months in prison after he was convicted of committing robberies to support a drug habit.

Other cases included two men who burned a cross on a South Philadelphia driveway in 2004 to intimidate an interracial couple new to the neighborhood.

His daughter, Rose Marie, also handles mostly criminal cases as a judge.

DeFino founded the law firm DeFino & Associates three decades ago. It is now run by two lawyer sons, Michael and Vincent.

Besides his wife, daughter and sons, he is survived by three other sons, Eugene, Anthony and Thomas; another daughter, Carmela; a brother, Michael DeFino; two sisters, Marie Pietrafietta and Rose Langton; 19 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by another daughter, Julia Sheeran, and a brother, Rocco DeFino.

Services: Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Monica Church, 17th and Ritner streets. Friends may call at 5 p.m. Friday and 8:30 a.m. Saturday at the Monti-Rago Funeral Home, 2531 S. Broad St. Burial will he in Ss. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Marple.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 555 E. North Lane #5010, Conshohocken, Pa., 19428, or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 225 City Ave., Suite 104, Bala Cynwyd, Pa., 19004, or St. Monica Church, 2422 S. 17th St., Philadelphia, 19145.