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WHEREAS, Henry DeLuca was born and raised in Pittsburgh. He attended Resurrection and St. Pius grade school in Brookline, graduated from South Hills Catholic High School, attended St. Vincent College and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Pittsburgh. He started his career as a teacher for delinquent boys and went on to become the president of his teacher’s union and the coordinator of truancy prevention; and,
WHEREAS, Henry cherishes the opportunities he has had. In 1951 his father and his uncle opened Vince & Henry’s, what is today called DeLuca’s in “The Strip District”. At the age of 10, Henry and his cousin Wayne worked at the restaurant in the summer.
WHEREAS, in 1970 Henry married the love of his life, Susan Davis DeLuca, also a teacher in the Pittsburgh Public School System. They raised their three children, Hank, Elise and Maura in Pittsburgh’s East End. They have a granddaughter, Kaura.
WHEREAS, in 1978, Susan and some friends gathered at the DeLuca home to sing a few songs. After several sessions, the legendary a cappella rock ‘n’ roll and doo wop singing group that would become Pure Gold was created. Among their hits, “Darling Forever”, with Susan singing lead, became #1 in the Pittsburgh music scene. Under Henry’s management, the bookings came quickly and the group has remained popular for decades; and,
WHEREAS, When PBS was looking for a proven fundraiser series in the late 1990s, pledge drive guru T.J. Lubinsky turned to Henry to produce Doo Wop 50, which set a fundraising record of over $20 million. That led to dozens more shows; and,
WHEREAS, In the 2000s, Henry became the president of the Pittsburgh Chapter of Lucchesi nel Mondo. The group sponsored many successful events, including La Festa della Befana for children and the summertime Festa Toscana and bocce tournament at the Alpine Club. Henry also arranged for the Lucchesi section at the Pittsburgh Opera, where members especially enjoyed the works of Lucca native Giacomo Puccini.
WHEREAS, When Lucca’s opera singing academy founder Lorenzo Malfatti died, Henry enlisted the support of the mayor of Lucca, former and current students of the academy and the Fondazione Banca del Monte di Lucca to save the academy. With the support of the Pittsburgh Chapter of Lucchesi nel Mondo, Henry was the producing manager of the academy during its difficult first year. The academy is now thriving on its own.
WHERAS, throughout his life with Susan at his side, Henry has promoted American and Italian music and culture, preserving the very best for future generations. In the great Italian American tradition, Henry continues to spend his life bringing beauty into all our lives.
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby commend Henry DeLuca; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare Thursday, June 18, 2026 to be “Henry DeLuca” in the City of Pittsburgh.