A Mahoning County building for programs helping anyone struggling with alcohol abuse has a new name. 

On Monday, Meridian Healthcare unveiled the sign for the Judge Joseph Donofrio Center which honors the late Youngstown judge who offered a different path for those who came through his courtroom.

Back in the 1960’s, Judge Donofrio realized a lot of people kept ending up back in his court for alcohol related offenses. Instead of giving them jail time, he revolutionized how people with addictions get help.

“He saw that things weren't getting better and their lives were falling apart so he began the first honors court … it was a 12 step program of alcoholics anonymous and then things kind of grew from there,” Gene Donofrio, Judge Donofrio's oldest son said. 

Nearly 60 years later, programs like his are still around with Meridian Healthcare’s 24/7 detox and inpatient center that takes in anyone in Mahoning or Trumbull counties struggling with an alcohol addiction.

“I don't think anyone was even thinking about the kind of things that Judge Donofrio did. He was so far ahead of his time to look at this and understand that putting people in jail is not the solution,” Larry Moliterno, the CEO of Meridian Healthcare said. “These are people who are struggling and he wanted to give them help and most importantly he wanted to give them hope.” 

Donofrio died in 2020 at the age of 94 after a battle with covid. His family described him as a compassionate and empathic person. His legacy as a pioneer in the county for treatment centers lives on in their minds forever - and is now set in stone.

“To be remembered like this he would be very overwhelmed and touched,” Donofrio’s son said. “That legacy makes you feel really good, something positive that occurred in our community to make it a better place.”