Longtime Pennsylvania State Representative Tony DeLuca Has Died

Beth BreljeOctober 10, 2022

DeLuca, 85, was the oldest and longest-serving member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Pennsylvania state Rep. Anthony M. “Tony” DeLuca died Sunday at his Penn Hills home after a brief battle with lymphoma, a disease he had beaten two times previously, the Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus announced Monday.

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

The Democrat lawmaker held the seat for 39 years, the longest state House tenure in Pennsylvania history. He represented the 32nd District, comprising the communities of Penn Hills township, Verona borough, the majority of Plum borough and—due to the recent legislative redistricting—Oakmont borough, all of which are in Allegheny County.

DeLuca was the Democrat chairman of the House Insurance Committee for more than 20 years. After his first lymphoma diagnosis and his late wife Connie’s later breast cancer diagnosis, DeLuca became an advocate for cancer awareness and early detection. He introduced legislation to increase funding for cancer research, better treatment procedures, and care following a diagnosis, the House Democrats said in a statement.

He was the prime sponsor of over 100 pieces of legislation in just the 2021–2022 session. In July, he advocated for suspending Pennsylvania’s 58 cent tax per gallon of gasoline until the end of 2022. In May he proposed allowing schools to restrict student use of smart phones during the school day.

In 2018, DeLuca brought forward the Life Insurance Database Act to help Pennsylvanians learn if they were beneficiaries of a life insurance policy following a loved one’s death. The program has connected families with $5 million annually.

Commitment to Service

“DeLuca believed serving as a state representative was a full-time commitment both in the Capitol and in the district and did not have outside employment,” the statement said. “While others his age retired