Justice Jerry Garguilo, a distinguished jurist remembered for his integrity, intellect, and unwavering commitment to justice, passed away suddenly on Saturday evening. He leaves behind a legacy that reshaped New York State law and touched countless lives.

Jerry’s greatest pride and joy was his family. He shared more than 52 years of marriage with his beloved wife, Angela, building a life rooted in faith, devotion, and public service. Together they raised three daughters—Nicole, Joelle, and Jacquelene—welcoming their beloved partners Kevin, Chris, and AJ and into the family as sons. Jerry was the adoring grandfather, lovingly known as “Pop,” to Gianna, Viviana, AJ, Ava, and Anthony Gennaro, who will forever remember his warmth, humor, patience, and unconditional love.

Born in Brooklyn to Aniello and Mary Garguilo, Jerry was the eldest of five children. He cherished his siblings—Anthony, Michael, Neil, and his sister Mary—and was a proud uncle to their children: Anthony’s sons, Anthony Vincent, Christopher, and Neil; Michael’s sons, Michael Jr. and Vincent; Neil’s daughter, Danielle; and Mary’s daughters, Catherine and Elizabeth. From his earliest years, Jerry carried with him the values of faith, family, and hard work instilled by his parents.

As a young boy, he moved with his family to St. James, where he grew up on Mills Pond Road in a farm-like setting. After school, he worked alongside his father in the family bakery, where he developed the tireless work ethic that guided him through his studies and into his career in law.

Jerry graduated from St. Francis College in Loretto, Pennsylvania, with a degree in political science. During his time there, he joined Alpha Phi Delta, a national Italian heritage fraternity—an experience that, in time, led him to Angela, the love of his life.

Career & Legal Legacy

Jerry’s passion for the law, history, and the Bible shaped the course of his life and career. After earning his Juris Doctor from Duquesne University School of Law in 1977, he was admitted to practice in both Pennsylvania and New York. He began his career as law clerk to the Honorable Louis Mandarino of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court before serving as an Assistant District Attorney in Suffolk County from 1977 to 1979.

In 1980, Jerry entered private practice, sharing office space with Paul Enrico, where he met one of his dearest friends, Charles Russo. Together, they built a lasting partnership in litigation, handling criminal matters, negligence claims, commercial disputes, and administrative cases. He later relocated his own practice to St. James, working out of the town’s first schoolhouse—a cherished historic landmark—where he found great pride in serving the community he called home.”

In January 2009, Jerry was elected to the New York State Supreme Court in Suffolk County. He served with distinction, managing complex dockets in Commercial and Asbestos litigation, and most notably, overseeing the coordinated Opioid Litigation. He also served as Associate Justice of the Appellate Term of the Supreme Court (9th & 10th Judicial Districts), and from 2021 was appointed to the Coordinating Panel.

Through every chapter of his life—whether as husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, friend, or jurist—Justice Garguilo lived with devotion, purpose, and compassion. His life’s work and the love he shared will remain an enduring inspiration to all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Opioid Litigation

One of Justice Garguilo’s most significant contributions came as Coordinating Justice of all opioid litigations in New York State. When his court first accepted the assignment, few could have foreseen how massive and consequential the litigation would become. What began as a handful of actions quickly expanded to involve 62 counties, 10 cities (including New York City), more than 67 municipal corporations—townships, villages, and others—and eventually the State of New York itself.

The scope of the litigation was unprecedented. Forty defendants were ultimately named, including some of the nation’s largest pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors, and retail pharmacy chains. Justice Garguilo was tasked with creating a coherent framework for this sprawling litigation—balancing the rights of municipalities and victims with the power of major corporate defendants.

The challenges only grew during the COVID-19 pandemic, which delayed jury trials and complicated proceedings. Yet Justice Garguilo managed to keep the litigation moving forward, overseeing motion practice, evidentiary rulings, and pre-trial coordination that would ultimately define how the opioid crisis was addressed in New York’s courts. His leadership was widely regarded as a model of how to manage complex, multi-district mass torts with fairness, efficiency, and humanity.

Honors, Teaching, and Service

Justice Garguilo’s professional life was complemented by dedication to mentorship, teaching, and community involvement. He was deeply involved in the Suffolk County Bar, serving as Chairman of the Unlawful Practice Committee, and as a member of the Judicial Screening Committee, District Court Committee, and Supreme Court Committee.

He lectured extensively—before judges, lawyers, law students, and 4th-year medical students at SUNY Stony Brook—on topics including commercial litigation, evidence, medical malpractice, motion practice, and jury selection. He often remarked how much he relished the give-and-take of discussion and learning.

Among his many accolades were being honored as St. Francis University Distinguished Alumni in 2017, and as Columbian Lawyer Man of the Year in 2010. Justice Garguilo was slated to accept the St Thomas Moore Award from the Catholic Lawyers Guild in October.

Justice Garguilo was a man of deep faith, inquisitive mind, and gentle humor. He loved history, relished in reading and interpreting the Bible, and carried with him a respect for tradition even as he forged new ground in the law.

To his family, he was more than a judge; he was a “Pop” who devoted his time and energy to building core memories with his five grandchildren. He relished in how fiercely independent and unique his three daughters grew up to be… while instilling one unifying message to each of them, that they would always be his little girls. To his wife Angela, he was a partner in laughter, faith, and love. Every day he spent on this earth, she was his first embrace of the day and the very last I Love You he’d profess at night. He lived to provide, and care for her.

Like his favorite musician, Justice Garguilo “did it his way.” In the courtroom and lecture hall, in dealing with the complexity of mass litigation or the solitude of study, he carved a path true to his convictions: rigorous, fair, and disciplined, while always acting with great decency, empathy and integrity.

Justice Jerry Garguilo will be deeply missed—not just for his brilliance in the courtroom or for his legal prowess, but for the kindness, wisdom, and example he leaves behind. He taught that law is not only about rules and procedures, but about people; about families, truth, and restoration. His memory will endure in every courtroom where fairness matters, every young lawyer who aspires to integrity, and every grandchild who calls him Pop.

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