Mathew L Dellarco

Mathew Louis Dellarco, 91, of Audubon, PA, previously of Radnor and Havertown, PA, died from complications due to cancer on October 15, 2023. He was born in Youngstown, OH on July 27, 1932, to Lewis Dellarco and Josephine Molinaro. He was married to Christel Ursula Wittka for 65 years until her passing in 2021.

Matt grew up in Staten Island, NY and lived for several years in what is now Historic Richmond Town. He commuted via the Staten Island Ferry to Brooklyn Tech for high school before joining the U.S. Air Force. He was stationed at Bitburg Air Base where he served as a communications engineer. After returning stateside, Matt worked as a carpenter in a steel mill, an engineer, cameraman, and on-air announcer in television and radio including at the first black-operated radio station in Detroit. Later he moved with his family to Cape Canaveral, FL to work for General Electric in the early space program. He continued to work with GE Aerospace, primarily in the Philadelphia area, for 35 years until retirement. His work centered on missile re-entry systems and later as a program manager for reconnaissance satellite systems. While employed by GE, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from LaSalle College.

Throughout his life, Matt had a passion for music, photography, and travel. He had a beautiful baritone voice and sang throughout his life, for many years with The Mainliners Barbershop Chorus. While a resident at Shannondell at Valley Forge, he acted and sang with the Shannondell Actor’s Studio. Matt was an active volunteer with the GE Elfun Society where he narrated business magazines and repaired tape recorders for the blind. Matt took beautiful photographs and was an early adopter of electronic photographic equipment, using graphics software to document family events and travels. Matt and Christel traveled extensively, domestically and internationally. He was also passionate about the Philadelphia sports teams, an avid fan of the Phillies, Eagles and Flyers.

Matt was a devoted husband and father. His daughters have fond memories of him taking them fishing, skiing, and to Phillies and Flyers games. He is preceded in death by his wife, Christel, and two sons-in-law, Jeffrey Jacobs and Howard Douthit III. He is survived by his daughters, Andrea Jacobs (Brian Gallagher) and Ramona Douthit, five grandsons -- Justin Jacobs (Danna), Jarrett Jacobs (Danielle Paula), Joshua Douthit (Amanda), Nathaniel Douthit, and Jonathan Douthit (Kristen), step-grandchildren -- Brendan and Emma Gallagher, and eleven great grandchildren whom he adored -- Ryder, Kayden, Weston, and Aria Jacobs, Avonlea, Samuel, Aurora, Corbin, Elijah, Ruthlyn, and Elyssa Douthit.

Our Dad wanted us to tell people “Please don’t mourn my death. Celebrate my life. It was a wonderful life.”

Matt will be interred, together with Christel, at Arlington National Cemetery, with a private celebration of their lives following.

Donations can be made to Historic Richmond Town online at https://www.historicrichmondtown.org/donate in memory of Mathew Dellarco to support the Edwards-Barton-Aquilino House, where Matt lived as a child.

Donations can also be sent to:

Historic Richmond Town

Attn: Development

441 Clarke Avenue

Staten Island, NY 10306

Arrangements entrusted to Szpindor-Meyers Funeral Home, P.C.

Condolences to the family at www.meyersfh.com.