Terrence Francis McVerry

Terrence F. “Terry” McVerry of Mt. Lebanon died at home on Monday, March 8th surrounded by his family.

He was born on September 16, 1943 to Thomas and Anna (Fritch) McVerry. The youngest of four boys (Jim, Dennis, and Tom) from Hill Station, a Washington PA coal mining community, Terry worked to pay his way through college and law school at Duquesne University (class of 1965 and 1968). 

Terry had an incredible work ethic and devoted his life to the service of others. He lived by his philosophy “Do the right thing for the right reasons under the law.” Terry has been a pillar of the Pittsburgh community for over 50 years and made countless contributions to the city he loved. He started his career as a prosecutor with the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office, followed by 25 years in general legal practice, beginning with a law firm he founded with colleagues Fred Baxter and Robert Cindrich.  From 1978 to 1990, he served the South Hills in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.  Terry was also a key architect of Allegheny County’s Home Rule Charter, one of his most significant professional achievements, and served as the first county solicitor under the new form of government.  His career dream was realized in 2002 with his appointment to the Federal District Court of Western Pennsylvania by President George W. Bush.  He was widely regarded as one of the fairest judges on the federal bench until his retirement in 2016.  When he was awarded the honor of being inducted into the Century Club of Distinguished Duquesne University Alumni in 2017, he reflected on those 14 years of his life as the pinnacle of his career, saying, “To have come from a little coal mining town where there were only one or two college graduates…and rise to the point of being a federal court judge was a phenomenal experience for me that I could never be more proud of.”

While incredibly dedicated to his work, Terry was even more committed to his loving family.  He married his college sweetheart and the love of his life, Judy (Kausek) in 1966, and they enjoyed 54 years together.  They raised three children Erin (Alex) Crowley, Bryan (Cindy) McVerry and Bridget (Juan José Orellana) McVerry and have enjoyed the blessing of nine grandchildren: Aidan, Madeleine, Anastasia, Wyatt, Mary Greta, George Maxen, Gavin, Diego and Sebastián. Everything he did, he did for his family; they were always sure of his deep and abiding love.  As a dad, he instilled his belief in service and the importance of family (along with the skills to “shoot the moon” in Hearts.) As a grandpa, he shared his playful side, often affectionately known as “tickle monster.” He was also a loving uncle to 12 nieces and nephews. In addition to spending time with his family, Terry loved taking care of his yard, scaring away the deer, playing cards, listening to a good Irish jig and escaping to the beach in the summer.

Friends will be received at Laughlin Cremation & Funeral Tributes, 222 Washington Rd, Mt. Lebanon on Friday, March 12th from 2:00-7:00 PM.  Mass of Christian Burial will be on Saturday, March 13th at 9:30 AM at St. Paul of the Cross Parish - St. Anne Church, 400 Hoodridge Drive, Castle Shannon.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that friends honor Terry’s long commitment to serving others with a donation in his memory to Neighborhood Legal Services (www.nlsa.us) or a contribution to the Honorable Terrence F. McVerry Endowed Scholarship Fund at the Duquesne University School of Law.

Scholarship contribution details: Please make check payable to Duquesne University School of Law with the Honorable Terrence F. McVerry Endowed Scholarship Fund indicated in the memo. Check can be mailed to Duquesne University School of Law Attn: Alumni Office, 600 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15282

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