James V. DiOrio, Navy Seabee, athlete

James V. DiOrio of Bloomer Road, a lifelong Ridgefielder who had been a Navy Seabee, died on Friday, March 15, 2002, at Danbury Hospital after a brief illness. He was 83 years old and the husband of Rose DiOrio.
A son of the late Biagio and Maria DeBenigno DiOrio, Mr. DiOrio was born on Dec. 9, 1918, in Branchville in a house that once stood at the corner of Routes 7 and 102.
He attended Ridgefield schools and graduated in 1937 from Ridgefield High School, where he played on the baseball team.
“He loved athletics,” said his son, James P. DiOrio of Antioch, Ill. Mr. DiOrio was one of the few serious ice hockey players in Ridgefield in the 1930s and 40s, and was a member of semi-pro teams that skated in Norwalk and Stamford.
After Ridgefield High School, Mr. DiOrio spent four years at the technical school in Danbury. He was a tool and die maker for several companies, and later worked as a groundskeeper on the Redding estate of Anne Parrish, author of many novels and children’s books.
Until his retirement last August, he had been employed for 36 years at Norco Inc. of Ridgefield in the production control department.
Mr. DiOrio served in the United States Navy SeaBees during World War II. He was attached to the 107th Naval Construction Battalion in the Pacific Theater.
He was a past member of the American Legion Post in Georgetown and had belonged to the Italian American Mutual Aid Society in Ridgefield.
“He was a very avid gardener,” said his son. Mr. DiOrio specialized in roses, marigolds and in recent years, also impatiens.
Besides his wife of 53 years and his son, Mr. DiOrio is survived by his brother Dominic J. DiOrio of Wilton; his daughter-in-law: Kathleen DiOrio of Antioch; three grandchildren: Daniel and Kimberly Kaiser and Gina DiOrio, all of Antioch; and by three nephews.
A brother, Louis DiOrio, and three sisters, Rose Marie DiOrio, Zuleme Nunzarro and Catherine Edwards, died before him.
The Rev. M. Joseph Joaquin, pastor, celebrated a Mass of Christian Burial Tuesday in Sacred Heart Church, Georgetown. Burial was in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Contributions in memory of Mr. DiOrio may be made to Sacred Heart Church, P.O. Box 388, Georgetown, CT 06829.
The Bouton Funeral Home, 31 West Church Street, Georgetown, was in charge of arrangements.