Morton Spero

Morton B Spero, 87, of Petersburg, passed away Saturday July 19, 2008. He was predeceased by his parents Adolph & Julia Strasburger Spero, and his loving wife of 60 years Louise Thacker Spero. He attended Thomas Jefferson High School from 1935 to 1937 then transferred to Petersburg High School where he graduated in 1938. He also attended The University of Virginia where he received his BA; he then went on to attend The University of Virginia Law School LLB in 1946. Mr. Spero was Council to the Chairman, National Labor relations Board, Washington, D.C. from 1946 to 1948, was in Private Practice in Petersburg from 1948 t0 2001. He was an active member of the Virginia State Bar; Petersburg Bar Association; Virginia Bar Association; American Bar Association; Virginia Trial Lawyers Association; Association of Trial Lawyers of America; and Fellow , American Association of Matrimonial Lawyers. He served on the Petersburg Bar Association as President from 1980 to 1982; Prince George Bar Association Secretary from 1992 to 1994; Virginia Trial Lawyers Association District Vice President from 1972-1973; Virginia State Bar: Board of Governors, Criminal Law Section from 1975 to 1981, Chairman from 1979 to 1980,; Board of Governors, Litigation Section from 1982 to 1986; Board of Governors General Practice of Law Section from 1986 to 1987; Medico-Legal Liaison Committee from 1982 to 1985; Joint Chamber on Civil Litigation (Boyd Graves Conference) from 1978 to 1999, was a member of the Virginia State Bar Council from 1981 to 1984, Commissioner in Chancery for the Circuit Courts of the City of Colonial Heights and the Counties of Dinwiddie & Chesterfield, was admitted to the bars of; State of Virginia; U.S. District Court (Eastern District of Virginia); U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit; The Supreme Court of the United States, he retired from law practice as of December 31, 2001 after 55 years and six months as a lawyer. Mr. Spero attended the Naval ROTC at the University of Richmond from 1940 to 1942, Battalion Commander; he left ROTC for active duty in the U.S. Navy seeing duty as Commanding Officer of a submarine chaser in the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters of WWII from 1942 to 1945. He was released from military service with the rank of Lieutenant, USNR. Mr. Spero was also the past president of the Petersburg United Way (formerly The Community Chest); Southside Sheltered Workshop; B.P.O. Elks; Virginia Council on Social Welfare, District IV; National Conference of Christians & Jews; Congregation Brith Achim. He served on the following boards; Petersburg Jaycees; Tri-City Committee on Employing the Handicapped; Battlefield Park Swim Club; Lee Park Golf Club; U.S.O., Petersburg Rotary Club(Luncheon), Vice President 1989 to 1990, The Community Bank from 1973 to 1991, Chairman from 1976 to 1979, was a member of the Rotary Club(Retired); Civitan Club (Honorary), Tau Epsilon Pi., . He was awarded the Distinguished Service Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, Significant Service Award from the Virginia State Bar, Service of Law Enforcement Award from the Petersburg Police Department, is listed in the Whoâ??s Who in America, Whoâ??s Who in the South and Southwest, Whoâ??s Who in American Law, and The Best Lawyers in America until his retirement. Mr. Spero is survived by a son; Donald S. Spero and wife Joyce of Chester, Virginia, daughter; Carol S. Flynn and husband Thomas of Sterling, Virginia, 4 grandchildren, and 12 great grandchildren. The family will receive friends Tuesday July 22, fro 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM at the Petersburg Chapel of J.T.Morriss & Son Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted in the funeral home chapel Wednesday July 23, 2008 at 10:00 AM. Interment will be in Brith Achim Cemetery. Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com .