This falls under the category "It Doesn't Happen Every Day."
It isn't every day, after all, that a father gets to administer the lawyer's oath to his daughter, but Monday morning brought a local exception.
In this case, Toronto county court Judge Joseph Corabi got the honors to do that for his daughter, Krista Corabi, who recently passed the Ohio Bar Exam. The brief ceremony took place in the Toronto county court where family and friends were on hand, including her mother, Kathy Corabi; brothers Ryan and Craig; and grandmother Virginia McMenamin.
Article Photos
Krista Corabi, center, is flanked by her parents, Kathy and Judge Joseph Corabi, and with her brothers, Ryan, left, and Craig
Corabi also administered the lawyer's oath to David Michael Calabria, son of attorney Michael and Kaybeth Calabria of Wintersville.
"I think it's kind of appropriate I am swearing in David because I want to thank Mike and Kaybeth Calabria for the positive effect they had on Krista's life," Corabi said prior to the ceremony.
"They got Krista involved in swimming when she was a very young girl, and she swam four years in high school and four years in college and ended up being captain of the swim team her senior year as was David captain of the swim team," he said.
"The reason I point that out is because I was very concerned when Krista was applying for law school. I was worried that she wouldn't get in, but Krista did get in, and when I called the admission's office just to ask them what kind of criteria they were looking for, they advised me they were looking for people well rounded. They said that the fact that she swam in a division three school showed dedication and commitment, that she was captain showed leadership, and the same held true for David," he said.
"There's somebody else I want to thank for having a positive effect on Krista's life, and that's her mother," Corabi said, gesturing toward his wife, Kathy. "Without all of her good work, the last 27 years we definitely wouldn't be here, so, mom, on behalf of Krista and me, thank you for everything you've done for our family."
He also expressed gratitude for their sons Ryan and Craig making schedule sacrifices to be on hand.
Krista is a 2003 graduate of Catholic Central High School who earned a bachelor's degree in biology in 2007 at John Carroll University. She graduated from Duquesne University School of Law in 2010, passing the Pennsylvania Bar Exam that same year. She works for the Pittsburgh law firm of Summers, McDonnell, Hudok, Guthrie and Skeel, having been there for one and a half years.
Calabria graduated from CCHS in 2004, John Carroll University in 2008 with a degree in psychology and political science and from Duquesne University School of Law in 2011. He also is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania.
"It's a very great day in my life and my wife's life. It's a rare opportunity, and it's a great honor for me," said Corabi, who has been the Toronto county court judge for 22 years.
Added Krista, "This is a really neat experience. Not everyone can say they got to do this. I'm excited we got to do it this way."
