Obituary of Charles J Tornetta

Charles J. Tornetta (Charlie), the loving husband of Dorothy (Smyth) Tornetta of Lansdale, PA, formerly of West Norriton and Blue Bell, passed away on January 3rd, 2024, just shy of his 93rd birthday following a courageous battle with cancer with his family by his side. 

He was born on February 2, 1931, in Norristown, PA, to the late Joseph F. and Maria (Ciaccio) Tornetta.  He attended Norristown schools and was a proud member of the class of 1949, where he served as the Editor-in-Chief of Hi-Eye. He earned his Bachelorof Science in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon. He took classes for his MBA at Temple University School of Business.

Charlie’s life was centered around four pillars: his family, his faith, his profession, and his community.

Charlie partnered with his three brothers, Lawrence, Joseph, and Augustus, in Tornetta Realty Corp., one of the most well-respected commercial and industrial real estate firms in Montgomery County. Real estate was his profession andpassion, as he was actively involved in every aspect of the profession, volunteering on countless boards and committees. He was appointed Board Member of the Montgomery County Planning Commission in 1966 and Chairman of the Commission for 24 years from 1968 to 1992; he continually served on the Planning Commission for over 50 years until his resignation in 2022 because of health. Due to his persistent leadership and guidance, Charlie was instrumental in Montgomery County Board of Commissioners' adoption of the first Comprehensive Plan of Montgomery County in 1979; Montgomery County's acquisition of over 2,300 acres of land, Green Lane Reservoir, for a County park;  A successful settlement agreement for Montgomery County's joint operation and management of the 609-acre Norristown Farm Park preserved as open space; Securing funds for improvements on Route 202, the Blue Route (I-476), and the Route 422 Expressway, as well as the Lafayette Street Extension and future connection with the Pennsylvania Turnpike. He was honored in 2022 by the County Board of Commissioners as the longest-serving volunteer member of any board in county history. He was a director and past chairman of the Central Montgomery Board of Realtors®now the Tri-County Board of Realtors®.  Noting that the Board did not have a commercial chapter, he organized and founded Tri-State REALTORS® Commercial Alliance, the first commercial real estate association in the Tri-State area. He was Past President of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors® (SIOR Designation). His other affiliations included membership in the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), Building Owners Management Association (BOMA), Appraisal Institute (SRA and ASA designations), and Urban Land Institute (ULI).  

Charlie was very proud of his Italian Heritage and the Norristown community. He was a founder of the Americans of Italian Heritage Council. He served on the Board of Directors of Progress Bank and was a founding Board Member of Continental Bank until it merged with Bryn Mawr Trust, now WSFS. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of Montgomery Hospital.  He was a lifelong member of Holy Savior Church in Norristown, Knights of Columbus Council 772, Fourth Degree Member of Father Joseph Tomko Assembly, Society Di M.S. Maria (MSS Society), and Sons and Daughters of Italy. His lifelong passion for improving the greater Norristown area led him to help organize the Greater Norristown Corp (GNC), credited with improvements in Norristown, including the Norristown Transportation Center and three parking garages downtown. He created the Little Tower Foundation, a family foundation, to continue his legacy of giving back to the community he loved so dearly. His family was important to him, and he made sure they created memories traveling together to his parents’ home in Sciacca, Sicily, and spending time at a family home in Avalon, NJ. He remained immensely proud of his Norristown heritage and his humble beginnings.  

Charlie was loved by all who knew him, offering a warm smile, kind words, infectious optimism, and positive energy to all he encountered. 

Charlie is survived by his wife of 64 years, Dorothy (Smyth), his daughter, The Honorable Carolyn T. Carluccio (Thomas), and his daughter, Kathleen Petrone (Joseph).  He is survived by four grandchildren, Andrew Greene, Charlie Greene (Alison), JosephCarluccio, Madelyn Petrone, step-grandchildren Kathleen and Joseph Petrone (Lindsay), and many nieces and nephews.  His five older brothers, Dr. Frank, Lawrence, Joseph, Anthony, Augustus, and his sister Angeline, preceded him in death.

Relatives and friends are invited to celebrate Charlie’s life at Holy Savior Church, 407 E. Main Street, Norristown, Pa 19401 on Monday January 8, 2024 from 9:30-11:00 am for viewing, Mass to follow at 11 am—internment at Saint Patrick’s Mausoleum, 2400 DeKalb Pike, East Norriton, 19403.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Norristown Hospitality Center, 530 Church Street, #1, Norristown, PA 19401, or Holy Saviour Church, 407 E. Main Street, Norristown, PA 19401.

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