Joseph A. D'Emidio

Age 81, died of cancer at Mercy Hospital in Miami, Florida on Thursday, June 03, 2010. Born April 26, 1929, in Newark, New Jersey, he lived in Key Biscayne, Florida, and Lake Bancroft Falls Church, Virginia.

Capt. D’Emidio is a graduate of the Newark College of Engineering with a Masters Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Michigan. After graduating college, he became an officer in the Navy’s Civil Engineer Corps (more popularly known as "Seabees") by attending Officer Candidate School and during his 28 year career, held multiple challenging and important assignments.

These assignments included: Commanding Officer Seabee Battalion 74 (NMCB-74), serving in-country during the Vietnam War; Naval Facilities Engineering Command, where he established the Navy’s first comprehensive air and water pollution abatement program which he helped sheppard through Congress; Commanding Officer of the Chesapeake Division at the U.S. Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.; Commanding Officer of Public Works at Subic Bay Naval Base in the Philippines.

Capt. D’Emidio received over 15 Military Awards and Commendations during his service to the country. He is also recognized as Diplomate, American Academy of Environmental Engineers; among his many accomplishments in the environmental arena, is inventing and patenting a "Point-of-Use Water Treatment Diskit" for poor countries and disaster settings.

Joseph D’Emidio was a lover of life and enjoyed his tennis and dancing.

Survivors include his wife Maria Luisa D’Emidio; his children, Joseph II, Christine, John, and James; sixteen grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

Services will be held at Ft. Myer Old Post Chapel followed by interment in Arlington National Cemetery on September 29, 2010 beginning at 8:45 AM.

In lieu of flowers please make a contribution to the Seabee Museum at http://www.seabeehf.org/museum/contribution.htm

or MAIL TO: CEC/Seabee Historical Foundation, PO Box 657, Gulfport, MS 39502

Arrangements under the direction of Arlington Funeral Home, Arlington, VA.