Michael Richard Bucci

Michael R. Bucci Jr., of Mt. Lebanon, passed away peacefully Thursday, April 4, 2013. Born March 9, 1955, he was the son of Helen (Urda) Bucci and the late Michael R. Bucci Sr. A 1973 graduate of Belle Vernon Area High and a 1977 summa cum laude graduate of Grove City College, he served as student body treasurer, and later as president and was recognized as Omicron Delta Kappa/Mortar Board's Senior Man of the Year. He was also a freshman residence counselor, a member of the Student Activities Committee, the co-curricular Budget Committee, the College Radio News Staff, Collegian Feature staff, Nu Lambda Phi Social fraternity, the varsity wrestling team and Pi Gamma Mu. He received his Juris Doctor in 1980 from Dickinson School of Law where he was on the editorial staff of Dickinson Law Review, the National Trial Moot Court Team, and the National Appellate Moot Court Team-1980 Robert F. Wagner National Labor Law Moot Court Competition Publication: Judicial Clarification of a Common Law Doctrine: the Pennsylvania Doctrine of Official Immunity, and he received the Corpus Juris Secundum Student Award for Trial Advocacy. While a student, he interned for Ira H. Weinstock, P.C., and was a summer intern for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives as a research analyst assigned to the House Mines and Energy Management Committee. After graduating, he worked as a law clerk for Pennsylvania Superior Court Judge Gwilym A. Price until 1982, when he became an associate for Thorp, Reed and Armstrong. In 1989, he was elected as the youngest partner in the firm's litigation section, primarily engaging in the defense of medical device and pharmaceutical products liability claims and toxic tort litigation where he co-authored many published articles dealing with product liability. From 2007, until his illness in 2010, Mr. Bucci was a partner for Dinsmore Shohl, LLP. After being admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, Mr. Bucci had the opportunity to argue in front of the highest Court in the United States. He also was admitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, U.S. Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Judicial System, U.S. District Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia, West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals and was a member of the American and Pennsylvanian Bar Association Civil Litigation Section, and the Allegheny County Bar Associations, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, International Association of Defense Counsel, Defense Research Institute, and Pennsylvania Defense Institute. He co-authored "Third Circuit Requires Detailed Record to Exclude Expert Testimony," and "Analyzing the Admissibility of Expert Testimony Based Upon Novel Scientific Evidence," both published by the Pennsylvania Defense Institute. In 1990, he was the volunteer account executive for the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania and served on the advisory board of Home Health Services of Allegheny County. Michael as an Eagle Scout and a member of the Boy Scouts of America Association, the Order of the Arrow, where he was awarded the vigil honor and was a past chief. He also was an officer in the Bella Vista Lodge, Order Italian Sons and Daughters of America and was a past president of the General Alumni Association of the Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University. For Excellence in Courtroom Advocacy, he was named to the Order of Barrister, Omicrom Delta Kappa's for leadership, Pi Gamma Mu, Outstanding Men of America, Who's Who Among American Universities and Colleges, and the College Register. Mr. Bucci was presented the Distinguished Service Award, along with Gov. Tom Ridge by the Dickinson School of Law, and was named an Outstanding Young American and Who's Who Among Rising Young Americans and was recently recognized in the 2011 edition of the Best Lawyers in America in the practice of Tort Litigation. He was also elected to the Fellows of the American Bar Foundation and received an AV Preeminent Rated Lawyer status for integrity and professional excellence. In addition this mother, Michael is survived by two daughters, Theo Allyn Kelley and Krista (Sam) Jackson; a granddaughter, Olivia Reese; a sister, Cindy (Tom) Gregg; niece, Ashley (Brian) Grimm; nephew, Tommy Gregg; several aunts and uncles, Elizabeth Frank, Marie Valente, Joseph and Theresa Bucci, Dolores and Irv Becken, Joyce and Jim Cunningham, Dorse and Ed Rodebaugh and Margaret Urda; and three very dear friends, Alan and Susan Balla and Dave Scott. "Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, April 6, 2013, and from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, April 7, 2013, at the WILLIAM SLATER II FUNERAL SERVICE, 1650 Greentree Road, Scott Township. Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, April 8, 2013, at St. John Capistran Church, followed by burial at the West Newton Cemetery." Donations can be made in Michael's name to Grove City College, St. John Capistran, the American Cancer Society, Family Hospice and Palliative Care, 50 Moffett St., Pittsburgh, or to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation.