Member Biography

Henry J. Cianfrani 

Henry J. Cianfrani 
Sessions Office Position District Party
1967       1 Democrat
1968       1 Democrat
1969       1 Democrat
1970       1 Democrat
1971       1 Democrat
1972       1 Democrat
1973       1 Democrat
1974       1 Democrat
1975       1 Democrat
1976       1 Democrat
1977       1 Democrat
1978       1 Democrat

COUNTIES: Philadelphia  


Biography

03/19/1923 - 07/03/2002

Henry J. “Buddy” Cianfrani (D1) Philadelphia County 1967-1977

Early Life:

Henry J. “Buddy” Cianfrani, born, March 19, 1923, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; graduated, Catholic High School; Temple University; Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania; served, Merrill’s Marauders, Burma campaign, United States Army, World War II, 1942-1945; importer; chairman, 3rd Ward Democratic Committee; deputy register of wills, Philadelphia; elected, delegate, Democratic Convention, 1956, 1960, 1964; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1963-1966; not a candidate for reelection, 1966; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1967-1977; appointed, Commission on Interstate Cooperation, 1971-1977; resigned, December 15, 1977; married, Laura Foreman, 1980, daughters, Mary Ellen Russell Miller, Elvira Marano, Maria Scott Schaffer; died, July 3, 2002 (age 79 years, 106 days), stroke, Hahnemann University Hospital, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; interment, Locustwood Cemetery, Cherry Hill, Camden County, New Jersey.

Professional titles; business ownership; board memberships; local government; club memberships:

Catholic. Member, Veterans of Foreign Wars; American Legion; Sons of Italy.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Chairman, 3rd Ward Democratic Committee, Philadelphia; deputy register of wills, Philadelphia. 

Elected, delegate, Democratic Convention, 1956, 1960, 1964. 

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1963-1966; replaced, father, Henry Cianfrani; not a candidate for reelection, 1966. 

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1st district, Philadelphia County, 1967-1977; appointed, Commission on Interstate Cooperation, 1971-1977; Chairman, Appropriations Committee; resigned, December 15, 1977. 

Authored Senate Bill 1241 on Friday, December 29, 1972, P.L. 1720, No. 370, Vietnam Conflict Prisoners of War Compensation Act, providing compensation to certain persons who served in the military, naval or air forces of the United States or any of her allies during the Vietnam Conflict and were taken as prisoners of war 1972 Act 370 (state.pa.us)

Legacy:

Father, Henry Cianfrani Democrat, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1953-1962.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:

Official Website - PA House Archives Official Website (state.pa.us) 

Cited:

Cox, Harold "Senate Members "C". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

Henry Cianfrani Obituary (2002) - Philadelphia, PA - The Philadelphia Inquirer (legacy.com)

Henry J Cianfrani (1923-2002) - Find a Grave Memorial