Frank A. De Lisi

Frank Andrew De Lisi II (“Chip”) was born October 19, 1942, in Montclair, New Jersey, the middle son of the late Frank A. De Lisi and Anna P. (Camarata) De Lisi. He spent his childhood years in Verona, N.J. , and in the summers his family would go camping in Cape Cod.

He excelled at school, and left Verona High School to play football at the New Hampton (Prep) School in New Hampshire before receiving a scholarship to Bates College in Maine. His achievements on the gridiron as fullback and co-Captain earned him the distinction of “All New England Football”, and he graduated with a BA in Economics in 1965.

In addition to making many friends, Chip met the love of his life during those collegiate years. During a blind date for the Spring Dance, he fell head over heels in love with a beautiful young woman from Connecticut named Barbara Jean Martelli. The date kicked off a romance that included him hitchhiking every weekend from Maine to Connecticut and daily love letters.

Chip and Barbara were married in Waterbury CT in 1965 and soon became a family with the arrivals of daughter Beth and son Jeffrey. In the years that followed, he worked as a Senior Bank Examiner for the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and was proud to become executive and chief credit officer at Chase Manhattan Bank, and thereafter formed his consulting firm involving such matters. While the commute to NYC every day and frequent business trips could be grueling, his days in West Milford, New Jersey were happy times filled with family, neighbors, and friends. His family fondly recalls “pizzelles” with the neighborhood kids on Sunday mornings, cheerleading breakfasts, little league games, surprise appearances at school dances, shenanigans with fun-loving neighbors, dinner and pool parties, Yankees games, Frank Sinatra music, disco dancing, roaring fires on snow days, Cape Cod vacations, and many good times.

In 2001, Chip moved to Cape Cod, his happy place where he vacationed as a child, into a dream house only steps away from where he took his own young family camping. His retirement in Brewster was idyllic as he made many new friends, played golf at Captain’s Golf Course, participated in book clubs and visited the beaches and libraries often.

But mostly, he spent his free time and energy adoring his wife and growing family -- especially his cherished grandchildren. He was their biggest champion; always present in all of their endeavors-- sports games, geography bees, dances, and the many big and little milestones that make up a childhood. He delighted in their accomplishments, empathized in their failures, supported them in their goals, checked in on them often, and made them laugh with jokes and general good cheer. He was equally proud of all of his grandchildren. He especially derived strength, courage, and humility as he stood witness to his grandson, Luca De Lisi’s, brave battle with brain cancer at the Jimmy Fund.

Chip leaves behind his wife of 58 years, Barbara J. De Lisi, daughter Beth De Lisi-Baird and her husband Ralph Baird of Centerville, MA, son Jeffrey De Lisi and his wife Megan of Scituate MA; brother Philip A. De Lisi of Verona, NJ, cousin Michael P. Arnone and his wife Barbara of Leesburg, Florida, and sister-in-law Mary Ann Giarratona of Naples, Florida. He will also be greatly missed by his grandchildren Parker Baird, James Baird, Elisabeth Baird, Olivia De Lisi, Joshua De Lisi, numerous extended family members, nephews and nieces -- many of whom he called on a regular basis to chat about all things and stay up to date.

Chip is predeceased by his grandson, Luca De Lisi, his older brother, Joseph De Lisi, sister-in-law Diane De Lisi, and brother-in-law Joseph Giarratona.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Alice’s House, Inc., P.O box 681 Humarock, 02047, www.aliceshouse.org

A Celebration of Life Memorial will be held in Brewster, Massachusetts in the spring timeframe.