John J. DiLego Jr., 82
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. - John Joseph DiLego Jr., 82, of 36 Kemp Ave. died Friday, July 1, 2011, at the home he shared with his daughter and son-in-law, Patricia and Michael Roberts.
Born in North Adams on June 8, 1929, son of John J. DiLego Sr. and Elizabeth DiSanti DiLego, he graduated from Drury High School, where he was an outstanding athlete in football and baseball.
He served in the Army Reserve and and in the Massachusetts National Guard from 1948 until retiring in 1971 with the rank of lieutenant major.
Mr. DiLego was employed by North Adams State College, now Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, as director of the campus police for more than 25 years, until his retirement in 1998. He first worked for his father at the former DiLego's Diner and also at the former GE in Pittsfield.
He was a communicant of the former St. Anthony of Padua Church. He played semi-pro football for the Golden Bears and the Saints and coached youth football. He also was an avid bowler.
His wife, the former Florence Douglas, whom he married Dec. 21, 1951, died on Aug. 6, 2003.
Besides his daughter Patricia, he leaves three other daughters, Therese Roy and JoAnne Cowlin, both of North Adams, and Linda DiLego of Cheshire; two sons, John J. DiLego III of North Adams and Edward DiLego of Homosassa Springs, Fla.; a sister, Betty Ann Loholdt of Savannah, Ga.; three brothers, Francis DiLego of Adams, William DiLego of Lanesborough and Patrick DiLego of Burlington, Vt.; eight grandchildren, Michael DiLego, Shane Roberts, Tyler Roberts, Jake DiLego, Jesse DiLego, Stacy Harklerode, Lindsey DiLego and Cheyenne LeFave, and nieces and nephews.
Three brothers, Carmen, Robert and Donald DiLego, predeceased him.
FUNERAL NOTICE - A graveside service for Mr. DiLego will be held Tuesday, July 5, at 1 p.m. in Southview Cemetery. There will be no calling hours. Memorial contributions may be made to charity of the donor's choice for youth sports in care of Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, Central Chapels, 74 Marshall St., North Adams, MA 01247.