Joseph Hudock

Honorable Joseph A. Hudock, 79, of Greensburg, died Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016, in Pittsburgh. He was born Nov. 21, 1937, in Greensburg, and was the son of the late State Police Major Andrew J. and Rebecca Burke Hudock.  Joseph was a 1955 graduate of his beloved Saint Vincent Prep, and a 1959 graduate of his beloved Saint Vincent College.  Years later, Joseph was named an alumnus of distinction by both wonderful institutions.  Joseph graduated from Duquesne University's law school in 1962, and enlisted in the United States Navy.  In the Navy he served in Japan and California in the Judge Advocate General Corps before returning to his hometown of Greensburg to begin a private law practice with Avra Pershing's office.  At the time of Joseph's discharge from the Navy, he had attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander.  Joseph was very proud of his military service such that the placement of his framed Honorable Discharge certificate within the house was a humorous difference of opinion between Joseph and his wife with his wife not permitting Joseph to hang it in their home's living room, much to Joseph's disappointment.  In Greensburg, Joseph eventually opened a law office with his dear friend of the last 45 years, John Driscoll.  In 1977, Joseph ran for a seat on the Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas.  Joseph won and served for the next 12 years before running for statewide office in 1989 for a seat on the Pennsylvania Superior Court.  Operating on a shoestring budget, and crisscrossing the state to campaign in most of Pennsylvania's 67 counties, Joseph was elected and he served for the next 18 years before his retirement in 2007.  Joseph was also a devout Roman Catholic and a member of Saint Vincent parish.  He loved travel, gardening, the television show "Cheers," anything by actor and comedian Peter Sellers, and a perfect martini.  Joseph also was a man of strong opinions such that he believed that blue jeans, cell phones, and that noise people call "rock and roll music" were abominations of western civilization.   In addition to his parents, Joseph was predeceased by his sisters, Martha Hudock Falenski and Margaret "Peggy" Hudock Griesgraber.  A loving husband, father, and grandfather, Joseph is survived by his wife of almost 51 years, Rita Giegerich Hudock, and their four children, son Joseph A. Hudock, Jr. and his wife Maria of Gibsonia, daughter Dr. Ann Hudock and her husband Dr. Robin Mearns of Bethesda, Maryland, Dan Hudock of Greensburg, daughter Mary Piper and her husband David of Delmont, nine grandchildren and numerous nephews and nieces.  Joseph is also survived by his brother John Hudock and wife Joanne of Greensburg, and his sister Mary McCloskey of Greensburg.  Visitation will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the KEPPLE-GRAFT FUNERAL HOME, 524 N. Main St., Greensburg, with a funeral Mass to be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday in St. Vincent Basilica, Latrobe (Everyone please go directly to the church.). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to St. Vincent College.