Last night I was proud to support and vote for a resolution celebrating the life and times of Joe DiOrio. The following is the text of that resolution..... WHEREAS, the City of Somers Point lost a valued friend, civic leader, supporter, and veteran, on June 8, 2014 with the passing of Joseph DiOrio at age 92; and WHEREAS, Joseph DiOrio was a proud resident of Somers Point for approximately 54 years; and WHEREAS, Joseph DiOrio served his City honorably and with dedication and distinction as a member of Somers Point Council for 18 years, being chosen to serve as Council President for 12 of those years; and WHEREAS, during his years of public service to our City which was so important to Joe and his family, he served as an advisor, director, and/or chairman of various Somers Point programs, including Memorial Day Services, Children’s Christmas parties, Halloween parades, the Little League, and the Somers Point Boys Club; and WHEREAS, the City of Somers Point honored Joe as the Distinguished Citizen of the Decade for the years 1970-1980; and WHEREAS, Joseph DiOrio was, throughout his life, active in philanthropic and community service work including his tireless dedication to Shore Medical Center beginning when he was just a boy, mowing the lawn and doing odd jobs for 50¢ a week through serving on the Shore Medical Center Board of Trustees from 1963 until his death, being Board President in 1972 and 1973, and Board Chairman in 1974 and 1975; and WHEREAS, Joe received the Award of Gratitude from over 1300 Shore Memorial Hospital employees in December, 2000, in November, 2003 the hospital named a room, DiOrio Hall in honor of his dedicated service, in 2009 he was presented with the Stainton Society Inner Circle Award for outstanding philanthropy, and in 2013 Shore Medical Center established The DiOrio Society in his honor, which recognizes those who commit to preserve and enhance the healthcare needs of the community by a gift to the hospital through bequests, life income or other planned gifts, creating the DiOrio Award which is presented annually to the employee who best contributes to the culture of caring at Shore Medical Center; and WHEREAS, Joe was an active parishioner of St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Somers Point for 54 years; and WHEREAS, Joe was a lifetime member of the Somers Point Kiwanis Club (president, 1955), the Somers Point American Legion, Clark-Eliason Post, and the Ocean City VFW; and WHEREAS, Joe proudly and bravely served his Country as a First Sergeant in the United States Marine Corp from 1942 to 1945 participating in three major invasions in the Pacific Theater during World War II, being wounded three times; and WHEREAS, for his valiant service Joe was awarded the Purple Heart Medal and also received the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Naval Commendation Medal, the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Clusters, and a Presidential Unit Citation; and WHEREAS, in addition to being a staunch supporter of all things Somers Point, whether it be Bay Fest, Good Old Days, Veteran’s Day or Memorial Day Services, Richard Somers Day, and other civic events, Joe was the proud owner of the landmark Joe DiOrio’s Circle Café in Somers Point which he operated as a successful night club, restaurant and package goods business, which has been continuously serving and greeting the public since 1950; and WHEREAS, for helping to build the Somers Point business community, Joe received the Resolution for Excellence from the Joint Legislation of the State of New Jersey in 2000; and WHEREAS, Joseph DiOrio served as a role model of exemplary public and community service giving freely of his time, his experience, and his support; and WHEREAS, although Joseph DiOrio will be sadly missed by his loving family, by this Council, by the residents of this community, and by all beyond our City limits whom he touched with his leadership, generosity and enormity of spirit, his legacy will live on through his accomplishments and through his family including his beloved daughter Terri DiOrio, who continues to be a resident of Somers Point NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED by the Common Council of the City of Somers Point to on this day honor the memory of Joseph DiOrio and to officially mourn the passing of the man whose exemplary dedication, leadership, and numerous contributions have made a positive and lasting effect upon our community; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution be recorded in the official minutes of this governing body; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this resolution is presented on behalf of a grateful City to his four surviving children: F. Joseph DiOrio, Dennis DiOrio, Terri DiOrio, and Janet DiOrio Galante.
Posted on: Fri, 25 Jul 2014 11:48:28 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015