Larry Medaglia was elected to the post of Berks County Register of Wills in November of 1995, and took office in January, 1996. He is currently serving his third four year term. As Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans' Court, Larry has a staff of 10 full-time deputies, and a part-time solicitor.
The primary responsibilities of the office include the probate of estates, the collection of inheritance taxes as an agent for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the maintenance of all records of probate proceedings including the docket for Orphans' Court, and the application for, and granting of, marriage licenses. As a result of what is done in this office, and the nature of the records held here, we are a resource for genealogists. Therefore, we have committed to providing the public with as many opportunities to access this information as possible, including an in-office research center, and of course, this website.
Larry was born in Reading, PA, and grew up in neighboring Wyomissing Hills. He is a graduate of Wyomissing Area High School, and later Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science. He is working on a Master of Business Administration Degree at Alvernia College, and will graduate in the Spring of 2007. In addition to his duties as an elected official, Larry is a part-time adjunct faculty member at Reading Area Community College, teaching State and Local Government and American Government.
Prior to his election, Medaglia worked as a legislative aide to former State Representative Paul J. Angstadt, who later served as Mayor of the City of Reading from 1996 to 1999. Larry later joined a local contracting business where he was general manager and became a minority owner until 1992. After selling his interest in the business, in February of 1992, Larry joined the staff of the newly elected Berks County District Attorney, Mark C. Baldwin. There he served as the administrative supervisor of the office, until his own election to his current post.
Larry is the son of Larry Medaglia, Sr. and Dawn Pezdirc Medaglia, both of Reading, PA, and now residing in Wyomissing Hills, PA. He has 3 sisters, Dyana, Laura, and Shelly. Larry is married and has two sons.
The following is a brief summary of Larry's family history. His maternal grandparents were Ethel Noll Pezdirc and Emanuel Maximillian Pezdirc, late of Glenside, Reading, PA. Ethel's parents were Fannie Mae Miller and Floyd Daniel Noll, both late of Reading, PA, and of Germanic decent. Emanuel's parents were John George Pezdirc, Sr., and Jennie Planik Pezdirc, both of whom immigrated to the US from the former Yugoslavia early in the 1900's. The area now is known as the Slovenian Republic.
Larry's paternal grandparents are the late John Medaglia, Sr., and Josephine Panetta Medaglia. Josephine's parents were Salvatore Panetta and Maria Rosa Augustino, both of whom immigrated to the US from the Calabria region of Italy. John's parents were Lorenzo Medaglia and Virgilia D'Amato Panetta, both of whom immigrated to the US from the Abruzzi region of Italy. The Panetta's and Medaglia's arrived in this country near the turn of the century.
As Paul Harvey would say, "And now you know the rest of the story!" Thanks for your interest, and for visiting our website.