METHUEN – Judge Howard J. Camuso, 94, died Monday March 26, 2012 at the Merrimack Valley Hospice House.
Howard was born in Lawrence on May 25, 1917, the son of immigrant parents, Antimo and Michelina Camuso. He was educated in Lawrence Public School systems and for economic reasons left High School at the end of his sophomore year to work in a local Woolen Mill. Inducted into the U.S. Army in January 1941, he was honorably discharged on November 10, 1945. He saw active service in Europe and was awarded five battle Stars, which included action in the battle of the Bulge. After his Army service he re-entered High School and then enrolled at Suffolk University. He was thereafter accepted at Boston College Law School graduating with a Law Degree in June 1951. Judge Camuso was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar the same year. At Boston College he was selected as one of three students to represent the Law School in Moot Court competition, competing with other Law Schools in Eastern United States.
Judge Camuso, was a practicing Attorney for thirty-five years. He served as an Assistant District Attorney for the Eastern District. He was for a time the First Assistant under District Attorney John P.S. Burke. He also served as Chief of the Trial Division of the Attorney General’s Office under former Attorney General Robert H. Quinn. Judge Camuso also served for a time as Town Counsel in the Town of Methuen.
His career was capped when on March 6, 1980, Governor Edward J. King swore Howard in as an Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Trial Court.
Judge Camuso belonged to many organizations and groups. He was Grand Knight in Methuen Council # 4027 Knights of Columbus, President of the Methuen Lion’s Club, a member of the Holy Name Society, the Sons of Italy, and a devoted Communicant of Saint Lucy’s Church.
He was an avid golfer in his early years and played well into his eighties. Later on in life he enjoyed playing bocce, bridge, reading, and crossword puzzles. His family was the most important thing to him. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Edna (Sudol) Camuso, his sons Howard Jr. and his wife Ann of Methuen, David and his wife Kathy of Salem, New Hampshire, and his two grandchildren Nicole and Michael, and several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Saturday morning at 10 o’clock in Saint Lucy’s Church in Methuen with burial to follow in Elmwood Cemetery, also in Methuen.
Friends will be warmly received on Friday from 4-8 P.M. at the Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home 233 Lawrence St. Methuen, Massachusetts.
Memorial contributions made be made to Merrimack Valley Hospice 360 Merrimac St. BLDG 9 Lawrence, MA 01843.
For directions and to send online condolences please visit www.pollardfuneralhome.com