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RODIA [CH TO RODINO] Peter Wallace (born Pellegrino)
Birth: 7 Jun 1909 Newark, N.J.
Death: 7 May 2005 West Orange, Essex Co., N.J.
Burial: Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover, N.J.
Notes
Peter Rodino Fam Tree on ancestry
NJ Naturalization Rec on ancestry of father as Peter
1920 in Newark, N.J. as Peter
1940 in Newark, N.J. as Pellegrino, lawyer, own practice
from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_W._Rodino
Peter Wallace Rodino, Jr. (June 7, 1909 – May 7, 2005) was a Democratic United
States congressman from New Jersey from 1949 to 1989. Rodino rose to prominence
as the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, where he oversaw the
impeachment process against Richard Nixon that eventually led to the president's
resignation. He is the longest-serving member ever of the United States House of
Representatives from the state of New Jersey.
Early life[edit]
Rodino was born Pelligrino Rodino, Jr. in the North Ward of Newark, New Jersey on
June 7, 1909. His father, Pelligrino Rodino (1883–1957), was born in Atripalda, a town
in the province of Avellino, in a region of southern Italy known as Campania. Rodino
Sr. emigrated to the United States around 1900 and worked as a machinist in a leather
factory, as a cabinet maker and carpenter, and for thirty years as a toolmaker General
Motors (Hyatt Roller Bearing). His mother, Giuseppina (Margaret) Girard (1884–1913),
was born in Newark. Pelligrino and Giuseppina were married in 1900. Pelligrino
Rodino, Jr., whose name was later Americanized to Peter, was the youngest of three
children.[1] Giuseppina Rodino died in 1913 of tuberculosis, when Rodino was 4;[2]
his father later married Antonia (Gemma) DeRobertis (Died 1944), whose first husband,
Michael Paladino, died.[1]
He attended McKinley Grammar School, graduating in February 1922. He attended
Barringer High School. He went to college at the University of Newark and earned a
law degree at the Newark Law School, both are now part of Rutgers University.[3] His
speech was badly affected by a childhood bout of diphtheria, and he conducted his
own speech therapy, spending hours "reciting Shakespeare through a mouth full of
marbles". Rodino endured ten years of menial jobs while studying at night for a law
degree at the New Jersey Law School. He worked for the Public Service Railroad and
Transportation Company. Rodino worked as an insurance salesman and at
Pennsylvania Railroad. He also worked at Ronson Art Metal Works making cigarette
lighters. He taught public speaking and citizenship in Newark. He also worked as a
songwriter.[1]
Rodino served in the administration of president Franklin Roosevelt as an appeals
agent for the Newark Draft Board. While the post exempted Rodino from the draft, he
enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1941. He served from 1942 to 1946. Rodino attended the
British Officers Training University of England and was commissioned as a second
lieutenant. He was assigned to the First Armored Division in North Africa, and later in
Italy with the Military Mission Italian Army, a joint Allied force. Due to his fluency in
Italian, he was named the adjutant to the Commanding General of Rome.[1] He earned
a Bronze Star for service in Italy and North Africa. he was discharged with the rank of
Captain.[3]
SO MY QUESTION IS . . . did the surname change?
ww1 draft reg for his father is Peter Rodino, b 30 May 1881, machinist, lives 123
Seventh Ave, Newark. Wife Anntonette
------
http://law.shu.edu/library/rodino/findingaid/historical-biographical-note.cfm?
RenderForPrint=1
Seton Hall | Law
Biographical Note
Biographical Note
Peter W. Rodino, Jr. was born to Pellegrino Rodino and Giuseppina (Margaret) Girard
on June 7, 1909, in the North Ward of Newark, New Jersey. Peter was christened
Pellegino, but his first name was later “Americanized.” His father had been born in
Italy, in the province of Avellino, town of Altripaldi, in 1883 and came to the United
States in 1900. At the time he settled in Newark, the senior Pelligrino Rodino could
not speak English. Giuseppina, Peter’s mother, was born in Newark around 1884. His
parents married in 1905. Peter was the third of three children. His mother died in 1913,
and his father re-married Antonia DeRobertis who was the widow of Michael Paladino.
Called “Gemma,” she was an Italian immigrant who spoke English as well as Italian, so
Rodino was raised in a bi-lingual household. His father worked in a leather factory, as
a cabinet maker and carpenter, and then at General Motors (Hyatt Roller Bearing) as a
toolmaker for thirty years. Gemma died in 1944. Pelligrino Rodino died in 1957 at the
age of 74.
Mr. Rodino attended McKinley Grammar School, graduating in February 1922. In his
formative years, he was an avid reader and developed a love of classic literature and
poetry. He attended Central High School from 1922-1923, and graduated from
Barringer High School in 1927. Mr. Rodino was a student at Dana College from 1927-
1929 and concurrently worked for the Public Service Railroad and Transportation
Company. Mr. Rodino held various jobs during the Depression. From 1930-1934, he
found work as an insurance salesman, an employee of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and
a factory worker, including a period at the Ronson Art Metal Works company making
cigarette lighters. From 1930-1932, he taught public speaking and citizenship classes
at the YMCA and Federation Clubs of Newark. Rodino loved to write, and penned
poems, short stories, and a novel. He also wrote songs in collaboration with Anthony
Petalino, a composer and musician.
Mr. Rodino attended New Jersey Law School from 1934-1937. Both New Jersey Law
School and Dana College later became part of Rutgers University. He worked his way
through law school attending classes in the afternoon. While in law school, Mr.
Rodino was active as a member of the Student Council, Observer Law Staff, Seal and
Scroll, McClelland Law Club, and the Debating Team.
