Luke Daidone

Daidone, Luke J. 93, passed away March 1, 2012 in Surprise, AZ. Born September 2, 1918 in Vita, Italy, Luke first emigrated to the U.S. from the Province of Trapani in Sicily with his father Giovanni, mother Francesca (Battaglieri) and sister Lena, settling in Newark, NJ. Several years later his mother became ill and he travelled back with her to Vita along with Lena and brother Benjamin, both of whom preceded Luke in death. He was also preceded in death by his beloved wife of 40 years, Veronica (Ronnie) Metzinger of Hoboken, NJ who he adored, thought of and talked about every day until his passing. After his mother’s death in Sicily the three young children sailed back to Ellis Island with an uncle to rejoin their father. A medical condition kept him from joining the armed forces during WW II, however he went to work for the Westinghouse Electric Corp. in Jersey City, NJ to contribute to the war effort. It was during that time at Westinghouse that he met and married Ronnie, the love of his life, who was a secretary in the accounting dept. While at Westinghouse he attended Fairleigh Dickenson University and earned a BS degree in Marketing becoming the Marketing Communications Manager and assistant to the General Manager. After retirement he started and successfully ran Eljay Marketing Consultants with Ronnie as the president and Luke as the VP, much as it was in their marriage. He is survived by his children, Barbara Priore of Union, NJ and Frank and his wife Carol of Scottsdale, AZ and Little Rock, AR. He is also survived by his grandchildren, D.J. (Amanda) Priore, Marlo (Vinicius) Inglez all of Parsippany, NJ and Karen Daidone of Scottsdale, AZ. Additionally, he is survived by his step-grandchildren Ron Whittaker and Jill Halsell of Little Rock and Jon Whittaker of Springdale, AR. He has two great-grandchildren and six step great-grandchildren. A memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Short Hills, NJ after which he will be reunited once again with his wife. Mass cards may be sent to the church.

Arrangements under the direction of Surprise Funeral Care, Surprise, Arizona.