Anthony Deldeo, age 73, passed away peacefully at Christiana Hospital on Sunday morning, January 7, 2024 with his family by his side. Tony, the son of the late Phillip J. and Rita (Ciconte) Deldeo, graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in 1969 and was in the first graduating class of Delaware Technical and Community College in 1972.
Tony worked for Hearn Brothers Supermarket from the age of 16 and went on to become Assistant Manager at the Fairfax store in Wilmington. In 1975, he joined Clairol/Bristol Myers Squibb as a Consumer Sales Representative. He excelled in his sales position and loved his job and all the wonderful people he encountered. He was Salesman of the Year in 1998 of which he was very proud. Tony struggled with health problems and was forced into retirement at the age of 49 after a stroke. He worked hard to get over his disabilities. He wasn't going to let that stop him from living a good life.
Tony was a sports enthusiast. He coached his children, Brian and Donna, in multiple sports. He bowled in many leagues and golfed several days a week in his younger years. He was proud of bowling two 300 games and golfing two hole-in-ones. Tony was a die-hard Philadelphia sports fan. He never missed watching a Phillies, Flyers or Eagles game. He passed on his love for sports to his children.
He coached baseball for Brandywine Little League and served on the Board of Directors for many years. In 1989, his twelve-year-old team won the Delaware State Championship and went on to Bristol, Connecticut to compete in the Eastern Regional Little League Tournament. The team won several games in this single-elimination tournament and was eliminated in the final game, which was televised on ESPN, the first in its history.
Tony played softball for many years as well, even as a senior as his health was declining, he traveled with the senior team to Louisville and Cleveland for the Senior Olympics. He and his wife Betsy spent winters and sometimes the Spring and Fall in their home in The Villages, Florida where he played softball, golf and bowled.
Tony is survived by his loving wife of 50 years Betsy (Hazzard) Deldeo, his caring children Brian Deldeo (Paige Hilberg), Donna Deldeo and the joy of his life, granddaughter Alexia Marie Deldeo. In addition, he is survived by his brother Phillip "Doc" Deldeo (Gael), numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, especially his buddy Bobby Green, who called him every day during his recent illness, and loved him like a brother. |