Former District Judge Jules Melograne Laid To Rest

BALDWIN, PA - Funeral services were held Monday for former Baldwin-Whitehall District Judge Jules Melograne, who died last week at the age of 89.

Born and raised in the Hill District, Melograne attended Connelly Trade School and later served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He attended the University of Pittsburgh on a scholarship and GI Bill for Veterans and was an All-American swimmer in college.

Melograne was working as a parking lot attendant when he passed the bar exam without attending law school. He then became an assistant district attorney, ran his own practice and was a magisterial district judge in Whitehall, Castle Shannon, and Baldwin Township for more than 20 years.

Melograne’s career as a district judge ended in 1996 when he was convicted of fixing hundreds of minor cases. He served 27 months in prison for the crimes and was disbarred.

“In my mind, those of us who knew and respected him, that was an aberration and a deviation from who I believe to have been a loyal and honorable man and friend,” Pittsburgh defense attorney Robert Del Greco told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Melograne is survived by his son, Phillippe A. (Tracey) Melograne; grandsons Anthony and Nicholas Melograne and numerous nephews, nieces and great-nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his wife, Olga Farino Melograne; his parents, Filippo and Maria Rose Melograne; stepfather, Rocco Pinti; and brother, Nunzio Melograne; brother of Catherine (Carl) DePasqua, Lynda Schaeffer, Marie (Marco C.) Spalla.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday at St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin Church in Whitehall.

Photo by webhamster via Creative Commons.