OBITUARY

Attorney William R. Mosolino, 67, of East Market Street, Orwigsburg, died Saturday at Pottsville Hospital.

Born in Pottsville, Sept. 14, 1933, he was a son of the late William C. and Esther Weissinger Mosolino. He was a graduate of Pottsville High School, Muhlenberg College and the University of Pennsylvania School of Law.

A practicing attorney in Orwigsburg, he was also the author of three books of poetry. Many of his poems were also published in the French literary journal Sapriphage and were distributed throughout Europe. Ten of his haiku poems were selected by McGraw-Hill for publication in its "Haiku Handbook."

An accomplished artist as well, he painted many area homes and buildings, selling his works to benefit the Hillside Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, of which he was a board member. His works were displayed in regional art shows. One piece, "Vanessa," is on display at the county courthouse.

He was a recipient of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Cultural Heritage Award and lifetime membership awards from the county Bar Association and the Orwigsburg Historical Society. He received a Special Recognition Award from the Historical Society of Schuylkill County for his portrayal of "Black Jack" Kehoe's defense counsel, John W. Ryon, in the 1995 re-enactment of the trial of the Molly Maguires' leader. In 1969, he was Philadelphia Writers' Conference Highest Award Winner.

He was a member of the Reading Community Players, Allied Artists of Schuylkill County, Berks Arts Council, Kutztown New Arts Program, Simon Kramer Theater Group, and J & L Productions, Jim Thorpe.

He was a former member of the faculty at Penn State Schuylkill.

He was also a member of the Schuylkill County Bar Association; Orwigsburg Lodge 138, F&AM; Odd Fellows Lodge, New Ringgold, and Good Will Hose Company, Pottsville.

He served as a board member for the county Art and Ethnic Center, Pottsville; the Gabriel Chamber Ensemble; Schuylkill Living Magazine; Orwigsburg Historical Society; Orwigsburg Free Public Library, and the county, state and national Association of Realtors.

He was of the Lutheran faith.

He is survived by his wife of 29 years, the former Barbara A. Rutesky; two sons, William M., Pottsville, and Geoffrey M., Schuylkill Haven; a stepson, Robert Murphy, Fort Carson, Colo.; a brother, John, Crystal Lake, Ill.; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren.

Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday from Hamilton Funeral Home Inc., Orwigsburg. Interment will be in Schuylkill Memorial Park, Schuylkill Haven.