Page 9 - Italian-American Herald - July 2023

IN MEMORIAM
and his surrender dominated news coverage for more than a week. Meanwhile, Biondi struggled to pay the law firm’s bills and many in his church shunned him for having the audacity to turn on Errigo. But the leaders of Wilmington’s legal community stood behind him and Errigo was disbarred, pleaded guilty to two counts of forgery and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
In the aftermath, Biondi and Harvey Porter bought out Errigo’s share of the law firm, and Biondi led it, with several different partners, for more than a decade. In that time he built a reputation as one of the state’s top labor lawyers, representing clients as diverse as the University of Delaware’s chapter of
the American Association of University Professors and Local 326 of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, headed by the legendary (or infamous) Frank Sheeran.
In 1979 he became a senior partner at Morris, Nichols, Arsht and Tunnell, one of Delaware’s premier law firms. In addition to his private practice, he served as Delaware counsel to the Delaware River and Bay Authority from 1974 to 2001.
Until his retirement in 2001, Biondi served on many boards, committees and organizations associated with the state’s legal system. He served as president of the
Delaware State Bar Association in 1984-85 and co-chairman on the Commission on Delaware Courts 2000 in 1993-96.
Biondi was well-known for his community service, most notably as the
pro bono legal counsel for St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church and its affiliated organizations from 1958 to 2010. In that role he provided essential support to many of Rev. Balducelli’s projects, including construction of Padua Academy and of the Antonian apartments for senior citizens.
His other community service included terms as a director of the Grand Opera House and as a trustee of the Wilmington Medical Center.
Among his many honors were induction into the Order of the First State by Gov. Carper in 1998 and receiving the Josiah Marvel Cup from the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce in 2016.
Biondi is survived by his wife Anita; a son, O. Francis Jr.; a daughter, Mary Catherine Biondi Moran; and three grandchildren, Serena, Carter and Joy Biondi. IAH
Delaware journalist Larry Nagengast wrote the narrative of the recently published “Andiamo! The Memoirs of Frank Biondi.”
ITALIAN-AMERICAN HERALD
JULY2023 | ITALIANAMERICANHERALD.COM 9
Frank Biondi earned a reputation as the consummate deal-maker in Delaware.