Ottavio Francis Biondi, Sr.

Ottavio Francis Biondi, Sr., much-loved husband, father, and grandfather, died peacefully on May 30, 2023, at his home in Jupiter, Florida. He will be missed greatly.

Frank, a proud first-generation Italian American, was born in 1933 in Wilmington, Delaware to Ferdinando Biondi, who emigrated from Italy in 1912 at the age of 14, and Mary Columbo Biondi (née Masci). He grew up on Vandever Avenue on the East Side of Wilmington in the Eleventh Street Bridge Colony, close to the Pennsylvania Railroad Roundhouse where his father worked as a railroad car brake repairman.

His parents instilled in him the importance of a good education and sacrificed to ensure he received one. Almost every Saturday while he was growing up, his mother would walk with him to the Wilmington Institute Free Library on Rodney Square, and they would spend the day there together. After graduating from Salesianum School, Frank won a partial scholarship to LaSalle College, graduating Magna Cum Laude with a BA in Economics. As a Fellowship Student, he obtained an MA in Economics with Honors from Boston College. In 1958, Frank was admitted to the Delaware Bar after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Over the course of his 50+ years of practice, Frank co-founded two law firms, served as the city solicitor of the City of Wilmington (1963 – 1969, after serving as first assistant city solicitor from 1961 – 1963) and became a senior partner at Morris Nichols Arsht & Tunnell, one of Delaware’s pre-eminent firms. Beginning in early 1974, Frank also served as Delaware’s legal counsel to the Delaware River and Bay Authority, the operator of the Delaware Memorial Bridge and the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. He served in that role for 27 years.

During his time in the city solicitor’s office, he authored Wilmington’s first public accommodations ordinance prohibiting discrimination in places providing services to the general public, including restaurants, hotels and retail stores (1961) and its first comprehensive housing code establishing minimum living condition standards and an effective enforcement mechanism (1962). Frank also shepherded the work of the city council and the city zoning commission and drafted a complete revision of the city’s zoning code, providing an update sorely needed after 35 years of piecemeal changes (1961-1962). He was the architect of the Wilmington home rule charter (1964), which changed the city government from a commission form to an executive and legislative model. And, he helped guide the city through the civil disturbances of 1967 and 1968, balancing the need to restore order with the safe-guarding of the lives, rights and property of all of its citizens.

Frank developed a strong interest in politics early on and in the late 1950s began working on behalf of the city’s Democratic party as vice chairman for the Ninth Ward. His interest in politics extended beyond the city limits to state and national offices, and he became a trusted political advisor to the Delaware Democratic Party. As Democrats made their final push in the 1972 campaigns, the State Democratic Chairman designated Frank as the party’s coordinator for major races. In this role, Frank designed winning strategies in the races for governor, lieutenant governor and key seats in the General Assembly. His political influence did not go unnoticed by the Wilmington papers. The Evening Journal profiled him in an article titled “Godfather of Democrats” in August 1972. Frank was proud to represent Delaware as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1964, 1968 and 1976. In 1976, Frank was greatly honored to be named one of Delaware’s three electors to the Electoral College.

His rapid ascent through Wilmington government and Democratic party circles set the stage for more than a decade of service at a higher level, working largely behind the scenes as a key advisor to Delaware governors of both parties, including Democrat Sherman W. Tribbitt and Republican Pierre S. du Pont IV. Following Governor du Pont’s administration, Frank spent another decade writing legislation crucial to Delaware’s continuing economic development.

During the Tribbitt administration, Frank’s advice was so highly regarded that veteran News Journal reporters William P. Frank and Ralph S. Moyed repeatedly referred to him as “prime minister.” Frank completed a number of challenging assignments for Governor Tribbitt, including chairing both the groundbreaking Delaware Tomorrow Commission (DTC) and the Delaware Agency to Reduce Crime (DARC). The DTC brought together business, industry, and labor leaders to develop a statewide plan for economic growth. The DARC developed and administered plans involving partnerships among state, county and local police and prosecutors, applied for federal grants, and oversaw the operations of crime reduction programs funded by those grants.

