Hon. Theodore S. Gutowicz Obituary (1920 - 2010)

The Honorable Theodore S. Gutowicz, the son of Polish Immigrants, was born May 3, 1920 in Philadelphia. He began his education at St. Adalbert's School in Port Richmond, graduated from Northeast Catholic in 1937 and graduated from The University of Pennsylvania in 1941. While at Penn he was a member of the football, baseball and boxing teams. After graduating from Penn he served his country as an Aviation Cadet in the U.S. Naval Reserve during WWII. In 1946, Theodore graduated from Dickinson Law School and entered private practice. In 1956, his work, 'Compilation of Pennsylvania Laws Affecting World War Veterans' was published. He continued in private practice until September 1965 when he was appointed by Gov. William Scranton to the Court. During his tenure in the Court of Common Pleas he served in the Family, Trial and Orphan divisions of the Court. After mandatory retirement in May 1990, he served as a Senior Judge in Orphan's Court until January 1996. During his years in private practice, Theodore served the State of Pennsylvania in a number of different positions. Under Gov. George Leader, he was the Assistant Director of the Pennsylvania Legislative Reference Bureau from 1955 until 1957. From 1957 until 1958, serving under Attorney General Herbert Cohen, he was the Assistant Deputy Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. From 1958 until 1962, he was the Deputy Insurance Commissioner of Pennsylvania and the Insurance Commissioner from 1962 to 1963. In 1963, he was honored by the Philadelphia Professional Society as the first American of Polish descent to serve in a Pennsylvania Governor's Cabinet. Before his elevation to the judiciary, Theodore participated in Philadelphia politics as a member of the 56th Ward Democratic Executive Committee and was a member of the Philadelphia Ward Realignment Commission. In addition to his service to his country, his state and his city, Theodore was also active in serving his community. He was a member of the Board of Advisors of Holy Family College, the Board of Education for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Aria Hospital Foundation Board. He participated in the Polish American Congress, Polish Heritage Society of Philadelphia, Men of Malvern and the American Legion Post # 396. He was also a member of the American Bar and Pennsylvania Bar Associations. Theodore was married for 30 years to the late Dorothy J. (nee Skodzinski). After Dorothy's death he married Loretta (nee Basinski) and was married for nearly 30 years until her passing in 2009. He is the beloved father of Anita (Joe) Lukach, the late Dr. Alexis Steller and the late Theodore J. Loving step-father of Lori (Kyle) Hassinger. Devoted Grandfather of Dorothy, Jared, Jonathan, Jessica, Alexis, Ariel and Joseph. Relatives and friends are invited to his viewing and funeral Saturday 9 - 10:15 AM at Our Lady of Calvary Church, 11024 Knights Rd. Phila., PA 19154. Funeral Mass 10:30 AM. Rite of Committal Resurrection Cem. In lieu of flowers donations in Ted's name may be made to the above named Church, or Sisters of Nazareth at OLC, 11027 Kipling Ln. Phila., PA 19154 or Siloam, 1133 Spring Garden St. Phila., PA 19123