The Honorable Franklin S. Van Antwerpen, 74, passed away from us peacefully on Monday, July 25, 2016 in Easton, PA. He was born October 23, 1941 in Passaic, New Jersey to proud parents, the late Dr. Franklin J. and Dorothy (Hoedemaker) Van Antwerpen.
Judge Van Antwerpen graduated from Newark Academy in 1960, and attended college at The University of Maine, where he graduated in 1964 with a degree in Engineering Physics and a minor in Electrical Engineering. He continued his studies at the Temple University Beasley School of Law, graduating with a Juris Doctor degree in 1967. While in law school, he served as a Justice of the Moot Court. After law school, he worked for Hazeltine Corporation on projects including a top secret electronic battlefield program for the armed forces dubbed as the “Manhattan Project of the Vietnam War.” While at Hazeltine, he met and married his wife, Kathleen O’Brien. Franklin and Kathleen wed on September 12, 1970.They went on to have three children.
In 1970, he left his corporate law position in New York City and became Chief Counsel of the Northampton County Legal Aid Society in Easton, Pennsylvania, a clinic providing legal assistance to those most in need. Franklin then joined and became partner in the Easton law firm of Hemstreet, Smith, and Van Antwerpen. In 1979, he was appointed to fill a vacancy as judge on the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas and then elected to a 10-year term in 1982, having secured the backing of both major political parties. While Franklin was on the state bench, he also spent two years as the President Judge of Bradford County by special appointment, and was instrumental in rewriting the Pennsylvania Domestic Relations Code and various municipal laws. He frequently lectured on the law of evidence for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute and taught law as an adjunct professor at a local college.
In 1987, President Ronald Reagan appointed Judge Van Antwerpen to the federal bench on the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Franklin became nationally known when, in 1988, he conducted a trial involving all 17 members of the Philadelphia mafia and sentenced them to long prison terms. The trial gave rise to three books and a made-for-TV movie. Judge Van Antwerpen was then nominated by President Bush to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals and sworn in as a Circuit Judge on June 1, 2004. The circuit courts are the second highest courts in the United States and the final arbiter on 99% of federal cases. Judge Van Antwerpen presided as Chairman of the Criminal Business Committee of the U.S. District Court, and served on the Defender Services Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States. He was also Chairman of the nationwide Subcommittee on Federal Defender Funding with a budget of almost a billion dollars.
Judge Van Antwerpen proudly served on the Board of Visitors of Temple University Beasley School of Law, and received numerous awards for his service and contributions, including the Law Enforcement Commendation medal of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, The Law Day Award of the Temple Law School Alumni Association, Liberty Bell Award of the Lehigh County Bar Association, and the Alumni Career Award of Newark Academy. In 2009, he received the University of Maine Alumni Achievement Award, and was listed by the Maine Alumni Magazine as one of 125 people who have made a difference in the world. He is also listed in Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in the World, as well as on Wikipedia. A brief story about his life can be found on YouTube under the heading “UMaine Alumni Association 2009 Career Award Franklin Van Antwerpen.”
Franklin was an avid pipe organ player and fond of classical music. He also enjoyed traveling with his wife Kathleen, his three children, four grandchildren, and close friends. His encyclopedic knowledge of world history and geography elevated any given adventure to new levels for those lucky enough to accompany him. Franklin also had a great sense of humor, and his endless supply of jokes and puns made time spent with him all the more memorable.
Franklin was loved and will be missed by many including his loving wife of 45 years, Kathleen, his sister Virginia Czikra and family; his daughter Joy and her husband Jeremy Silimperi; his son Franklin W. Van Antwerpen and his wife Rev. Alanna Van Antwerpen; his daughter Virginia and her husband Atty. Zachary Cohen; and his grandchildren, Brendan Franklin Cohen, Mary Silimperi, Caitlin Cohen, and Norah Van Antwerpen.
Visitation will be 2 PM to 4 PM and 6 PM to 8 PM, Wednesday (July 27) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton Street, Easton, PA. His Funeral Service and Burial will be private.
Memorial contributions may be made to North Penn Legal Services, a local non-profit providing legal aid to those in need at 559 Main Street, Suite 100, Bethlehem PA 18018. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.
Michael Ryan and Family
July 25, 2016 at 2:11 pm
My condolences to the family. Good friend will be greatly missed.
Hal Cohen
July 25, 2016 at 2:43 pm
So sorry to hear of Frank’s passing. I loved his sense of humor and his many interesting and educational stories. Family seemed paramount to him. He will be missed.
Jennifer & Randy Korman
July 25, 2016 at 4:05 pm
He certainly was an accomplished gentleman and family man!!!! Our condolences to you and your family.
Chintan & Sarini Mehta
July 25, 2016 at 4:51 pm
Please accept our condolences. Your family is in our thoughts and prayers.
Dr. Stanley and Judith Walker
July 25, 2016 at 4:51 pm
Our condolences to the family. We know he will be greatly missed.
John&rosy harris
July 25, 2016 at 7:02 pm
Dear Kathleen and family;me and rosy are sorry to hear of franks passing,our deepest sympathies.may God grant him eternal rest.
With love and affection,
John&rosy harris
Marcia Mowad
July 25, 2016 at 8:10 pm
Joy and family,
Deeply sadden by the passing of the Judge. One of the nicest men I ever met. Prayers and love to all of you. Joy, you know your dad and Uncle Tony are holding court in heaven!
Marcia
Monica maron
July 25, 2016 at 8:27 pm
My condolences to all the members of Franklins family. You are all in my prayers.
