Mr. DiIorio was born on Oct. 31, 1933 in Providence, R.I. He graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 1958 after serving in the Army, during the Korean War. He began his newspaper career as a reporter for the Westerly Sun in Rhode Island and the New Bedford Standard Times. He then worked for the Boston Herald-Traveler. When the Hearst Corp. purchased the newspaper in 1972 it became the Boston Herald-American, and Mr. DiIorio stayed on as deputy city editor. He left to head the public affairs office at what is now Bridgewater State University. He then became an assistant director at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology News Office, where he rose to deputy director before retiring in 1996. He returned to journalism for several years, working as a substitute on the copy desk of the Providence Journal. Mr. DiIorio was highly regarded for his skills as a fast and accurate reporter, writer and editor and equally esteemed by associates and friends for his intelligence, warmth, humor and calmness in all situations. His interests focused on his family, church and current events. In 2008, he was awarded the St. Peter Award from Corpus Christi Parish. He received the Marian Medal from the Diocese of Fall River in 2010.
“He was a wise and caring person,” said Charles Ball, who worked with Mr. DiIorio at the Herald-Traveler and MIT. “He could light up a room with his wit and energy.”
Mr. DiIorio leaves his wife, Anne; daughter, Megan Joseph of East Sandwich; and four grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters Sylvia E. DiIorio of East Sandwich and Lois A. Hubert of Greenville, RI.
A Reception of the Body and wake service will be held at 4 pm on Thursday, October 25, 2012 at Corpus Christi Church, 324 Quaker Meeting House Road in East Sandwich; with visiting hours continuing until 7 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the church at 11 am on Friday, October 26, 2012. Burial follows in St. Peter’s Cemetery.
At the family’s request, please do not send flowers. Instead, donations in his memory may be made to the St. Vincent DePaul Society, c/o of Corpus Christi Church, 324 Quaker Meeting House Rd, East Sandwich, MA 02537.
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