Judge Joseph A. Dych, who loved being on the bench, dies at 68

JOSEPH A. DYCH liked everything about being a judge.

"He liked the whole idea of the courtroom," said his wife, the former Sandra Tranchitella. "The pomp and circumstance, the robes, the rituals."

And, of course, he liked the idea of being able to help people by dispensing justice with an even hand.

"He was always interested in both sides of any situation," his wife said. "He was a very fair person. Political science always interested him, about people who could affect changes, how people were treated."

Joseph Dych, a Philadelphia Common Pleas judge since 2002 and a community activist, died Thursday of lung cancer. He was 68 and lived in Spring Garden.

Becoming a judge was Dych's ambition since he decided to go into law, studying at Temple University at night while working as a claims adjuster for State Farm Insurance.

He was appointed to the bench in 2002 and elected to a full 10-year term in 2003.

"He was a very big civil libertarian," his wife said. "As a high school valedictorian he gave a speech on civil rights and racism. He was a firm believer in equality and fairness."

They were married in 1971. They purchased a rowhouse on a rundown block in Spring Garden, and renovated it and a property nearby.

They often opened their home for tours to raise money to plant neighborhood trees. He served on the board of the Spring Garden Civic Association and its zoning committee.

As a judge, Dych handled major felony cases and civil motions and was recently sitting in the Major Civil Jury program.

"Joe was extremely fair and had a terrific grasp of the law," fellow jurist Jeffrey Minehart told the Inquirer. "His decisions were always balanced. He earned lawyers' respect because he allowed them to try cases with a minimum of interference."

Joe Dych grew up in Southwest Philadelphia and attended West Catholic High School. He was a member of the debating team.

Money was tight in those days and he worked part-time as an elevator operator in a Center City office building while in high school. While attending La Salle University, he worked at a Horn & Hardart restaurant in Center City.

He held a number of positions after receiving his law degree. He was an assistant city solicitor, vice president and general counsel for Globe Security Systems and vice president of Wells Fargo Guard Services. He joined the law firm of Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggins, where he handled liability and workers' compensation cases.

But always there was the dream of becoming a judge. None of his positions was satisfying enough for him. He wanted to be on the bench.

Joe was known among friends for his rich sense of humor and his ability to find the absurd in most situations and enjoy a good laugh.

He wasn't a singer, but he enjoyed taking non-singing roles at Philadelphia Opera Company productions. He was also a devoted Phillies fan and liked to travel.

A collector since his youth (he sold a model train collection to help pay for his college education), Joe liked to collect American art from the early 20th century, watches and sports memorabilia.

He was a Democratic committeeman in Spring Garden.

Besides his wife, he is survived by two sons, William and Timothy, and a sister, Margaret Shepherd.

Services: 10 a.m. today at the Dinan Funeral Home, 1921 Spring Garden St. Friends may call at 9 a.m. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon.