Ralph Nicholas Del Deo

Beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, outdoorsman and veteran, Ralph N. Del Deo, formerly of Bedminster, NJ, and Palm Beach, FL, passed away peacefully on March 25, 2026, at the age of 101.

He was a distinguished attorney and one of the founders and senior partners of Crummy, Del Deo, Dolan, Griffinger and Vecchione (now Gibbons, PC). Specializing in commercial, corporate, and intellectual property litigation, the firm is headquartered in Newark, NJ, and remains a large successful practice representing a vast array of corporate and commercial entities with offices now in several states.

Mr. Del Deo was born in Newark, NJ on March 15, 1925, to Nicholas V. Del Deo, M.D., and Josephine (DePhillips) Del Deo. He is predeceased by his wife, Blanche Wagner Del Deo, whom he married in 1947. He is survived by their children, Blanche Vilade, Katherine “KT” Catlin, Nicholas J. Del Deo, Julia M. Campazzi and son-in-law Earl J. Campazzi, MD. Nine grandchildren: John, James and Matthew Vilade, Timothy Catlin and Kristin Catlin Kirk, Christie McElwee, Nicholas, Douglas and Gregory Del Deo, 17 great grandchildren and 3 great great-grandchildren.

In his younger years, Mr. Del Deo attended Newark Academy, The Lawrenceville School, and was a graduate of Princeton University. He also served in the US Navy during WW11. He then graduated with honors from the Rutgers School of Law, where he obtained his doctorate in law (J.D. and LL.B). He served as the Case Editor for the Rutgers Law Review and was a member of the Board of Editors.

During his expansive career, he wrote and revised many books for the NJ Practice Series (West Publishing), and served on the NJ Supreme Court rules committee. He was admitted to practice NJ law in 1951, including the Third Circuit Court of Appeals and the US Supreme Court. He became a permanent member of the Third Circuit Judicial Conference and later chaired its Lawyer’s Advisory Committee. He also was a member of the Essex County Bar Association, the NJ State Bar Association, and the American Bar Association. He also was elected membership in the American Bar Foundation and went on to be named a lifetime member. He was appointed to the NJ State Board of Institutional Trustees by Governor Brendon Byrne.

In 2015, he was recognized by the New Jersey General Assembly with a resolution honoring his “outstanding character, exceptional determination, and compassionate nature,” for his lifetime achievements in the field of law.

He was a founder and director of the Bernards State Bank (now part of Wells Fargo), and a Director of National Discount Brokers (acquired by Deutsch Bank). For many years, he was a trustee of Papermill Playhouse, the Foundation Fighting Blindness, Gill/St. Bernards School and many non-profits. He also remained active in Princeton Alumni affairs throughout most of his life. He was a Director, then Honorary Director of the Palm Beach Civic Association, and a member of Roxiticus Golf Club in Mendham, NJ.

Mr. Del Deo and his wife both enjoyed a lifelong passion for breeding and exhibiting pure bred dogs on the bench and in the field. Together they raised many champion Pointers, Wire Fox Terriers, Dachshunds and Affenpinschers. Additionally, Mr. Del Deo was a distinguished judge for many dog shows in the U.S., England and Spain. Most notably, he appeared and judged at Westminster Kennel Club in NY, including the sporting group on two occasions. He was active in the affairs of the American Kennel Club in matters relating to discipline and served as a delegate for more than 25 years.

An avid outdoorsman and traveler, he and Blanche traveled extensively for business and pleasure through the U.S., Europe and beyond. Other than his children, friends and family, the thing he loved best was to be outdoors, whether playing golf or tennis, or boating, or training his dogs and identifying wildlife. His family and friends will always remember his irreplaceable presence in their lives and will forever cherish his memory.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral at the Basilica of St. Edwards, 144 North County Rd. Palm Beach Florida, on April 24, 2026 at 11 am. Private visitation will be held following the mass. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be sent to the Ralph and Blanche Scholarship Fund of the Rutgers Foundation.

For more information or to send condolences contact Quattlebaum Funeral Home.