JUDGE ALBERT E. DE ROBBIO

Judge Albert E. DeRobbio, of Cranston -- Chief Judge of the R.I. District Court -- died peacefully in his sleep on December 22, 2008. Judge DeRobbio was the beloved husband of Barbara M. (Ardizzone) DeRobbio. Last June, the DeRobbios had celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary. Born in Providence, Judge DeRobbio was the son of the late Oresto and Maria (Della Grotta) De Robbio. He was the devoted father of five children: Robyn Catalano of Warwick, and her husband Steven L. Catalano, Esq.; Albert E. DeRobbio, II of Scituate; Carla Franke of London, England and her husband Ingo; Stephanie Pirolli of Cranston and Jennifer DeRobbio of Warwick. He was the adored grandfather: Justin and Courtney Catalano, Adam, Aaron, Albert E. III, and Sophia DeRobbio, Yana, Esther and Paul Franke, Alexandra, Jonathyn, Logan, and Anthony Pirolli. He is also survived by three loving sisters: Angela Barletta of Johnston; Olive Lanni of Rumford and Katherine Castellone of Cranston, a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and numerous judicial colleagues and friends. A graduate of Classical High School, Boston College and Boston University Law School, Judge DeRobbio became a Boston College football star. A distinguished member of the RI Bar since 1956, Judge DeRobbio was a prominent attorney and respected leader in the RI Judiciary. Prior to his 1976 appointment as a District Court Judge, Judge DeRobbio was engaged in private practice of law and served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Rhode Island under three Attorneys General: Herbert F. DeSimone, Richard Israel and Julius Michaelson. During his tenure in the Attorney's General's Office from 1967-1976, Judge DeRobbio was appointed Chief Executive Officer and Chief of the Criminal Division. After serving as an Associate Judge of the District Court from 1976- 1979, Judge DeRobbio was then elevated to the R.I. Superior Court as an Associate Justice, a position he held until 1986 when he was appointed to lead the District Court, where he served with distinction until his death. In 1999 -- while continuing to also serve as Chief Judge of the District Court -- former Chief Justice Joseph R. Weisberger appointed Judge DeRobbio to reform the former Administrative Adjudication Court (AAC). Under the leadership of Chief Judge DeRobbio, the AAC went from a troubled court to a model court and was restructured and renamed the R.I. Traffic Tribunal. During Judge DeRobbio's tenure, the RITT moved into its new Cranston facility. He was very proud of his work at the RITT and he led that Court with distinction from 1999 through 2007. For many years, Judge DeRobbio was a member of the American Bar Association's Judicial Division; he served on numerous judicial boards and commissions (locally and nationally); and he co-chaired the R.I. Law Day Committee. Chief Judge DeRobbio was a distinguished member of the R.I. Trial Lawyers Association and the Justinian Law Society. During his career as a prosecutor and later a judge, Judge DeRobbio prosecuted and presided over many high profile cases. Even after his appointment to the R.I. bench, he was also a mentor and teacher to numerous young lawyers. A recipient of countless legal and civil tributes and awards that are too numerous to mention, Judge DeRobbio will be long remembered for his indelible mark upon the Providence Plantations Lions Club (Serving as President and as a member of the Board of Directors) and the Order of the Sons of Italy, Loggia Luce Moderna. With the Lions club, Judge DeRobbio cooked and served meals to the needy in the Fox Point section of Providence for many years. He was a Army Veteran of the Korean War. He was a communicant of St. Paul's Church in Cranston and St. Francis Chapel in Providence. His funeral will be held on Monday at 8:30am from the NARDOLILLO FUNERAL HOME 1278 Park Ave. Cranston followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Paul's Church Broad St. Cranston at 10am. Entombment will be in St. Ann Cemetery Mausoleum, Cranston. VISITING HOURS Sunday 2-8pm. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Diabetes Foundation of RI 1117 Douglas Ave. Unit#2 North Providence, RI 02904 or Lupus Foundation of New England 40 Speen St. Suite 205 Framingham, MA 01701. Visit www.nardolillo.com for information and online condolences.

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