James Joseph Dimaria

            James Joseph DiMaria, age 88, of Meadville, PA passed on Friday, August 19, 2016, at his residence with his loving family by his side.             He was born on June 26, 1928 at his home in Pittsburgh, PA, the son of the late James DiMaria and Aqualina Libertucci. He was married 65 years to Clara Ford Roth DiMaria who preceded him in death recently on August 2, 2016.             James graduated from Westinghouse High School, Pittsburgh, PA in 1947. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Thiel College, and a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Pittsburgh.             While at Thiel, James played football and was named to the PA Small College, PA All College, the Little All American Team, and to the Thiel All Time All-Star Team. He was inducted into the Thiel Athletic Hall of Fame both as an individual player and for his accomplishments on the 1950 undefeated football team.  After his college career, he enjoyed pitching in softball leagues for the city of Pittsburgh, and in both Mercer and Crawford Counties.             A 39-year Driver’s Ed Instructor for Crawford Central School District, James also was a football, swimming, and track coach. During his teaching career he was a play-by-play WMGW radio announcer for seven years calling Bulldog basketball and football games (as well as other county teams), hosted a sports show on WMGW, served as a Red Cross swimming instructor for three years, and was a PIAA track official.               James was instrumental in forming Meadville’s form of government, served two and a half terms on Meadville City Council, and would go on to serve two terms as the Mayor of Meadville.             After retirement from MASH, James taught an AARP Defensive Driving Course for 11 years.             James was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity of Greenville, PA.                         James is survived by two daughters: Marylois Parise and her husband John of Meadville, PA and Louise Roth Rice of Meadville, PA, two sons: James W. R. DiMaria and his wife Tara of Sandy Lake, PA, and Paul Roth DiMaria and his wife Samantha of Mentor, Ohio, nine grandchildren: Anthony Rice, Samuel Rice, Elizabeth Rice, Clarissa DiMaria, Sophia DiMaria, Lauren DiMaria, Joseph DiMaria, Elias DiMaria and Caleb DiMaria, a brother-in-law: Warren F. Roth and his wife Patricia of Greenville, PA.             He is further survived by many nieces and nephews in Greenville, Pittsburgh, and Florida.             In addition to his parents and wife, James was preceded in death by a daughter, Claire Roth DiMaria, by two sisters: Louise Marie DiMaria and her husband Emerick Joseph Ignelzi, Florence Elizabeth DiMaria and her husband Nicholas Anthony Lamonna, by a brother Anthony Joseph DiMaria and his wife Louise Josephine Paolisso, and by a sister-in-law Emily Ford Dunn and her husband William E. Dunn. Services will be private and at the convenience of the family. Burial will take place in the Shenango Valley Cemetery.             In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Thiel College Blue-Gold Club, 75 College Avenue, Greenville, PA 16125.             The family extends a heartfelt thank you to the workers of the Hospice of Crawford County, and to Wesbury Help @ Home.             Please sign James’s online guestbook at hatheway-tedesco .com Arrangements have been entrusted to the HATHEWAY-TEDESCO FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY, 614 Baldwin Street, Meadville, PA 16335.