Obituary of John R. DeLeo, Sr.

John R. DeLeo, Sr., who would have been 95 years old on June 12, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 6, 2018 surrounded by his loving and devoted family.  He was born on June 12, 1923 to the late Frank and Frances DiFilippo DeLeo and was a lifelong Stamford resident.  John, who was a veteran, served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II.  He was a retired heavy equipment operator who, during his career, worked for DeLeo Brothers Construction Company and Rondano’s.  Upon retirement he enjoyed nothing more than going fishing, checking up on the construction jobs his sons were working on and watching his beloved Mets on TV.  In 1952 he (aka Johnny, Pop, Dad and Papa) saw a “pretty little nurse” who worked at Stamford Hospital and subsequently married her, Marcelle Leblanc, on January 31, 1953.  This started a lifelong love affair and friendship that last for 63 years before “his Marcie” passed in 2016.  He is survived by his six children: Jack (Susan), Marie, Thomas, Kenneth (Kristen), Gary, and David (Darlene), ten grandchildren:  Jason, Matthew, Jacqueline, Adam, Emily, Tara, Ryan, Lindsey, Conner and Alexander, and seven great-grandchildren:  Cole, Evan, Mason, Sophie, Avery, Grayson and Dean.  He is also survived by his two sisters, Rhoda Romano and Joy Howley but predeceased by his brother, Caesar “Cheech” DeLeo and sister, Annie Roberge.

Family and friends may call on the DeLeo family on Sunday, June 10, 2018, from 2 pm to 6 pm at Thomas M. Gallagher Funeral Home, 453 Shippan Avenue, Stamford, CT (203)-359-9999. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Mary’s Church 566 Elm Street, Stamford on Monday, June 11 at 10:00. The interment will follow the service at Fairfield Memorial Cemetery in Stamford.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider making a memorial donation in John's name to the American Heart Association (heart.org) or the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org). To send condolences to the family, please visit www.gallagherfuneralhome.com