Honorable Henry M. Liss, Abington resident, retired District Judge, Army vet, entrepreneur, has passed away at 95

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October 21st, 2024 | By Ryan Genova

The Honorable Henry M. Liss a resident of Abington and retired District Judge, died Saturday, October 19. He was 95 years old.

According to his obituary, Judge Liss served as a Military Policeman in the U.S. Army, including a deployment to Japan post WWII. He and his wife Barbara moved to Dresher in 1961 with their young family. He worked as a hairdresser and opened his own salon in Abington, and later opened a retail clothing boutique and athletic footwear stores. He also served as a Constable and as an election official for Abington Township.

In 1981, Liss was elected as a District Judge in Abington, a post he served for 18 years.

“Most of the people that come before me are ordinary people. A district justice must be able to deal with them without talking down to them,” he told The Inquirer in 1985. “I don’t have a formal courtroom. Everyone, including the defendant, the victim and the prosecutor, is given a fair opportunity to be heard.” 

He went on to serves on the statewide Unified Judicial System Committees, including the Crimes Code Committee and the Motor Vehicle Committee. Judge Liss spearheaded a Commonwealth program to increase vehicle safety by educating drivers and law enforcement about the use of seat beats and child safety seats. He was also active in the D.A.R.E. program.

“Henry was much more than a District Justice to our officers and those who appeared in front of him.” said Abington Police Deputy Chief Chris Porter after being informed of his passing. “He truly wanted the best outcome for everyone and would do whatever he could within the law to ensure that happened.”

Liss was an active member of the congregation at Temple Beth Sholom and President of Abington B’nai Brith, as well as the Korean American Friendship Society.

Family and friends are invited to services on Tuesday, October 22 at 1:30pm at Goldsteins’ Rosenberg’s Funeral Directors Suburban North, 310 Second Street Pike, Southampton. Interment will be at Shalom Memorial Park.

Shiva will be observed at the home of Lori and Howard Siegal, 665 Hidden Pond Lane, Huntingdon Valley, on Tuesday from 4:00pm – 9:00pm.

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