Monica Maron
Janeen Geklinsky
July 25, 2016 at 8:44 pm
My dear friend Joy and family, I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers to you all. Joy may you have comfort in the warm and happy memories. …he is all better and always an angel looking down at you. Love you. JANEEN
Becky goldenberg
July 25, 2016 at 9:58 pm
Sad to hear the loss of a fine man and one devoted to his community
Colleen
July 25, 2016 at 10:02 pm
Dear Kathy and family,
My heart goes out to you and yours. He was a brilliant and wonderful man. Everyone in the family thought so highly of him. You are in my thoughts and prayers. May the comfort of God and your family be with you in the days ahead.
Love,
Your cousin, Colleen McHugh
JoAnn Kostenbader
July 26, 2016 at 12:09 am
Frank was a wonderful neighbor and friend. Loved his story telling at our get togethers. I woke him and Kathy at 2:00 a.m., during my chemo period, and they were at my home in 5 minutes to take me to the hospital. Our children grew up playing together, always welcome at your home. My condolences to you Kathy, Joy, Ginny, Franklin and your families. Your loss is great and I hope you will accept prayers and help from loved ones to find peace. God bless ❤
Eileen O’Brien
July 26, 2016 at 7:37 am
Hugs and prayers to one of the nicest families I know! It’s so hard to say goodbye to one of the worlds heros. You are in my prayers and in my heart during this difficult time. I will never forget when I came to visit for the weekend and Uncle Frank brought us up to his chambers. Meghan was 5 and I ran to the car to get my camera and when I returned she was jumping on the pristine leather couch inside the “Judges” chambers and Uncle Frank just looked at me with the most gentle smile……. Xoxo
John & Christine Marks
July 26, 2016 at 11:12 am
Kathleen and family:
So sorry to learn of “The Judge’s” passing.
He was such a great friend and mentor – will greatly miss his tutorilals!
You and your family are in our thoughts and prayer!
John & Chris & family
STEPHEN KREGLOW
July 26, 2016 at 11:14 am
A great jurist and a splendid person – my sympathies.
Chantal Régent
July 26, 2016 at 2:23 pm
Dear Kathleen and Giny
I am very sorry to hear the passing of judge Van Antwerpen. I will always remember the first time Alain and I met him in Allentown.
We were impressed by his ” brillance “, his vast culture and charmed by his sense of humor!
Please pass to the entire family our sympathies, you are in our thoughts.
Alain and Chantal
Buddy Ruehle
July 26, 2016 at 8:21 pm
Good-bye, old friend. The very fond memories we accumulated over the many decades will never be forgotten. Now I won’t have anyone to blame the mischief on.
Roxann Ealey
July 26, 2016 at 9:18 pm
Mrs. Van Antwerpen, Please know what a pleasure and an honor it was to care for such a loving and endearing man. He meant a great deal to all of us, Thank you so much for the opportunity to share him with us and allow both of you to become a part of our “family”. He will be missed but i’d be willing to bet he is sharing some funny stories and some of his jokes with God right now. We wish you peace and grace.
with loving memories and prayers for peace for you and your family,
The oncology staff at easton hospital
Lou Virelli
July 27, 2016 at 11:04 am
I will always remember Judge Van Antwerpen as a kind and brilliant man and jurist. It was an honor to serve as his law clerk and I will be forever grateful for his mentorship. He taught me so very much. He will be sorely missed.
Harry Newman
July 27, 2016 at 2:15 pm
Frank gave me my first job in legal aid. We worked closely with one another during his tenure as Chief Counsel for legal aid. I always appreciated his kindness over the years. He was a fine man.
Family matters kept me away today.
JoAnne Epps
July 27, 2016 at 8:41 pm
To the Van Antwerpen Family,
Thank you for sharing your wonderful husband, father, grandfather, relative and friend with those of us at Temple Law School. When I think of Judge Van Antwerpen (Frank), I think of his smile, and his generosity of spirit. He cared about Temple Law School because he cared about people who had been a part of his life, and he saw the school, and those of us working there, as part of his life. He served the school as a member of our Board of Visitors, and was always a valued resource to me, as Dean. He also loved our students, and provided numerous opportunities to them, as interns and clerks, over the years. He was not just a part of us; he was us. We have lost a part of our soul. We will miss him.
JoAnne Epps (Former Dean, Temple Law School; now Provost, Temple University)
Rev. Peter Keady
July 28, 2016 at 2:49 pm
On behalf of the entire Palmer Municipal Fire Department crew, Station 27, our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to you and your family.
Rev. Peter Keady
PMFD Chaplain
Joan Gilson Smith
July 29, 2016 at 2:21 pm
Dearest Kathleen,
I feel so very sad to hear of the terrible loss of your very special loving husband Frank. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your
grieving family. You and Frank were alwàys so special and loved by all the family. God bless you now and always.
Much love,
Your cousin Joan
Betsy Maurer
July 31, 2016 at 11:48 pm
What a wonderful person and jurist we have lost! I will always remember “Judge” with fondness for his sense of humor, his keen intellect, and his commitment to his family and with appreciation for all the support he gave me as a law clerk and a young lawyer. My condolences to his family. May you find comfort in your own memories and the warm memories of his many friends and fans. His life was a blessing to so many.
Heather Schultz
August 17, 2016 at 10:27 pm
Dear Kathleen and family, I am very saddened to have heard the news of Franklin’s passing. Please know how lucky I was to have known him for the last 8 years. I enjoyed the time I spent with him while doing his hair. I will miss his positive attitude and funny stories tremendously. I especially enjoyed his memories of West Milford and Greenwood Lake. You are all in my heart and prayers. Franklin you will be missed more then you’ll ever have known. Thank you for all the laughs!