Obituary of Paul H. Titus

Paul H. Titus, late of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, passed away on February 19, 2022, in his home.  Paul was born on October 14, 1934, in Bradford, Pennsylvania. Growing up around the Bradford area during the Great Depression, the Titus family home was an open haven for the homeless to stay. This early act of kindness was formative in Paul’s lifelong desire to help others. A later high school trip to Florida was where Paul was first exposed to systemic issues such as racism, another instance that fueled his passion for justice and equality. Paul graduated from St. Bonaventure University, and went on to have a long and distinguished career practicing law. He was a champion of the underdog and the oppressed; dedicating his life in service of those who needed legal counsel the most. He was known for his pro bono work, something that was incredibly important to him, and was a way he gave back to his local community.  Paul was a compassionate and gentle man who was well known for his successful career, but also beloved by friends and family for his good humor and gentle spirit. While practicing law, he was professional and stoic, but loved ones knew a well-intentioned prankster. As a high schooler he once called the local newspaper and the Pittsburgh Observatory with friends and did impressions of famous celebrities of the time. Their clever hoax about “red balls of fire in the sky” even got them written up in the local paper. Paul was multifaceted, and loved to laugh as much as he loved to advocate for others. His children remember a caring and loving father who entertained them with endless creative stories. A favorite of theirs was about “Rumble Gimble,” a version of groundhog Punxsutawney Phil who lived in Pennsylvania, and whose antics depended on their imagination and Paul’s clever storytelling.  Paul is survived by his wife, Bonnie; his children, Ann, Bill (Marsha), and John; his grandchildren, Emily and Paul; and his sister, Margaret. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Genevieve; and his siblings, Joseph, John, and Ann.  Visitation for Paul will be held at Nied Funeral Home in Swissvale, Pennsylvania, on February 23, 2022, from 1-5pm, and from 6-8pm. Funeral Mass will be held at 10am on February 24, 2022, at St. James Church in Wilkinsburg. A Commitment Ceremony at Homewood Cemetery will follow, with a reception afterwards. An article in the local Pittsburgh Press will be following at a later date, with additional information on Paul’s legal career. The family asks that condolences be expressed as donations in Paul’s memory to the St. Bonaventure Foundation for scholarships, as well as the Allegheny County Bar Foundation. www.niedfuneralhome.com