Jerome Anthony Di Marco

Jerome “Jerry” Di Marco, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend, passed away unexpectedly in his home on January 18, 2024, peacefully in his sleep. Jerome was 74 years old.

Jerry was born on March 17, 1949, in Brooklyn, NY to Jerome, Sr. & Eleanor (Cangelosi) Di Marco. He was the first of their four children. Being the eldest, he led by example and was the pillar of strength for his family and siblings. Shortly, upon graduating from Copiague High School, he entered the US military. After completing basic training in Montana, he was stationed overseas with the US Airforce as an airplane mechanic and earned the title Jumpmaster after completing fifteen successful combat jumps in Vietnam. He served for a total of four years and was discharged with honors.

Upon returning to the states in 1970, Jerome met his wife Vincenza (Vinnie) while working in his father’s concession stand at the local bowling alley in Lake Ronkonkoma. They were married on September 26, 1971, and would go on to have fifty years of marital bliss, three children, five grandchildren and two son-in-law’s. Vincenza preceded Jerome in death in 2021. Vinnie’s passing left Jerry devastated as he mourned the love of his life. Their marriage was centered on mutual love for each other and the family they created together. Both faced life with a strong conviction and perseverance that together as a family they could conquer any challenge, a moral code they imparted onto their children.
Jerome had a remarkable ability to overcome adversity with great strength and fortitude. In the early 1990’s, he was diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia at the time (AML: Acute Myeloid Leukemia) and was given less than 3 months to live or to take a gamble on an experimental treatment. Not one to look away from danger, Jerome opted for the experimental treatment, and after 2 years of fighting, two near-death experiences and a successful bone marrow transplant, and his steadfast faith in God, Jerome was considered in remission on his actual birthday in 1996.
Jerome is survived by his adult children Jodie & Eddie (Frace), Michael, and Crystal & Peter (D’Arrigo), and by his loving and cherished grandchildren Edward (17), Lexie (11), Anthonio (5), Rosetta (5) and Pietro (4), and his siblings and in-laws, Joseph & Andrea (deceased) Di Marco, Deborah & Gary Packer, and Jeffrey & Tracy Di Marco. Amongst family and friends, he was known as someone you could rely on at a moment’s notice. Jerome had a passion for helping those in need whether with mechanical car repairs, home improvement projects, providing wisdom and guidance or simply to sit with you in prayer or on a dock waiting for the fish to bite. Beyond all that, Jerome was always a person who could get by on his own two feet. Prior to his battle with leukemia, Jerome owned and operated a successful auto repair business. After his battle, it was his gumption and innate entrepreneurial talent that saw him through successfully for the remainder of his life.

Jerome had a flare for cooking and found solace in creating meals for his family and friends. He was known for his lavish holiday dinners especially his Christmas Eve feast, BBQ and St. Patrick Day staples given he was a Sicilian born on an Irish holiday.
Though his passing is truly heartbreaking for all of us who knew and loved him, we are thankful that God blessed us with over three additional decades of his love, strength, determination, unique sense of humor, and genuine pure spirit. He will be forever missed, cherished and loved, and never forgotten.