Mario A. DiFederico

Mario A. DiFederico, of Hobe Sound, Florida and Akron, Ohio, died on November 8, 2007, in Akron from complications of Parkinsons disease. He was 86.

Born September 19, 1921 in Akron, Mr. DiFederico was the son of the late Anna DiMenna and Anthony DiFederico. He was the beloved husband of Jean DiFederico, to whom he was married for 58 years.

Mr. DiFederico graduated from the University of Akron in 1943 and attended the Sloan School of Management at The Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Upon graduation from MIT in 1947 he began a long career at The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. He was elected to the Firestone Board of Directors in 1970 and retired as President in 1979. He also served as a director of Dana Corporation for 25 years, from 1971 until 1996.

Active in community and civic affairs, Mr. DiFederico was a past trustee of the University of Akron and a Trustee of Akron City Hospital. He was a devoted parishioner of St. Hilary's in Akron and St. Christopher's in Hobe Sound. He was a founding member of the Sharon Golf Club and the Jupiter Hills Club and held memberships at Portage C.C., Loblolly Pines, Laurel Valley and the 200 Club.

In addition to his wife, Jean, he is survived by their three children, Nancy (Timothy) Joyce of Bedford, New York, Martha (Jay) Friedman of Dacula, Georgia, and Anthony (Mary) McNally of Stuart, Florida. He is also survived by his sister, Connie Percoco of Akron and eight cherished grandchildren: Timothy, Thayer, Sarah and Charles Joyce; Jason and Kimberly Friedman, and Michael and Lauren DiFederico. He was preceded in death by his brother, John, and his sister, Jennie.

The family will receive visitors at St. Hilary's Church, 2750 West Market Street, Fairlawn, Ohio on Saturday, November 10th from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Immediately following the wake a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12 noon. Private interment at Holy Cross Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions would be sincerely appreciated and may be directed to either Hospice of the Visiting Nurse Service, 3358 Ridgewood Rd., Akron, OH 44333 or Hospice at Summa, 444 N. Main St., Akron, OH 44310.