Obituary of Elmo DiIanni

Elmo Di Ianni, of Mountain Lakes, NJ, passed away surrounded by his family on Saturday evening, February 23, 2013 at the age of 89. Elmo was born in New York City, NY and resided in Mountain Lakes, NJ for the past 52 years. A first generation American, Elmo truly lived the American dream. He proudly served in the US army during World War II and was decorated with a purple heart and 2 Bronze Stars. After the war Elmo attended the City College of New York and New York University. In 1949 he joined a US government research and development laboratory at the Brooklyn Navy Yard where he worked as a nuclear physicist. In 1960 Elmo moved to the private sector to become Vice President of the Nuclear Corporation of America. Elmo was a pioneer and leader in the field of radiation detection for over 40 years. He holds several patents which include instruments deployed on the first nuclear submarines as well as devices that are still used by military allies throughout the world. Elmo is a member of American Men in Science. Beyond excelling in his career, Elmo was a devoted family man and a truly dynamic individual. He took great pleasure in everything from spending time with his grandchildren to reciting a favorite poem to quiet dinners with his wife, Addy. He was a loyal friend and a sought after math tutor for many a Mountain Lakes student. Elmo is survived by his wife of 62 years Adeline (Addy), his four children, and their spouses, Mark and Kathy Di Ianni of Hopewell, NJ, Janet and James Callahan of Mountain Lakes, NJ; Donna Di Ianni and Peter Rispoli of Aspen, CO and Liz Di Ianni Mills and Wally Mills of Mountain Lakes; cherished grandchildren Jesse, Justin, Sean, Mark, Elizabeth, Alyson, James, Maxwell, Peter and Adeline. His family will always remember the long summer days down at the shore, Boggle games, ping pong tournaments and his many words of wisdom. Visiting will be held at the Codey & Mackey Funeral Home, 107 Essex Ave., Boonton, NJ on Thursday, Feb. 28 from 2-4 and 7-9 pm. A Funeral Mass celebrating his life will be offered at 10:30 AM at St. Catherine of Siena Church, Mountain Lakes, NJ. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, E. Hanover, NJ. For online condolences or information please visit www.mackeyfh.com. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Ian Cali Fund for FOP @ Trustees of the University of PA c/o Medical Center Development, 3535 Market Street, Suite 750, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3309 or Compassionate Care Hospice, 400 Blackwell St., Dover, NJ 07801.