The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

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January 9, 2012

Fornelli has been exemplary for 30 years in role as judge

An Editor's Notes

By Jim Raykie -----

---- — He walked slowly, methodically to the podium Saturday night. When he got there, he paused for a moment of reflection.  Looking up at the crowd of 300 at the dinner in his honor, Judge Francis J. Fornelli thanked his friends for attending, adding that he was humbled by their love and support.

Twice he received standing ovations from the crowd at Avalon Golf and Country Club in Sharon, where he was feted on his retirement as Mercer County’s president judge after three decades on the bench.

The 70-year-old Fornelli, forced to step away because of mandatory age requirement for judges under Pennsylvania law, will remain as senior judge. In that role, he will hear cases anywhere in the state, including ones at the Mercer County Courthouse.

For me, I was the one who was humbled to be at a dinner and in the presence of a man I have admired for a long time, going back to our days together as directors on the board of the Mercer County Hall of Fame before he was elected judge.

Throughout the years, we have jabbed each other about our college football teams. University of Notre Dame proud, Fornelli always would be in touch when the Fighting Irish played my alma mater, Penn State. We had a great deal of fun with that throughout the years, although neither of us has had much to brag about lately, especially if you’re a Nittany Lion.

As he told the crowd Saturday, a judge’s role is a powerful one. He noted that in some legal circumstances, a judge can take a person’s property, money, children or his life. Very powerful, indeed. But despite the weight and responsibility of his job, Fornelli - a compassionate man of kind and sincere words - never changed despite his judicial authority.

As editor of The Herald, when our paths crossed publicly, I always called him judge, a title of respect he deserves. In a personal conversation, I like others could call him Fran and he would be comfortable with that – unlike many judges that I have met throughout the years.

Fornelli never forgot his Sharpsville roots and his days as a budding legal star in the early 1970s, main reasons why I believe he is such a terrific judge. In his 30 years on the bench, his passion for his profession never wavered, and on the contrary, grew throughout the years.

The dinner was symbolic in the sense that the torch that has burned so brightly for 30 years has been passed to Mercer County’s four judges – John Reed, Christopher St. John, Robert Yeatts and President Judge Thomas Dobson.

May they be granted the strength and the wisdom to continue to carry it as passionately and as remarkably as their mentor.

William ‘Bill’ Basilone

Our area buried one of its most popular and beloved men when William “Bill” Basilone was laid to rest Friday.

To realize the love and respect earned by Mr. Basilone, one only had to watch the continual long line of visitors at McGonigle Funeral Home in Sharon on Thursday. It wrapped around the funeral home, east on State Street, and down South Myers for more than six hours.

A total of 65 cars were in the funeral procession. Some observers have noted it was the largest funeral in their memory. Others said that they never had seen so many grown men sobbing at any other visitation.

He was a man who quietly helped and supported many, and by his joyous nature, was well-loved by hundreds. The city of Farrell as well as Mr. Basilone’s friends and acquaintances have lost a wonderful man. RIP, my friend, from the hundreds of heartbroken who will miss your smile, friendship and generosity.



Jim Raykie is the editor of The herald and writes this column on Mondays. His email is jraykie@sharonherald.com

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