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Washington County District Attorney Eugene Vittone announces charges in this 2017 file photo.
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Washington County District Attorney Eugene Vittone dies after battling cancer

Andrew Rush/Post-Gazette

Washington County District Attorney Eugene Vittone dies after battling cancer

Pennsylvania officials are mourning Washington County District Attorney Eugene Vittone, who died Saturday after a battle with lung cancer.

The 61-year-old Bentleyville resident had been the DA for nine years.

Last month, he had also been elected president of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association and served on the board of its national counterpart.

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Mr. Vittone, a Washington County native, began his term as district attorney in January 2012 after serving 12 years as an assistant district attorney.

He had also practiced law privately for several years between stints in the DA’s office.

Mr. Vittone was respected in law enforcement circles for his dedication and compassion, especially in the areas of domestic violence, elder abuse and the opioid crisis.

His wife, Jane Ann, said he wanted to protect the vulnerable in society.

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“We always said there’s a special place in hell for anyone who abuses kids, animals and the elderly,” she said.

On the drug front, Mr. Vittone believed in medical treatment for drug users while bringing the full force of the law down on the dealers. In that capacity, his office, like other DAs in the region, often partnered with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal agents in prosecuting cases in the federal system, where the penalties for dealers are much stiffer than in the state system.

“As district attorney, Gene Vittone did a wonderful job for the citizens of Washington County,” said Stephen Kaufman, acting U.S. attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania. “He was a great friend of our office and an unwavering partner in the fight to combat the opioid crisis. Just last month, he participated with us in the Drug Summit held at Saint Vincent College.

“He will be deeply missed by all of Western Pennsylvania law enforcement. We extend our sincere condolences to Gene’s family and to the members of the Washington County District Attorney’s Office.”

Mr. Vittone was well regarded across the state.

“Affable and gracious, Gene will be remembered for the tremendous contributions he made for the betterment of his community and profession,” the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association said in a statement. “His big heart and kind soul will be deeply missed.”

Mr. Vittone had become association president in late July. He said then that he and his colleagues were committed to “doing the right thing for the right reason, which means enforcing the law, seeking justice, protecting victims and making improvements to the system to ensure fairness and safe communities.”

The PDAA said he was “forward thinking” on initiatives related to elder abuse and the heroin and opioid epidemic.

Mr. Vittone was a member of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Advisory Council on Elder Justice in the Courts and had previously served as a member of the Supreme Court’s Elder Law Task Force.

In the battle against illicit drugs, he was a pioneer in establishing prescription drop-off boxes and in the use of Narcan to revive overdose victims, the PDAA said.

“The lives he helped save are now part of his legacy,” the PDAA said.

Mr. Vittone knew first-hand the challenges first responders face in the drug battle; he had previously worked as a paramedic and maintained his certification until the time of his death

Mr. Vittone’s leadership was recognized nationally last spring when the National District Attorneys Association appointed him to its board of directors.

Nick Sherman, a Washington County commissioner, said he had known Mr. Vittone when Mr. Sherman was a domestic abuse counselor and described Mr. Vittone as a “champion” in the fight against domestic violence.

He was one of the first DAs in the region to have a full-time victim advocate in the courtroom working with other district attorneys.

“Gene was a friend, mentor and role model for me not only politically, but professionally,” Mr. Sherman said in a statement. “He will be missed by all that knew him and worked with him.”

The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office also posted a memorial on its Facebook page.

“Gene was a genuinely good, gentle and decent man and a dedicated and passionate public servant,” the statement said.

Mr. Vittone grew up in Monongahela. His father was a pharmaceutical sales rep and his mother a special needs teacher.

He graduated from Peters Township High School in 1977 and from the University of Pittsburgh in 1981. He later earned a master’s degree in health administration and business administration from Pitt.

As a paramedic, he helped manage Ambulance and Chair EMS in Washington County and also for a time worked selling veterinary pharmaceuticals. After deciding to go to law school, he worked his way through Duquesne University’s law program as a paramedic and received his degree in 1997.

Mr. Vittone spent a year as a law clerk and joined the district attorney’s office in 1998. He left for private practice for several years and rejoined in 2008 after Steven Toprani defeated longtime DA John Pettit in 2007.

Outside of his career, Mr. Vittone was a family man.

“He was a wonderful husband and father,” Jane Ann Vittone said.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Vittone is survived by his children, Michael and Laura, who live at home.

A viewing will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Warco-Falvo Funeral Home in Washington, Pa. A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church in Washington.

First Published: August 22, 2021, 3:36 a.m.
Updated: August 22, 2021, 5:12 p.m.

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