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Former Campbell Muni Court Judge John Almasy remembered
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: July 21, 2022
When Campbell Law Director and Prosecutor Brian Macala first started his position in July 1996, he received some advice from the man who swore him in, Campbell Municipal Court Judge John Almasy.
“Judge Almasy told me that we occasionally have people appearing in court for the first and only time,” said Macala. “While it’s important to punish people for the crimes they commit, he said to remember that, ‘There but for the grace of God go you.’
“He explained that not every case requires that the harshest penalty of the law be imposed and he encouraged me to keep that in mind as I negotiated my cases,” said Macala, who added he’s done just that throughout his tenure as the prosecutor for Campbell Municipal Court.
“During his time on the bench, Judge Almasy was always direct and blunt; he didn’t pull any punches and his rulings were always very fair,” said Macala.
On April 30, the retired judge passed away peacefully in Columbus after an extended illness. His wife Susan was by his side. He was 91.
Retired Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge Lou D’Apolito described Judge Almasy as a “likable, nice guy,” with a “great” judicial temperament.
“Judge Almasy practiced for a long time before he became a judge,” said D’Apolito, now an assistant law director for the city of Youngstown. “He never changed in all the years I knew him. He was always an even-keeled, upbeat, happy and pleasant fellow.
“Judge Almasy was a role model to many in the legal profession,” said D’Apolito. “He led by example, conducting himself in the way in which one would hope that someone who achieved his success as a lawyer and judge would.”
Born in Youngstown on June 30, 1930 to Joseph and Kendall Ayers Almasy, he was raised on his family’s Coitsville farm.
Judge Almasy graduated from North High School and attended Youngstown College (now Youngstown State University). He earned his law degree from the institution now known as The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.
According to his obituary, “with 35 cents and a bus ticket,” he then returned to the Youngstown area and started a law practice in 1955.
“Judge Almasy had a general practice, but he primarily focused on probate,” said D’Apolito. “I worked with him on a malpractice case and we successfully represented the doctor in the case.”
Rossi & Rossi Co. attorney Gregg A. Rossi served as opposing counsel on a couple of the matters Judge Almasy handled while practicing. Rossi also appeared before him many times when he was on the Campbell Municipal Court bench.
“Judge Almasy was a colorful character, who treated lawyers with respect and courtesy,” said Rossi, who primarily handles plaintiff personal injury and domestic relations cases.
“I enjoyed being in front of him,” said Rossi. “I was impressed by his professionalism even in circumstances that were emotionally charged.
“I even represented his former son-in-law in an adversarial domestic matter involving his daughter and he still always treated me professionally and respectfully and never held it against me in other matters.”
Judge Almasy was elected to serve as municipal court judge in Campbell in 1994 and he retired from the bench at the end of 2005. He continued to practice law until 2014.
“Judge Almasy ran a very efficient and fiscally responsible court,” said Macala. “He kept his docket moving as he understood people and attorneys have lives to live. He did not believe it fair to have people waiting around for their case to be called.
“He took a lot of pride in the fact that the court was self-sustaining at the end of his two terms,” said Macala. “The judge worked to manage the court’s revenues to cover the court’s own expenses so that the money to maintain its operations was not coming out of the city’s general fund.”
After he retired, Judge Almasy and his wife Susan moved to Columbus, where according to his obituary, he “embarked on his most fulfilling career to date––babysitting his many loving grandchildren.”
Judge Almasy was a member of The Mahoning County and Ohio State bar associations, where he was honored for 65 years of service.
He was a lifetime member of The Ohio State University Alumni Association and was active in a number of community organizations, including the former St. Lucy’s Men Society and the East Suburban Optimist Club. He was also a former member of St. Lucy Parish in Campbell and, at the time of his death, a current member of St. John Neumann Church in Sunbury, Ohio.
Judge Almasy treasured his wife, children and grandchildren, said D’Apolito.
“He was a kind, honest and humble man, who set a great example for his family,” said D’Apolito.
Judge Almasy is said to have “constantly preached his learnings from ‘The Power of Positive Thinking’ and ‘Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff’ to his family.”
He also reportedly had “a passion for cars,” and enjoyed music, especially playing the piano for his friends and family.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held for Judge Almasy on May 4 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica in Youngstown.
Judge Almasy is survived by his wife Susan Mazzocca; sister Katherine (William Stanton); children Paula Sief (John) of Galena, Jody Schmucker (Bryan) of Kent, Nicole Bruggeman (Chad) of Westerville and Joseph Almasy (Melania) of Incline Village, Nevada; grandchildren Shauna (Ryan Taylor) of Columbus, Dana (Mike Muran) of Galena, Kayse Schmucker of Kent, Logan Schmucker of New York City, Nicolas, Maria, Sophia and his namesake John Paul of Westerville, along with his great-grandchildren Dominic, Declan and Colton.
He was preceded in death by his parents; in-laws Joseph and Maggie Zockle and Nick and Mary Mazzocca; his first wife Angie Zockle and their son John Paul and his siblings Ted, Angela, Father Alcuin, OSB, David and Cecil (surviving spouse Doris of Campbell).