Dante Del Grosso
Dante Del Grosso
By ZEINAB NAJM
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN — Retired Dearborn Deputy Treasurer and longtime resident Dante Del Grosso died from heart failure April 11 at the age of 90.
Del Grosso, a lifelong Dearborn resident, lived near Chase Road before moving to Oxford with his wife, Celesta, where they spent 61 years together.
He graduated from Fordson High School and then became a theater manager before working in the city’s treasurer office for 40 years. Del Grosso retired as deputy treasurer.
After his wife passed away five years ago, he moved into the Hubbard Manor West senior complex where he lived the rest of his life.
Del Grosso was a member of Italian American Fraternal Club, Dearborn Goodfellows, Dearborn Senior Citizens Commission, Knights of Columbus, Dearborn Pioneers-past president, City of Dearborn Retirees organizations.
Del Grosso was preceded in death by his wife and survived by his son Daniel Del Grosso, Janet Vilag, Gloria Bork and his sister Lucille Gliese.
He is also survived by his eight grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
“My father passed away yesterday, taking with him the love of family and many friends,” Bork wrote on her Facebook page. “He was one of the kindest, most thoughtful persons I’ve known. Conversations with him were rarely about him unless you asked. He was so special to me and many others. I loved him dearly and he will be sorely missed!”
During the April 17 Dearborn City Council meeting, council members offered their condolences to Del Grosso’s family.
Councilwoman Erin Byrnes said Del Grosso was a friendly person who would greet everyone he would meet with a smile. She also added that Del Grosso’s sister Gliese said he was great with numbers and was the most honest person you’ll ever meet.
City Clerk George Darany said Del Grosso was a friend of his for almost 40 years.
“I knew him as an honest and caring man for a number of years,” Darany said. “He loved his family very, very much and of course he loved the city of Dearborn. Dante worked very, very hard for the Dearborn Goodfellows, too, and made that organization as strong as it is today.”
Darany also shared some personal advice Del Grosso gave him during their friendship.
“On a personal note he used to encourage me to keep trying when I didn’t quite make it on the city council the first couple times,” Darany said. “He would put his arms around me and say, ‘Don’t give up, George. You’re going to do this. You’re going to make it.’ I really appreciated his kinds words and they won’t soon be forgotten.”
A memorial visitation and celebration of his life was held April 16 at the Duzak Funeral Home 16600 Warren in Detroit.
(Zeinab Najm can be reached at [email protected].)