In Memoriam
It is with sadness that we recognize the passing of the following members of the Fayette County Bar.
Wayne H. Port, 76, of Tampa, Fla., originally of Uniontown, passed away Monday, June 26, 2023. Born in Pittsburgh, Wayne spent the majority of his life in Uniontown, graduating from Uniontown High School in 1964 before attending Penn State University, where he graduated with a degree in accounting in 1968.
From there he went to law school at the University of Pittsburgh, earning his law degree in 1971.
After law school, Wayne returned to Uniontown, where he passed the bar exam and began his legal career with the firm of Ray, Buck, Margolis, Mahoney and John. He became a partner in the firm in 1983 and remained practicing until his retirement in 2017. He was a member of the Fayette County Bar Association for over 50 years. Wayne's love for his alma mater, Penn State cannot be understated. He became involved with Penn State Fayette - the local Penn State campus, serving as their chairman of the advisory board for over 15 years as well as an adjunct professor of business law
Wayne dedicated his life to service, serving in multiple roles at Tree of Life Synagogue in Uniontown and was involved with B'nai B'rith for many years. He also was a longtime Rotarian, youth soccer coach and an avid golfer..
Wayne is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 53 years, Nancy Bransdorf Port of Tampa; a daughter, Amy (Joshua) Reiter and granddaughters, Rachel and Samantha of Millburn, N.J.; a son, Louis (Lauren) Port and grandchildren, Brennan, Connor and Emelie of Odessa, Fla.; a brother, Richard (Lucy) Port of Highland Park, Ill.; and a sister, Barbara (Myron) Kaufman of Monroeville.
George Leon Hallal was born on January 16, 1930 in Brownsville, PA to Fadell “Fiddle” and Pearl Mitchell Hallal. He served as an altar boy and one of the first choir members at his grandfather’s parish, St. Ellien Syrian Orthodox Church, in Brownsville, across the street from which he lived for most of his life. He also worked at his father’s business, Fiddle’s Confectionery, as a teenager and young adult.
George graduated from Brownsville High School and earned his Bachelor degree in business administration from Pennsylvania State University. He eventually earned his Master degree in business from the University of Pittsburgh and a Juris Doctor from Duquesne University. In between his degrees, George served his country in the Korean War as a translator of Russian language after studying at the Defense Language Institute in California. Upon returning home, he worked at Gimbels department store in Pittsburgh. George later became a partner in Webster Hallal Law Firm and was a prominent attorney in Western Pennsylvania until his retirement. He also served on the board of Brownsville General Hospital for many years.
As a lifelong Pittsburgh sports fan, George regularly attended football and baseball games and enjoyed them--depending on the season. A generous man, he frequently invited family and friends to attend games with him, or he simply gave them the tickets. The most famous example of George’s generosity involved the 1960 World Series and the Pirates. He promised his younger sister and brother that they could go to the seventh and final game in Pittsburgh, which was unlikely to happen against the heavily favored Yankees. Unexpectedly, Marlene and Joe witnessed the most famous home run in World Series history and a Pirates’ championship. Their older brother could not have been happier for them.
George enjoyed regular rounds of golf at Uniontown Country Club and became a wonderful cook and historian of his family’s Syrian heritage. In 1999, he took the trip of a lifetime with his sister and brother to the Middle East to explore his ancestral homeland. During his time in Syria, where his father was born, George met distant relatives near his father’s village, an experience he would always cherish.
George was preceded in death by his parents and his sister and brother-in-law, Regina and Michael Sieg. He is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Marlene and Al Mamary of Norman, OK, his brother and sister-in-law, Dr. F. Joseph and Dr. Janice Hallal of McLean, VA, and six nephews and nieces: Rich Sieg of Pittsburgh, PA, Saundra Irvine (Russ) of Toledo, OH, Alexandra Nassief (Mark) of Santa Clarita, CA, Greg Mamary of Norman, OK, Matthew Hallal (Jen) of San Geronimo, CA, and Sara Hallal Friend (Ned) of Seattle, WA. George is also survived by his dear friend of many years, Nancy Byron of Belle Vernon, PA, and her children, Jamie Byron (Alyssa) of Belle Vernon, PA and Melissa Echard (Charlie) of Mardela Springs, MD, as well as Nancy's grandchildren.
