JUDITH ANN ALGEO

ALGEO JUDITH ANN, MA, JD April 19, 1953 - Jan. 1, 2025 The world lost a friend and servant on January 1, 2025. Judith Algeo pursued successful careers as a child care worker, child and family therapist, massage therapist, public official and her true calling, as a family law litigator. Judith was the daughter of Rita and Hugh Algeo, devoted mother of Shannon McCarty Kelley (James), Mimi to Thomas, Jude and Catherine Kelley. Wife of Frank P. Cervone. Also survived by sisters Terry Breen (James), Rita Bianchini (Michael), and Donna Algeo; brothers Hugh Algeo III and Thomas Austin Algeo (Brian Moyer); aunt Philomena Kistler of Ottawa OH; and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. A proud graduate of Good Shepherd Parish School,, Judith paid her own way through then-LaSalle College, working at Bell Telephone. She met lifelong friends at West Catholic HS for Girls, LaSalle & Camp Neumann in Jamison. She rope-climbed mountains, played team volleyball, excelled in Scrabble and crossword, and cooked breakfast for Shannon and her friends every school day. Judith was one of the first two female volunteer fire fighters in Warwick Township. She was a social worker for juvenile offenders at DeLaSalle in Town and St. Gabriel's Hall. As Director of Residential Services at Tabor Children's Services, she served on the board of the National Network of Runaway & Homeless Youth Services and Chair of the Mid-Atlantic Association of Runaway Youth Services. She chaired the Interagency Youth Coalition of Bucks County and was a founding member of Bucks County AIDS Network. She earned her B.A. in Criminal Justice/Sociology and M.A. in Pastoral Ministry from La Salle and her law degree from Temple. Late in life, she learned banking as a Board Member at Hatboro Federal Savings. Never far from a book, she kept a running list of the more than 1400 books she had read since 1994, many several times, and her home library in the Schoolhouse was a favorite spot. Judith recalled the visionary 1978 commencement plea of then-LaSalle College President Brother Patrick Ellis, to "do something in public service ... run for office." Following five years on the Zoning Hearing Board, she was first elected to the Board of Supervisors of Warwick Township in 1999 and served as its Chairperson since 2004. Fresh out of law school, Judith was soon recognized for her unique of blend compassion, zeal, personal presence, trial skill and acumen. Judges especially liked that she found solutions rather than created problems in her cases. She was never without a pro bono client, and former therapy and law clients would often reconnect with their life success stories and new challenges. She championed service to women in Protection from Abuse and Judicial Bypass cases. She led the parent lawyers group in Juvenile Dependency Court and served hundreds of children and elders as guardian ad litem in Dependency and Orphans courts. She served as President of the Bucks County Bar Association, chaired many committees, and helped start the Bucks County Bar Foundation. She twice received the Pennsylvania Bar Association Pro Bono Service Award. She is a Board Member of Legal Aid of Southeastern PA, where she mentored promising parent advocates with special affection. A Memorial Celebration will be held in spring. Donations in lieu of flowers are invited to Bucks for Kids (www.bucksforkids.org), Legal Aid of Southeastern PA (www.lasp.org) or the Bucks County Bar Foundation (Bucks County Bar Foundation). Respected and loved, she touched the lives of so many, always for good.