GILARDI

RICHARD D.

Prominent Pittsburgh attorney, Richard D. Gilardi, passed away peacefully, on January 21, 2026, after a brief illness, at the age of 89.

Known to family, friends, and colleagues simply as "Dick," Gilardi grew up in the Dormont section of the City of Pittsburgh. He attended the former Dormont High School where he would meet his future wife, Carole Herwood. While in high school, Dick was a member of the wrestling team and, in fact, was the only freshman in the school to earn a varsity letter at that time.

From Dormont he was off to Washington & Jefferson in Washington, PA, where in addition to pursuing his studies and playing on the baseball team, he was an active member and officer of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.

Always possessing a keen and inquisitive mind, Dick was attracted to the idea of law school and chose to attend Duquesne University. It proved to be a good match. The law school got an outstanding student, who graduated at the top of his class and, in turn, Dick received guidance and mentorship that would influence the rest of his career. Motivated by the recommendation of Professor John Murray, later to be Dean at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and President of Duquesne University, he developed an interest in pursuing graduate studies in labor law with an eye towards a possible career in teaching. He was put in touch with a prominent labor scholar at the University of Virginia School of Law who offered Dick a fellowship and the chance to continue post-graduate studies. He and his wife, Carole, having recently married in July 1960, were off to Charlottesville.

After completing his nearly two-year stint at UVA, Dick returned to Pittsburgh where he was hired by a local labor law firm, Wilner, Wilner, and Kuhn. After a few years, he took his labor practice to McArdle and McLaughlin, a litigation firm headed by the city's best courtroom lawyer of the day, Jim McArdle. He could continue to handle labor issues and also represent union workers in injury cases. Throughout his later years in the law, Dick would always fondly recall that it was at the McArdle shop that he learned his skills as a trial attorney. But growing a little restless after a few years, and knowing that McArdle, by then in poor health, was near the end of his career, Dick along with Carnegie native Tom Cooper and Paul Laughlin of Mt. Lebanon, formed their own young firm of Laughlin, Gilardi & Cooper in 1969.

Dick and Tom Cooper thereafter created the firm of Gilardi & Cooper in 1976, which would be home base for his legal practice throughout the remainder of his career. At the firm, Dick maintained an active labor practice, where he represented various trade unions made up of various tradesmen, including carpenters, electrical workers, typographical workers at the Pittsburgh Press and Post Gazette and many others. He blended that labor practice with a personal injury practice that fit nicely to serve the needs of many of the union members and their families. His union members were tough workers with tough jobs, and Dick spent years representing them in accident and injury claims, particularly railroad workers.

Well known Pittsburgh Attorney John Gismondi, who was hired by Gilardi's firm after completing his tenure as a law clerk for federal judge Gustav Diamond, has fond memories of his old boss: "Dick was a great boss who gave me a lot of responsibility and the opportunity to handle a lot of jury trials at a very young age. He was a very genuine guy. Maybe his greatest attribute was his ability to relate to people from all walks of life. He was just as comfortable talking to the Chairman of the Board as he was to an entry-level laborer, and maybe more important, they all felt comfortable with him."

Dick retired from day-to-day responsibilities in the office at the relatively early age of 62, but he kept active for a few more years as the firm was taken over by his son Richard by assisting the practice. "One of the great joys of my career was the opportunity to work with my son and see him grow in the practice."

Gilardi would always say "every young lawyer needs a good mentor," and he was certainly that to his son, to Gismondi, and to other lawyers who came through the doors of Gilardi & Cooper.

After retirement, Gilardi enjoyed golf and travel with Carole, his wife of 65 years. He was especially proud of his children, Lynne Therese Gilardi McGill (Stephen) and Richard (Melissa). He often said, along with his daughter and son, his most treasured legacy was his five grandchildren: Henry McGill, Charlotte McGill Burgess (Chandler), Mia Gilardi Undreiner (Dani), Isabella Gilardi, and Julia Gilardi. He is also survived by his brother Ronald (Joyce) Gilardi; his sister, Margaret Ingold; and many loving friends and family members, including devoted nieces and nephews.

Honorary donations may be made to the Paul Gilardi Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund at Duquesne University School of Law.

Visitation will be at BEINHAUER FUNERAL HOME, 2828 Washington Road, McMurray, PA. Hours: Tuesday, January 27, 2026, 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Bernard Church, 311 Washington Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15216, part of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at 10:00 a.m..

Interment will be held immediately following the Mass at Calvary Catholic Cemetery, 718 Hazelwood Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217.