Honorable Charles J D'Arrigo

D'Arrigo, a long-time Emerson Hill resident and husband of powerhouse community volunteer and Advance Woman of Achievement Norma D'Arrigo, died Tuesday at home, his wife said. He was 88 years old.

A respected jurist whose career spanned more than 40 years, D'Arrigo was known for his even-tempered demeanor and the dignity and integrity he brought to the bench.

Born and raised in New Brighton, the second youngest of four children, D'Arrigo's father was an Italian immigrant and businessman who owned several grocery stores on the North Shore.

While a student at Curtis High School, he met the love of his life, the former Norma Formica, who was also a Curtis student. The future Mrs. D'Arrigo was a member of the water ballet team at Curtis. At the beginning of her sophomore year, she exchanged glances in her English classroom with a young man by the name of Charlie D'Arrigo.

A courtship ensued that lasted for several years, including the three years, from 1946 to 1949, that D'Arrigo served as an Army staff sergeant stationed in post-war Germany. They were married when he was discharged in 1949.

During their 67 years of marriage, D'Arrigo was a constant supporter and partner in his wife's many community and charity endeavors. He was often seen accompanying her at fundraisers, where the two were known to take to the dance floor together.

"We had a wonderful life together. He was always very supportive of whatever I was involved with at the time," Mrs. D'Arrigo recalled.

D'Arrigo earned a bachelor's degree in history from Wagner College, and went on to earn his juris doctor degree from Brooklyn Law School. He practiced law in St. George before before he began his career on the bench in 1973.

D'Arrigo served as Surrogate Judge of Richmond County from 1981 to 1999, when he reached the mandatory retirement age of 70. Among his duties as Surrogate, performing adoptions was his greatest joy. He particularly loved meeting parents who would show him pictures of children with whom they were "united in my chambers."

Prior to his service as Surrogate, he was elected a judge of the Civil Court and served as judge-in-charge of the Civil Court of Richmond County, and as Acting Supreme Court Justice of the Supreme Court.

He was the recipient of numerous honors for his dedicated service to both the legal profession and the community at large.

"I have been blessed in my career and in my life," D'Arrigo would say.

One of the roles he most enjoyed was serving as a judge of a different kind -- on the panel that selects the roster of Advance Women of Achievement each year. He was invited to join the panel of judges in 1972 by the late Advance Publisher Richard E. Diamond, who inaugurated the Women of Achievement awards and luncheon. At the time the majority of the judging panel was still comprised of men, but by the time he stepped down, in 2011, D'Arrigo was the lone male among the judges.

"Judge D'Arrigo conducted himself with the hallmark characteristics of the best in his profession -- dignity, fairness, insight and balance. These were the qualities that made him so effective as a judge in our Women of Achievement program for many years," said Advance Publisher Caroline Diamond Harrison. "Beyond the bench, there was another side to him that took a keen, personal interest in those around him. He and his wife Norma were supporters of so many community events, In addition to being present for all of the important milestones in my family. I will miss him dearly."

In addition to his wife Norma, D'Arrigo is survived by a son, Charles Jr., two daughters, Sherilyn D'Arrigo Swords and Janice D'Arrigo Van Stolk, and three grandchildren.

The funeral will be Monday, from the Casey Funeral Home, Castleton Corners, with a 10 a.m. mass in Blessed Sacrament R.C. Church, West Brighton. Burial will be in Moravian Cemetery, New Dorp.