Obituary of Thomas J. Dellapenna

Thomas J. Dellapenna, 69, closed his eyes and went to be with his Lord and Savior on January 17, 2005 unexpectedly. He was predeceased by his parents, Bartolomeo and Santarella Dellapenna; and his sister, Rosalie Pasquale. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 49 years who were childhood sweethearts, Roseann Fusco Dellapenna, Johnson City; two sons and daughters-in-law, Mark and Nellina Dellapenna, Johnson City, Thomas and Diane Dellapenna Jr., Johnson City; two daughters and sons-in-law, Christina and William Slater, Johnson City, Ann Marie and Thomas Ellis, Binghamton; seven grandchildren, whom he considered to be the lights of his life, William Jr., Mark, Gabriella, Angelica, Thomas, David and Roseanne; one brother and sister-in-law, John and Betty Dellapenna, Johnson City; brother-in-law, John Pasquale, Binghamton; and a man whom he considered to be another son, John D. Steed, Binghamton; and several cousins, nieces and nephews. He was a member of St. James Church, Johnson City. Tom and Roseann enjoyed a lifelong devotion to the Blessed Mother as shown by their commitment to build a shrine to her which stands in front of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. Tom was proud to be a graduate of North High School, Class of 54, where he was a member of North's All Southern Tier Conference Championship Football Team for two years serving as co-captain and Niagara University, Class of 59, where he received a BS in Accounting. Tom was President of Dellapenna Brothers Construction, Johnson City, for 45 years. He also served on the Advisory Board of Marine Midland Bank, Workers Trust, Johnson City, Treasurer of the Broome County Unit of the American Cancer Society, Lourdes Hospital Foundation Board, Wilson Hospital Foundation Board, Johnson City's Plumbing Board, Town of Union's LDC Board, Bishop Newman Foundation Board of Directors at Binghamton University, United States Congressional Advisory Board as a State Advisor, and he currently served on the Johnson City-Binghamton Joint Sewage Treatment Plant Board. He was a prominent Real Estate Developer, who was very proud of the many beautiful neighborhoods he helped to create on Johnson City's north side. He was a remarkable caring, loving and generous man to his family and friends, and saw Christ in everyone. No words could possibly express the depth of love and devotion his family had for him and how he will be missed. Our family would like to express a special thank you to Dr. Bashar Yousuf, Dr. Steven Spivak, Dr. Paul Travers, and all the staff at Wilson and Lourdes Hospitals that helped Tom throughout the years. A Funeral Mass will be offered at St. James Church, Johnson City, Friday at 9:30 a.m. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Johnson City. The family will receive friends at the J.A. McCormack Sons Funeral Home, 141 Main Street, Binghamton, Thursday from 3-8 p.m. Expressions of sympathy in memory of Tom may be made to the American Cancer Society, 31 Adams Street, Endicott, N.Y. 13760, The American Heart Association, 59 Court St., Binghamton, N.Y. 13902, or St. James Church Memorial Fund, 147 Main Street, Johnson City, N.Y. 13790.