People

Frank Dermody grew up in Lackawanna County and was a talented high school athlete who went on to play football at Columbia University in New York City. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in History and then a law degree from Indiana University School of Law-Bloomington where he married his law school classmate Debra.

Dermody was an assistant public defender in Harrisburg before becoming assistant district attorney in Allegheny County in the 1980s.

Dermody won a seat in Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1990 and represented the 33rd District for 15 consecutive terms. He worked his way up in the House, serving as chairman of the Subcommittee on Courts in the Judiciary Committee, chair of the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing, chairman of the Allegheny County Democratic Delegation, chairman of the Urban Affairs Committee, caucus secretary and caucus whip.

In 1994, Dermody led the House investigation into charges against a state Supreme Court Justice who was impeached and removed from office with Dermody serving as the lead prosecutor in a trial before the State Senate.

From 2010 to 2020, Dermody served as Minority Leader of the House, working with two governors during one of state government’s most challenging decades.  He led Democratic efforts to help working people, preserve health care, support public schools, protect the environment and strengthen democracy and human rights.

In 2021, Dermody was appointed to a seat on the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

Frank and Debra Dermody reside in Allegheny County. They have two adult children and one granddaughter.