Italian group to honor Costanzo, Vittone
The Italian-American Cultural & Heritage Society of Washington County will honor Washington County Judge Valarie Costanzo and District Attorney Eugene A. Vittone with Distinguished Citizen Awards at its annual banquet Sunday at the Hilton Garden Inn at Southpointe.
Each year, the society honors outstanding individuals of Italian-American heritage who not only have excelled professionally, but also have demonstrated a commitment to help others through volunteer efforts and community service.
Costanzo’s grandfather, Fidele (Fred) Costanzo, emigrated from Carlopoli, Catanzaro, which is in the Calabria region of Italy, in 1914. Her parents are Eileen and Joseph Costanzo.
After attending Canon-McMillan High School, Costanzo graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh with bachelor’s and law degrees. In 1995, she began her career as a prosecutor with the Washington County District Attorney’s office.
In 1998, she was appointed magisterial district judge by Gov. Tom Ridge, and in 1999, was elected to a full term. She won re-election in 2005 and 2011.
Last year, Costanzo was elected judge of the Washington County Court of Common Pleas, presiding over both criminal and family law cases. She is active in the Washington County Bar Association and the Pennsylvania Conference of State Trial Judges.
She also is past president of the Special Court Judges Association of Washington County, where she served on various committees for 15 years, and she has served on the board of the Mental Health Association, the Washington County Juvenile Court Advisory Board and the Washington County Intermediate Punishment Advisory Board.
Costanzo resides in Cecil Township with her two sons, Ryan and Justin.
Vittone, son of Eugene A. J. and Mary Anne Vittone, gets his Italian heritage from Giovanni and Giuseppina Vittone, who immigrated to the United States from Rivarolo, Canavese.
He graduated from Peters Township High School. In 1981, he earned a bachelor of science degree in biological sciences from the University of Pittsburgh and later obtained his Masters in Business Administration and Masters in Health Administration from Pitt.
In 1997, he earned his law degree as a cum laude graduate from Duquesne University.
Before attending law school, Vittone worked as a paramedic and managed a large EMS agency in Washington County. He maintains his paramedic certification.
Vittone was elected district attorney of Washington County after serving 12 years as an assistant district attorney in which he handled juvenile court, several trial lists and felony criminal trials. He also initiated the county’s Drug Treatment Court.
He is a board member of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Institute and a member of the National District Attorneys Association, the Pennsylvania Narcotic Officers Association and the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators.
Vittone enjoys singing with the Washington Festival Chorale and is a member of the parish choirs of Ave Maria Parish in Bentleyville and Immaculate Conception in Washington. He is an Eagle Scout and an assistant Scout leader for Troop 1419. He also coaches baseball for the Bentworth Baseball Association.
Vittone and his wife, Jane Ann, have two children.
Those wishing to attend the banquet should call Jack Barcelona at 724-483-2380.