Donald DiLeo 77, of Flemington formerly of Hillside passed away peacefully on January 26, 2017 with his family by his side.
Visiting will be at The Armitage & Wiggins Funeral Home 596 Belgrove Drive Kearny on Monday 3-8PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be officiated on Tuesday at 10:30am at St. Stephen's Church, Kearny. Entombment St. Gertrude Cemetery, Colonia.
Born in Newark, he lived in Hillside before moving to Flemington 36 years ago.
Mr. DiLeo was the President of Teamsters Local Union No. 408, which represented members in the building materials, heavy highway and construction industries. He was appointed as a Business Agent in 1969 and served as President of the Local Union from 1980 until his retirement in 2008. From 2008 through the present he served as a consultant for Teamsters Local Union 408 Benefit Funds. In 1984 he was appointed to the Executive Board of Teamsters Joint Council No. 73, which represents 60,000 members affiliated with 20 Local Unions in the State of New Jersey. He served as President of the Teamsters Joint Council No. 73 and Chairman of the Joint Council No. 73 Pension Fund from 1996-2008. He was the only person ever to be bestowed the title of President Emeritus. He also served on The New Jersey State Board of Mediation and served as Chairman of The North Jersey Construction Negotiations Committee for Teamsters in Northern New Jersey. In 2005 the New Jersey Industrial Union Council honored Mr. DiLeo for a lifetime of distinguished service and significant contributions to the trade union movement. In 2006 he was named as a Vice President to the New Jersey State Building and Construction Trades Council and in the same year, The New Jersey House of Representatives, 8th Congressional District honored Mr. DiLeo for his many years of distinguished service in representing the trade union movement and his help with many other Unions in the Tri-State Area.
During his leadership, New Jersey Teamsters had become very active in many charities. He began an annual golf tournament to raise money for the Joint Council No. 73 Scholarship Fund, which awarded grants to children of Joint Council No. 73 members for their college education. He formed the Joint Council No. 73 Food Bank Corporation, which provided food for striking or locked out union members. Under his tenure, The Joint Council participated in the Ocean County St. Patrick's Day Parade and every year donated a beach wheelchair to a shore town that participated in the parade, which they still do today. He also sponsored the Australian Challenge "Trip of a Lifetime" group. Over a 12 year period, The Australian Challenge had arranged an overseas trip to the United States for children who were seriously ill. The Joint Council, under his leadership,was awarded the Community Food Bank Distinguished Partner Award. He and The Joint Council No. 73 became prime supporters of Camp Fatima, which works to advance the interests of handicapped children. During his tenure as President, Camp Fatima became very important to him and one he held dear.
Don was the beloved husband of Jacqueline DiLeo and the late Eunice Cusano DiLeo. Dear son of the late Joseph and Rose DeSanti DiLeo. Father of Rosalind (Carmen) Tomeio, Joseph (Linda) DiLeo, Donald, Ralph and Jessica DiLeo. Brother of the late Angelo DiLeo. Grandfather of Joseph, Lia, Benjamin, Ralph, and Lillianna.
Don was loved and respected by the many men and their families who knew they could count on him for his support and sense of fairness.
He will be missed.
In lieu of flowers donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or Shriners Hospitals for Children would be appreciated.