Pennsylvania state Rep. Anthony M. “Tony” DeLuca died Sunday at his Penn Hills home after a brief battle with lymphoma, a disease he had beaten two times previously, the Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus announced Monday.
At 85, DeLuca was the oldest serving member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
The Democrat lawmaker held the seat for 39 years, the longest state House tenure in Pennsylvania history. He represented the 32nd District, comprising the communities of Penn Hills township, Verona borough, the majority of Plum borough and—due to the recent legislative redistricting—Oakmont borough, all of which are in Allegheny County.
DeLuca was the Democrat chairman of the House Insurance Committee for more than 20 years. After his first lymphoma diagnosis and his late wife Connie’s later breast cancer diagnosis, DeLuca became an advocate for cancer awareness and early detection. He introduced legislation to increase funding for cancer research, better treatment procedures, and care following a diagnosis, the House Democrats said in a statement….