Philip Charles Ciaccio

Philip Charles Ciaccio, a retired appellate court judge, former City Council member, lawyer and avid tennis player, died peacefully surrounded by his family on Thursday, November 12, 2015. He was 88. A New Orleans native, Judge Ciaccio graduated from St. Aloysius High School at the age of 15. He attended Tulane University and graduated with an undergraduate degree in 1947 and received his law degree in 1950. While in law school, he met and promptly fell in love with Mary Jane Bologna, his wife and soul-mate of 63 years. Once he graduated from law school, he served during the Korean Conflict in the United States Air Force as an officer in the JAG Corps. He and Mary Jane were married in 1952. The first of their ten children was born while he was serving in Morocco, North Africa. Upon returning from North Africa, he hung up his shingle with two law partners. In 1958, he made his first run for the legislature, with his mother, grandmother and wife knocking on doors and handing out pamphlets. Despite at first being unsuccessful, he ran again in 1962 and won. After being part of the Louisiana Legislature for four years, he successfully won a seat on the New Orleans City Council. He enjoyed 16 years of representing District "E". In 1982, he decided that he wanted to continue his public service, but in a different branch of the government. It was then that he fulfilled his calling by being elected judge for the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal. His analytical mind thrived in this position, and he approached each case with sensitivity and diligence. Even though he officially retired from the Fourth Circuit in 1998, he served as an ad hoc judge for many years, including on the First Circuit, Fourth Circuit and Fifth Circuit Courts of Appeal and serving pro tempore on the Louisiana Supreme Court in 2010 for then Chief Justice Kitty Kimball. In addition to public service, he was active in numerous charitable organizations. Most notably he served as a founding member and chairman of the first board of directors of Covenant House, New Orleans. During his tenure, he participated in the acquisition, construction and development of the current Covenant House facilities. He remained an active supporter of Covenant House during his lifetime. While his political career consumed much of his time, he remained an active father to his ten children. He encouraged both their academic and spiritual development, and took great pride in the fact that all of his children obtained undergraduate and advanced degrees. His love for his wife and children was limitless. Though he had a large family of his own, his love, devotion and counsel was unselfishly given to his extended family, including nieces, nephews and friends. The most tragic event of his life was the untimely death of his beloved son, Christopher, in 1990. Christopher was 27 years old and in the midst of pursuing his Master in Computer Science from Tulane University. The death of Christopher forever changed his life but never rocked his deep faith. Survivors include his wife, Mary Jane Bologna; nine children, Kathleen Giler (Paul); Charles (Judee); Philip, Jr. (Mary Beth); Maureen Anderson (Marc); Maria Schneider; Charleen Schreiner (George); Gregory (Anna Lisa); Michael (Nicole); and Suzanne Graffeo (Charlie); 29 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Monday, November 16, 2015 at 1:00 PM at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 6666 Spanish Fort Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70124. Visitation will be held at church from 10:00 AM until 1:00 PM. Interment will follow in All Saints Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Covenant House of New Orleans, LA at www.covenanthouse.org/Donate. To view and sign the family guestbook, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com.