Lewis Samuel DeGirolamo Sr., age 74, of West Deptford, NJ, passed away Saturday morning, October 22, 2016, leaving behind the love of his life, Jane, his wife of 53 years. He will be dearly missed by his daughters Karen Cesarano (Mike) and Sharon McNally (Robert), his son Lewis Samuel DeGirolamo, Jr. (Amy), and his brother John DeGirolamo (Robin). He was known as “Pop” to his grandchildren Michael, Nicholle, Lewis, James, Owen, Alexandra, Mitch, Charlotte, Carly, Benjamin Lewis, and Brady Lewis, and his great-grandchildren Bailee and Lucas.
Lew loved playing sports of all kinds throughout his life. As a boy, he spent many happy days playing baseball and football for town teams and for Woodbury High School (Class of 1960). As an adult, he participated in a men’s softball league.
He attended Temple University, worked at DuPont Laboratories, the Philadelphia Shipyard and the A&P Market before becoming a steamfitter. Lew was a 45-year member of the Philadelphia Steamfitters Local Union 420, and a dedicated employee of the AT Chadwick Company. He was the General Manager of the company’s Industrial Group, which he founded and developed, from 1980 until the time of his passing. He cultivated innumerable friendships and relationships - his co-workers and business contacts ultimately became his friends.
In 1982, Lew and Jane partnered with friends and opened Dippy’s Ice Cream in Mantua, NJ. Although Lew worked full time during the day, he was always excited to go right to Dippy’s and work at night. He loved running his own business, serving his customers, and putting smiles on faces. At the end of the night, after all was cleaned up and put away, he and Jane would go home and unwind by playing the video games “Mr. Do” or "Donkey Kong" together.
If you visited Big Lew at home unannounced, you might find him out in his Shack having a beer or a glass of Port, watching a movie or ball game by the fire; facetiming or texting with a grandkid; working in his yard; planting more flowers for Jane; standing at his grill or steaming a bushel of crabs. He loved blasting classical music in the summer and swimming in his pool; splitting or stacking wood for his enormous fireplace; playing Christmas music in the winter while he hung lights on the bushes in his yard. Snowstorms provided an opportunity to fire up his massive snow blower and enjoy helping out his neighbors. He never ran out ways to occupy and enjoy his life whether indoors or out.
Pop planned month-long seashore trips for his grandchildren. At the shore, he got up early and cooked them breakfast. He rode the waves with them and challenged them with a self-invented beach game he called “Lew Ball”. He told them stories, and played cards and board games. He built a moveable puzzle board and worked on 1000-piece puzzles with them. When everyone got hungry, he ordered almost everything on the takeout menu from his favorite seafood restaurant.
Lew was loved for his warm and welcoming nature, his beaming smile, and his inclination to set up a family party for 20 or more as often as possible, for no reason at all. He loved life with a passion, and spent his life making everyone around him happy. He gave us all he had in his heart, but left us all too soon. Our memories of Pop will help us to heal and live our lives in the same spirit he lived his.
Family and Friends are invited to visit from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm on Thursday, October 27th, 2016 at Smith Funeral Home 47 Main Street Mantua, NJ 08051 and Friday, October 28th, 2016 from 8:45 am to 9:45 am at Smith Funeral Home. Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 am on Friday, October 28th, 2016 at Memorial Presbyterian Church of Wenonah 202 E. Mantua Ave. Wenonah, NJ 08090.
Donations can be made to Lew's Legacy at http://support.pancan.org/site/TR/PurpleStride/PurpleStride?team_id=3893&pg=team&fr_id=1141 Hyperlink Code
Memories and condolences can be shared at www.smithfhmantua.com