Leonard S DeLuca's Obituary
Leonard S. DeLuca, age 80, a lifelong resident of Lorain passed away Wednesday, June 24, 2015 at Mercy Regional Medical Center.
Born on February 17, 1935 and raised in Lorain, Len was the identical twin son of James and Catherine DeLuca. He was educated in the Lorain City Schools and upon his graduation from high school he enlisted with the United States Navy and was Honorably Discharged on January 19, 1957. After serving in the Navy, he graduated from Oklahoma State before returning to Lorain to take over the helm of DeLuca’s Bakery that was founded by his father, James. He expanded the bakery to several locations before starting his catering business and established and built DeLuca’s Place in the Park which was the recipient of the Golden Thirty Award and was awarded the Small Businessman of the Year in 1996. He also established the Rose Café at Lakeview Park in 2008 and the Orchid Room in Avon, in 2012.
Len started at an early age establishing himself in community affairs and volunteering for many organizations. He was active in toastmasters, Lorain Civil defense and the Lorain Jaycees. In 1966 he was named Lorain’s Young Man of the Year. He was also included in the 1977 edition of Outstanding Young Men of America. He was a founding board member of the Lorain County Visitors Bureau and served as board president for 20 years. He served 6 years on the board of the Community Foundation of Lorain County and also on the Grants Committee of the foundation and served 2 terms on the United Way Board where he held several leadership roles, including President.
He was a 1989 graduate of Leadership Lorain County and was named the 1989 Distinguished Alumni Award winner. He was very active with the Lorain Palace Theatre where he served as President and co-chaired the Vision 2000 Campaign which raised over 2 million dollars to finish the restoration of the theatre. Some of his other volunteer activities included, heading the Business Advisory Committee for the Lorain City Schools, chairing the Lorain Port Authority Levy Campaigns, the Lorain Catholic Advisory Board, the Lorain Family Y Board and the Lorain Community Hospital Board, and served on the CHP Foundation and their strategic planning committee.
Len retired in 1999 but continued his many volunteer activities and became a licensed realtor. In 2006, he returned to Deluca’s Place in the Park, taking over the helm.
He loved tending to his flower garden and interior design. He was a member of the Church of St. Peter in Lorain where he and his wife sang in the choir for over 40 years.
Len is survived by his wife of 59 years, his high school sweetheart,Sally (nee Pullin); his son, Vince (Debbie) DeLuca; his daughter, Tracy (David) Escobar; granddaughters, Lauren and Lexi First; step-grandchildren, Mallory and Hannah Escobar, Erika (Jason) Collins, Rachel (Louie) Kayatin, and Paul, Michael and Rebekah Reighley; step-great-grandchildren, Louis, Emma, Isabella, Hannah, Elliana, Benjamin, Zachery and Owen; and his sister, Rita Spinale.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Catherine DeLuca; and his twin brother, Leo and brother, Anthony DeLuca.
The DeLuca family will receive friends on Sunday, June 28, 2015 from 1:00 – 7:00 p.m in the Dovin and Reber Jones Funeral & Cremation Center, 1110 Cooper Foster Park Road, Amherst. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, June 29th. at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of St. Peter, 3655 Oberlin Ave., Lorain. Rev. Fr. Craig Hovanec, Pastor, will officiate. EVERYONE PLEASE MEET AT CHURCH. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Lorain.
In lieu of flowers the family suggest contributions be made in memory of Len to the Lorain Palace Theatre or to the Len and Sally DeLuca Family Fund at the Community Foundation of Lorain County.
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