Thomas Anthony DeLessio

Thomas Anthony De Lessio died peacefully on November 23, 2019 in Naples, Florida at the age of 90.

Thomas is survived by his wife Marion (Anderson), and their children, Todd De Lessio and his wife Danielle of Bridgewater, CT, Dean DeLessio of Westhampton, New York and Diane Ravech of Avon, CT and her children Sam and Max Ravech.  He also leaves behind his sister Bernice Damuth and her husband Don Damuth of Naples, Florida, and his brother in law and sister in law Charles and Terry Anderson of Freeport, New York.  Tom was Uncle Tommy to his beloved nephews and nieces. Tom is preceded in death by his parents Thomas and Jean (Auliso) De Lessio of Pompano, Florida. 

Thomas was born May 25, 1929 in Brooklyn, New York and spent his early years in Queens, NY. In 1946 he was awarded All City Football and All Scholastic honors at Far Rockaway High School.  Tom continued his football career playing at Colgate University (as a fraternity brother of Phi Kappa Psi) where he graduated in 1951with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a master’s degree in business administration from Hofstra University. Thomas was a proud member of the United States Army where he served during the Korean War in the Medical Corp at Walter Reed Medical Center, Bethesda Maryland.

In 1957 he married his best friend Marion.  They were blessed to have enjoyed 62 years of marriage while raising three loving children.  After moving to New Fairfield in 1968. Tom began working for Perkin Elmer as the Director of Finance and liaison to the Division President for the Hubble Telescope program. He had a successful career and worked on many space optics projects before retiring in 1991.

A loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother and friend.  Thomas loved nothing more than being together with those he loved.  Some of the fondest memories his family will treasure were made at the beach house in Southampton, New York.  He could often be found tinkering in the shed, fishing, clamming and painting the landscape he loved so much.  His nephews, nieces and grandchildren will forever remember him as the lead safari guide playing out the Lion Hunt around the fire pit.

Tom and Marion made Florida their new home state in 2000.  Over the last two decades, they met so many wonderful people and treasured friendships from those at Cedar Hammock and the Bentley Village. 

Thomas enjoyed many activities but most of all playing bocce with his teammates at the Bentley.  The team enjoyed many championship tournaments and the stories that would often go along with it.  A charming and witty man who loved life, Tom was passionate about bringing positive energy to the world.  He was an active and dedicated member of the First Presbyterian Church of Naples, FL. 

A memorial is scheduled for Saturday, November 30th at 1 pm at the First Presbyterian Church of Naples, FL located at 250 6th Street, Naples Fl with a reception to follow at Bentley Village, Palmetto Room. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Tom’s life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the First Presbyterian Church of Naples. The family would like to thank Naples Community Hospital and the Avow Hospice of Naples for their care.