During his legal career, Frank developed a strong legislative practice and an expertise in federal and state banking law. He wrote nearly 20 new state laws, most of them while Tribbitt and then du Pont served as governor. Working closely with Governor Pete du Pont and his administration, Frank was the lead author of the Financial Center Development Act of 1981 (FCDA) and acted as its legislative representative before the Delaware General Assembly. The FCDA is credited with creating more than 30,000 jobs and spurring billions of dollars of development in New Castle County; it effectively lifted Delaware out of the financial crisis of the 1970’s and helped establish a thriving financial services sector in the state. He particularly missed his legislative practice when he retired from Morris Nichols in 2000.

Frank was active in the Delaware Bar, serving as President of the Delaware State Bar Association (1984 – 1985) and President of the Delaware Bar Foundation (1991 – 1995). He also chaired and served on many boards and commissions regarding the administration of justice (including the Supreme Court of Delaware Courts Planning Committee, Member 1972 – 1999; the Supreme Court of Delaware Board on Professional Responsibility, Chairman 1983 – 1986; and Commission on Delaware Courts 2000, Co-Chair 1993 – 1996) and economic development (including the Delaware Tomorrow Commission, Chairman 1974 – 1977; the Intergovernmental Task Force (created by the Governor, the New Castle County Executive and Wilmington Mayor), Co-Chairman, 1977 – 1980) and the Governor’s Strategic Economic Development Committee, Member 2001 – 2009).

Over the course of his career, Frank provided thousands of hours of pro bono legal service, most notably as counsel for St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church and its related entities (including St. Anthony’s Church Inc., St. Anthony’s in the Hills and St. Anthony’s Housing for the Elderly Corp.) The legendary Father Roberto Balducelli “recruited” Frank in 1958.

In addition, he served on the Board of Directors/Trustees/Overseers of several institutions (including The Grand Opera House, the Wilmington Medical Center, the Delaware Public Policy Institute, and the University of Pennsylvania Law School).

Frank received numerous prestigious awards for his contributions to the legal and non-legal communities, including the American Judicature Society Special Merit Citation in Recognition of Outstanding Service for the improvement of the Administration of Justice (1984); the Annual Award of the Delaware Region, National Conference of Christian and Jews (1988); the American Judicature Society Herbert Harley Award (1995); The Honorable Andrew D. Christie Memorial Pro Bono Publico Award from the Delaware Supreme Court (1998); and the Order of the First State, awarded by the governor for meritorious service to the people of Delaware, it is the state’s highest honor (1998).

In January 2016, Frank was particularly delighted to be awarded the Josiah Marvel Cup by the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce. Established in 1951, the Josiah Marvel Cup is the DSCC’s highest honor and is awarded annually to “a Delawarean who has made an outstanding contribution to the State, community or society”. Per the DSCC, “Mr. Biondi was the preeminent dealmaker and public policy attorney of his generation.” Congratulating Frank on the award, U.S. Rep. John Carney stated “He had talent and grit and knowledge and devotion to his community”.

Frank served as a mentor to many young attorneys and politicians over his career, teaching them the core beliefs he taught his own children: (i) treat everyone with respect; (ii) education is power; (iii) perseverance and preparation pave the way to achievement; (iv) surround yourself with the best colleagues; (v) remember the 5 C’s: communication, compromise, collaboration, and civility lead to consensus; (vi) Delaware is different – remember the Delaware Way; (vii) be courageous and do what is right; and (viii) no man is an island – community matters.

Frank was a devoted lifelong fan of the Philadelphia Eagles and the Philadelphia Phillies. During the NFL season each year, he spent many happy Sundays at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia with his family and close friends, cheering on his Birds and booing the Dallas Cowboys, the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins, respectively, in descending order of dislike. Fly Eagles Fly.

For Frank, his family was his heart, and he worked hard and made sacrifices to achieve the American dream for them. He cherished his time with them and took great joy in his children and grandchildren. When his children were growing up, no matter how heavy his workload and the competing demands on his time, Frank made it a point to return home in the evening to have dinner with his family, before returning to his office.

He is survived by his beloved wife of over 60 years, Anita, and their two children, O. Francis Biondi, Jr. and his wife Jamie of Mill Neck, New York, and Mary Catherine Moran of Greenville, Delaware, and three grandchildren, Serena, Carter, and Joy Biondi.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Frank’s memory to the Delaware Bar Foundation https://www.delawarebarfoundation.org/ and Nemours Children’s Health https://secure.qgiv.com/event/nmaglp/page/670096 (please select Cancers & Blood Disorders Research, DE).