Biography

01/25/1932 - 09/12/2018

Lieutenant Colonel Gerald J. LaValle (D47) Beaver, Lawrence (Part) Counties 1990-2004 Allegheny (Part), Beaver (Part), and Lawrence (Part) Counties 2005-2008

Early Life:

Lieutenant Colonel Gerald J. LaValle, born January 25, 1932, Rochester, Beaver County, Pennsylvania; son of Peter J. and Marie V. LaValle Petrucci; Rochester Area High School; Geneva College (B.S.), business administration; Westminster College (M.A.); United States Marine Corps, 4th Marine Division, active, lieutenant colonel, Marine reserves, 1952-1981; teacher, assistant football coach; president, Rochester Borough Council, 1974-1976; Mayor, Rochester Borough, 1976-1989; Beaver County Democratic Executive Board, Commissioner, Beaver County, 1984-1990; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania Senate, 1990-2008, Minority Caucus Secretary, 2005-2006; Acting Minority Appropriations Chairman, 2007-2008; married, Darla Jean Winkle LaValle; two sons; died, September 12, 2018 (aged 86) Beaver County, Pennsylvania; interment, Saint Marys Cemetery, Beaver Falls, Beaver County, Pennsylvania.

Early Career:

Teacher, assistant football coach, Midland and Rochester School Districts, twenty-five years.  

Professional titles; business ownership; board memberships; local government; club memberships:

Member, Rochester Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge #238; American Legion Post 498; Rochester Order Sons of Italy Aquila Fidele Lodge; Beaver Falls American Legion, Knights of Columbus, Father James Reid Council.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Mayor, Rochester Borough, 1976-1989; Beaver County Democratic Executive Board; Commissioner, Beaver County, 1984-1990.

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania Senate, 47th district, Special Election, James Ross resigned, February 28, 1990, Beaver, Lawrence (Part) Counties, June 4, 1990-2004; Pennsylvania Senate, 47th district, Allegheny (Part), Beaver (Part), and Lawrence (Part) Counties 2005-2008; Minority Caucus Secretary, 2005-2006; Acting Minority Appropriations Chairman, 2007-2008; committee assignments, Appropriations (Acting Minority Chairman), Community, Economic and Recreational Development (Minority Chairman) Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, Education, Law and Justice, Transportation; Democratic Policy, Legislative Budget and Finance (vice-chairman), Legislative Audit Advisory Commission; Pennsylvania Emergency Management Council, State Transportation Advisory, Transportation Commission; not a candidate reelection, left office November 30, 2008.

Cited: 

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members "L"". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

The Pennsylvania Manual, (2007-2008). Trostle, S., (Editor). (Volume 118). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, page 3-36, 3-39. Biographies of Members of the Senate, page 3-19.

Gerald J. LaValle (1932-2018) - Find a Grave Memorial