Richard C. Sorgini

Richard C. Sorgini, age 92, of Lake Worth, passed away peacefully on August 26, 2014 while surrounded by his family. Richard was born on September 25, 1921 in Lynn, Massachusetts. He was raised in Lynn and was graduated from Lynn English High School. He was proud of his New England heritage and enjoyed returning to Boston and the New England area. Richard served as a Captain in the United States Air Force in World War II. During the Korean War, he was recalled and sent to the Air Command and Staff School, after which he was assigned to the Staff Judge Advocate. He earned his Juris Doctor degree at the University of Miami in 1951 where he was a member of the honors fraternity, Delta Theta Phi. In 1953, Richard opened his law practice in Lake Worth. He loved the profession of law and built a clientele in the areas of probate law and real property law. In 1981, when his son Robert was admitted to The Florida Bar, they formed Sorgini & Sorgini, P.A., and practiced law together for the next 33 years. Richard was a member of The Florida Bar for 63 years. Before Florida Municipal Courts were abolished in 1977, Richard served as Municipal Judge in Lake Worth, Lantana, Manalapan, and Ocean Ridge. In 1968, he served as the President of the Palm Beach County Municipal Judges Association. He also served as President of the Lake Worth Bar Association, President of the Lake Worth Civic Council, Chairman of the City of Lake Worth Downtown Development Authority, and President and life member of the Lake Worth Kiwanis Club. He served on the Vestry of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, the Board of Adopt-A-family of the Palm Beaches, the Salvation Army Advisory Board, and the Board of Trustees of the JFK Medical Center Foundation. He proudly co-founded the Lake Worth Playhouse in 1955, which is the oldest existing Playhouse in Palm Beach County. He received the City of Lake Worth "Lifetime Achievement Award" in 2003, and the "Good Citizen Citation Award" from the American Legion in 2008. Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Christine; daughter, Vicky Bidwell; son, Robert Sorgini (Lyda); four grandchildren - Frances and Kathleen Sorgini, Richard and Harrison Bidwell; brother, John Sorgini (Christine), who resides in Lynn, Massachusetts; and many friends of long standing. A devoted husband, father, and "Daddy Daddy" (grandfather), Richard's favorite pastime was traveling with his wife and family. His greatest personal joy was his four trips around the world with his wife and each of his grandchildren. A funeral service will be held at 4:00 pm on Sunday, August 31, 2014 at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 100 N Palmway, Lake Worth, FL 33460 with the Reverend Paul A. Rasmus officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to St. Andrew's Episcopal Church.