Len De Lucia, 59, passed on July 4, 2022. He was born to Americo "Sonny" De Lucia and Antoinette "Nettie" De Lucia in the Bronx, New York, on November 5, 1962.
Len married Patricia in 1988 and they lived together in Yonkers, New York. Together they raised two children, Deanna and James, and had a wonderful life together. He is survived by his loving father, brother, wife, and children.
Len graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1980, followed by a degree from Fordham University and a doctoral degree from New York University. Len was a dentist for over thirty years and lived each day caring for the needs of those around him.
Len was a huge supporter of all things Fordham, giving back to the community with his time as a coach, director and mentor.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests for donations to be made in his honor to Fordham Prep.
https://www.fordhamprep.org/giving/donate-now
Flynn Memorial Home
1652 Central Park Avenue
Yonkers, NY 10710
(914) 963-5178
www.flynnmemorialhome.com
Eulogy given by Len’s son, James, on the evening of Thursday, July 7th.
Thank you all so much for being here. I wanted to share a few words with you all this evening, because I think my dad would have liked that.
What he wouldn’t like, though, is all the nice things I’m going to say about him and him not being able to gloat.
As I thought about how to describe my father and talk about him, I kept coming back to one word: determination. He was determined in how he lived and how he loved.
Many of you may know that when my dad was born, the doctors said he would never play sports. He would be lucky to walk. He was in casts while others were playing – and though this could be demotivating for some, that’s not how my dad took it.
He took that prognosis and turned it into a determination that would lead him to become a champion swimmer, as well as a lacrosse and football player. That determination continued as he became the first member of his family to attend college, then grad school, become a doctor and marry the absolute love of his life – my mother – and raise two wonderful children in his and her image.
There are people in this room who come from all walks of life and from all different backgrounds – some related by blood, others by countless years together. But the one thing we all have in common is this: we knew and felt my dad’s determined love. It was a love that connected and touched people like none other.
It doesn’t take much to see how my dad’s determination carried through to his family, friendships and relationships with us all here. There’s no one that embodied the Jesuit motto of “Men for Others” more than my father. If you needed something, he was there. If you didn’t know you needed something, but he sensed you did, he was there, too. If there was a way to make someone’s life a little easier, or day a little brighter, Len would jump at the chance.
Once you were a part of my dad’s circle, you were in. You were on his mind. And you were in his heart.
He had his moments in the spotlight – MC’ing golf outings and running award dinners – but I think my dad shined the brightest during his quiet, determined moments where he could sit back and watch the fruits of his generous labors unfold. Like surprising a bunch of kids with water guns at a birthday party and watching them have the time of their lives, or seeing a well-orchestrated prank of his play out.
He’d set his mind to something and he’d do it. And if he didn’t succeed at first, he wouldn’t quit and walk away, he’d seek counsel from others – from many of you in this room – go back to the drawing board, and try again. And not only would he then succeed, he’d often raise the bar entirely.
And so, I stand before you this evening not defeated, but determined. Determined to carry on his legacy of being a man for others. Determined to both step into and create moments where I can lift those around me to fulfil their greatest life potential. Because that’s what my dad would want. Because that was the power of his love.
Dad, I will always love you. We will always love you.