Admitted to the bar in 1937, Mr. Rodino opened his own law practice in Newark. He
turned to political life in 1940 when he mounted an unsuccessful campaign for the
New Jersey Assembly. It was also during this time that he was appointed as an
appeals agent for the Newark Draft Board, and was thereby exempt from the draft.
However, when World War II began in 1941, Mr. Rodino curtailed his law practice to
enlist in the Army. In December of 1941, he married Marianne (Ann) Stango, whom he
originally met in high school.
Mr. Rodino served overseas from 1942-1946. He attended the British Officers Training
University of England and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He served with
the First Armored Division in North Africa, and later in Italy with the Military Mission
Italian Army, a joint Allied force. Because he was fluent in Italian, Rodino became the
adjutant to the Commanding General of Rome, in charge of all Allied logistics for the
city. Rodino was honored for his service with the Bronze Star, as well as with
decorations from the Republic of Italy.
In March 1946 Mr. Rodino returned from World War II as a Captain, and was
encouraged to once again enter politics. He ran for Congress in the tenth district
against Republican Fred Hartley, Jr. and lost, but ran again in 1948 and won. He took
office in 1949 where he remained until his retirement in 1989. Once in office Mr.
Rodino was assigned to the Veterans Affairs Committee and in 1950 was selected by
Emanuel Celler to fill a vacancy on the Judiciary Committee. As a member of the
Judiciary Committee Mr. Rodino was instrumental in the enactment of legislation to
assure equal rights, reform immigration policy, and fight crime. He authored majority
reports on civil rights legislation of 1957, 1960, 1964, and 1968, was the author of
Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and was floor manager of the 1966 Civil Rights
Act. Mr. Rodino also cosponsored the Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, and
authored the Monday holiday bill which made Columbus Day a national holiday. From
1971-1973 he chaired the Immigration, Citizenship and Nationality Subcommittee, and
was instrumental in the passage of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.
Mr. Rodino served as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee from 1973-1989, and,
during his first year as Chairman, he directed the Presidential impeachment inquiry of
Richard M. Nixon. He also chaired the Committee’s Monopolies and Commercial Law
Subcommittee.
During his years in Congress, Rodino became of Dean of the New Jersey
Congressional delegation. He served as Assistant Majority Whip of the House from
1965-1972, a member of the Democratic Steering & Policy Committee from 1965-1972,
and Senior Member of the House Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control in
1977 and from 1979-1988. In addition to domestic interests, Mr. Rodino also served on
various international committees. He served as a delegate to the North Atlantic
Assembly where he was Chairman of the Scientific and Technical Committee; to the
Working Group on the Control of Narcotics from 1962-1972; and to the
Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration dealing with refugee problems
from 1962-1972. He retired from the House in January 1989.
After retirement, Mr. Rodino served as a Distinguished Visiting Professor of
Constitutional Law at Seton Hall University Law School in Newark. He was a member
of the faculty from 1989 until his death in 2005. Between 1990 and 1999, he taught
two seminars each year, providing students a unique opportunity to actively
participate in research, study, and discussion of some of the many areas of law
affected by his time in public office. Enrollment was limited to 25 students, and the
courses were fully subscribed. Most of the term was taken up with traditional small
class discussion of pertinent issues. Each student also undertook a research paper on
a specific topic, with the research results being presented in the seminar in the latter
stages of the term. Critique and commentary was provided by Professor Rodino. The
first term seminar concentrated on Civil Rights and Immigration, including in particular
the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1986 Immigration Reform & Control Act. The second
term seminar dealt with Watergate and the Iran Contra Affair. These courses were co-
taught with Professors Gil Carrasco and E. Judson Jennings.
While at Seton Hall, Professor Rodino participated in many significant programs and
events, including a Celebration of the Bicentennial of the Bill of Rights. He also wrote
several important law review articles on the Ninth Amendment, the Special Prosecutor
Statute, the Preamble to the Constitution, and the Presidency.
On May 7, 2005, Mr. Rodino died of congestive heart failure at his home in West
Orange, New Jersey. He was 95 years old. He lay in state at Seton Hall Law Chapel
and the Funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Lucy’s Church in Newark. Burial took
place at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover, New Jersey. Mr. Rodino was
predeceased by his wife Ann in 1980. He is survived by his children Margaret
Stanziale and Peter W. Rodino III, three grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and
by Joy Judelson Rodino, whom he married in 1989.
From https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CRECB-2005-pt10/html/CRECB-2005-
pt10-Pg13262-2.htm
Our heartfelt condolences go out to his wife, Joy; his son, Peter W.
Rodino, III; his daughter, Margaret Stanziale and her husband Charles
Stanziale; his three grandchildren, Carla Prunty, Maria Stanziale and
Talia Rodino; and his twin great-grandchildren, Annabel and Charlotte
Prunty.
Parents
RODIA Pellegrino (31 May 1881 - 1956)
GERARD Giuseppina (Margaret) (Jennie) (1884 - 1913)
Siblings
RODIA [CHG TO RODINO] Ann (7 Feb 1907 - )
RODIA [CH TO RODINO] Peter Wallace (born Pellegrino) (7 Jun 1909 - 7 May 2005)
RODIA [CHG TO RODINO] Pasquale (24 Dec 1911 - 1 Jul 1983)
Marriage To STANGO Marianna (1910 - 3 Dec 1980)
m. Dec 1941
Notes
Parents
STANGO Raphael ()
DEROGATIS Mary ()
Children by STANGO Marianna 1910 - 3 Dec 1980
RODINO Margaret ()
RODINO Peter Wallace ()
Marriage To JUDELSON Joy ()
m. 1989
Notes
Produced by Fzip 1.7 12/27/2024