UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Edward P. Zemprelli, a Penn State trustee emeritus, died on Dec. 4, 2017, in Jupiter, Florida, at the age of 92.
Zemprelli served as a gubernatorial appointee on the Penn State Board of Trustees from 1978 to 1996, and he was conferred as an emeritus member of the board in 1997.
A native of Clairton, Pennsylvania, Zemprelli earned his bachelor's degree in commerce and finance from the Penn State College of the Liberal Arts in 1945. While at Penn State he was a member of the debate team and worked the first-down chains at football games. After earning his undergraduate degree, Zemprelli earned a law degree from the University of Pittsburgh.
After law school Zemprelli went into private law practice in his hometown before becoming the solicitor for the city of Clairton. Zemprelli was elected to represent Allegheny County in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1963, an office he held until 1969, when he was elected to the Pennsylvania Senate for the 45th District. Zemprelli remained in the Senate until 1988, serving as both majority and minority leader and chair of the Business and Commerce Committee during his 20-year tenure.
Zemprelli was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Margaret (Antoinetta) Zemprelli, who passed away in 2014. He is survived by a daughter, Carla Zemprelli Corum, of Commerce City, Colorado, a granddaughter, and four great-grandchildren. Private entombment was held Dec. 9 at Jefferson Memorial Park in Pleasant Hills.