Davina D. Burd, age 47, of Scottdale passed away Sunday, March 20, 2022 at Forbes Regional Hospital Monroeville. Davina was born June 8, 1974 in Uniontown the daughter of Thomas and Ruth Ann Fencil Burd. Davina was a 1992 graduate of the Mt. Carmel Christian School, Bob Jones University and the Oklahoma City University School of Law. She was a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Fayette County Bar Association where she served as a board member.
In addition to her parents, Davina is survived by, a sister, Kristina Cossell (Chris) of Connellsville, brothers, Thomas Burd and fiance' Sarah Burbage and her daughter, Charlee of FL, Tyler Burd (Megan) of St. Clairsville, OH; nieces, Aubrey Burd and Abigail Cossell, nephews, Zachary, Jonathon and Nicholas Cossell and Peyton Burd; her aunt Beverly Fencil and uncle Raymond Fencil and wife Valerie; also numerous cousins and extended family.
Arthur P. Tonozzi, age 78, of Uniontown, PA, passed away Thursday, December 17, 2020 in the Uniontown Hospital. He was born October 27, 1942 in Star Junction, PA, son of the late Primo Tonozzi and Mary Trevisanutto Tonozzi.
Art graduated from Frazier High School with the class of 1960 then received a degree in Education from California State Teachers College in 1960. He taught history at Mount Pleasant High School for a short period followed by Law School at West Virginia University where he graduated in 1968 with a Juris Doctorate. Art represented the United Mine Workers of America for several years along with servicing his community in his private practice until retirement. He was a faithful member of St. Therese de Lisieux Roman Catholic Church of Uniontown, Sons of Italy Lodge #231 of Uniontown, the Uniontown Country Club, and the PA and Fayette Bar Associations. Art was an avid golfer, enjoyed reading, boating and spending time with his family.
Left to cherish Art’s memory are his loving wife of fifty-two years, Joyce Celaschi Tonozzi; three children, Paula Barry and husband Tim of Morgantown, WV, Thomas Tonozzi and wife Allyson of Hudson, OH and Todd Tonozzi of Uniontown; four grandchildren, Christopher and Nicholas Barry and Camryn and Cade Tonozzi; and a brother, Ronald Tonozzi of Walnut Cove, NC.
Fred C. Adams Sr., 95, of Uniontown, passed away Tuesday, May 12, 2020. He was born in Phillipi, West Virginia. Fred grew up in the Brownsville area and was a graduate of Redstone High School, Class of 1942. He served with the United States Navy during World War II. Judge Adams graduated from California State Teachers College with a Bachelor's in Education and Duquesne University Law School.
Fred Adams was a practicing attorney in Uniontown from 1957 through 2019, which included being a partner in the firm of Coldren Adams and, most recently, in partnership with his grandson, Jason Adams, at Adams & Adams.
Judge Adams served on the bench in the Court of Common Pleas of Fayette County from 1975 through 1986. He is remembered by his colleagues as being a remarkable man “of deep integrity, who was kind, polite and studious but who always commanded respect,” as well as for his dedication to his family and the law.
Judge Adams is survived by his wife, Catherine, son Fred C. Adams Jr., his grandchildren, Jason Adams, Joel Adams and Melanie Leaseburg, and eight great-grandchildren.
The Fayette County Bar Association will hold a memorial service before the Court for Judge Fred C. Adams, Sr. at the Fayette County Courthouse in Courtroom No. 1 on Thursday, September 3, 2020, at noon.
Herbert Margolis, 92, formerly of Uniontown, passed away on Friday, May 22, 2020, in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Herb grew up in Masontown, and graduated from Masontown High School, Class of 1945. He was a World War II veteran having served in the United States Navy. He received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Pittsburgh.
Mr. Margolis practiced law in Fayette County for more than 60 years, most recently with the firm of Margolis, George & Port. Throughout his years of practice, he was a solicitor for various authorities, municipalities and school districts, including the Uniontown Area School District and Fayette County Redevelopment Authority. Herb was respected by his peers as being “knowledgeable, hardworking and highly ethical.”
He was an avid Pitt fan and enjoyed golfing with friends. Herb’s highest priority was his love for his family and the pride he had for his children and grandchildren. Herb is survived by his wife of 67 years, Barbara; sons Jim, Gary and Tom and daughter, Sara, and six grandchildren.