Dick Nitto, of Peoria, formally of Upper Montclair, New Jersey, passed away on August 9, 2023, Richard L. Owens Hospice Home in Peoria, Illinois. Dick was a transplanted easterner who fell in love with the mid-west with his attendance and graduation from Bradley University and his attendance at Indiana University along with his thirty-three year career with Caterpillar Inc.
Dick was born in Passaic, New Jersey on December 11, 1944 to Carl and Dorothy Nitto who preceded him in passing as did his loving brother, Carl Jr., and sister, Suzi. He was happily married to Patricia J. Nitto for 28 years.
Surviving are his loving wife and best friend Patricia “Trish” and his two favorite sons, Ryan (Keri) of Wall, NJ, and Reed (Melanie) of Birmingham, AL. Also surviving are his sister-in-law, Jean Nitto, and many outstanding nephews, nieces, as well as three very dear grandchildren, Garrett, Dylan and Taylor (Jason).
Dick earned a bachelor’s degree in political science, prelaw and history from Bradley and graduated in 1966. While at school he immersed himself in a number of activities having held position as student body president and was the first president of Missouri Valley Student Government Association. He stayed involved after graduation as President of the National Alumni Association.
Dick enjoyed a rewarding 33-year career with Caterpillar assuming a number of management positions living in London, England, Geneva Switzerland, Belfast, Northern Ireland and lastly as Chairman/Managing Director of Caterpillar of Australia living in Melbourne, Australia. Following his retirement from Caterpillar in 2000, he and Trish returned to Sydney, Australia working for Australia Capital Equity as CEO of the Westrac Holding Group which managed the Caterpillar businesses in Sydney and Perth Australia as well as Beijing, China. Following that he again retired and settled into homes in Manalapan, New Jersey, Naples, Florida and Peoria, Illinois.
Still active in Peoria endeavors, he was on the board of Governors of Peoria Country Club, a board member of the Sigma Nu Housing Corp at Bradley as well as a board member of a unique educational challenge called the Peoria Regional Education Center located at Wildlife Prairie Park.
Visitation will be Tuesday, August 15, 2023 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Davison-Fulton Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home in Peoria. A Funeral Mass will be held Wednesday, August 16, 2023 10:30 a.m. at St Philomena Catholic Church in Peoria. Additional visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. at the church prior to the services.
Burial will be at Swan Lake Memory Gardens in Peoria.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bradley University or the Richard L. Owens Hospice Home.
Words of comfort may be shared at www.WoolseyWilton.com with the Nitto family.
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Bradley University and Richard L. Owens Hospice
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