David B. Deioma

David B. Deioma, 82, of Chagrin Falls, Ohio passed away on Saturday, January 21, 2023 at his home surrounded by his loving family.

He was born December 26, 1940 In Dover, Ohio to the late Bernard and Kathryn Miceli Deioma. He was also preceded in death by his infant sister, Donna Marie; and brothers Richard and “Bernie”.

David is survived by his wife of nearly sixty years, Rosemary Little Deioma, and their four children, Donna Cole (Larry) of Solon, OH, Deborah Deioma Danto (Craig) of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, David Deioma (Annie Herrin) of San Diego, California and Daniel Deioma of Chagrin Falls. He also leaves behind four beloved grandchildren, Alec, Jordyn, Isabelle and Luke.

David attended St. Joseph Catholic High School, Dover, where he excelled scholastically and played on the school’s football team. Graduating in 1958, he appeared on the doorstep of Case Institute of Technology, Cleveland, Ohio and informed the Dean that he wished to attend there. He was accepted and in 1962 graduated with a degree in Electrical Mechanical Engineering. He began his studies in Law at Case Western Reserve University in 1962 and that same year married his High School Sweetheart, Rosemary. Another adventure and life began as they traveled to Falls Church, Virginia where David was accepted to the Georgetown University Law School while working at the US Patent and Trademark Office and Penne Edmonds of New York City

David began his law career at Fay & Fay, Cleveland. His professional memberships were in the Ohio and American Bar Associations and American Intellectual Property Law Association. Business and Corporate Law (Antitrust) and Intellectual Property Law were his specialties.

On behalf of the Cleveland Jaycees, and as the President, he campaigned in the Columbus State Courts and was successful in laws requiring the reclamation of strip-mined land. He also played a critical role in helping the Jaycees develop and build a subsidized elderly housing project on Shaker Square.

The Deioma Lecture at Case Western University, sponsored by the Master of Engineering and Management graduate degree program, was supported by an endowment from David. The Cleveland Clinic was another recipient of his generosity for the research and development for the treatment of cardiac disease and cancer.  David had many interests and activities over the years. Skiing out West; racing his BMW; hunting on his farm in Guernsey County; and dog training with his beloved German Shorthair Pointer, Trekker. Always foremost in David’s mind and heart were his family for which we are eternally grateful.

A funeral Mass will be held on Friday, January 27th starting at 11:00 am in the St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church at 496 East Washington Street, Chagrin Falls, Ohio with Fr. Gary Malin officiating. The family will be greeting friends at the church on Friday from 9:30 am until 11:00 am. A reception will follow in the church social hall. A second service will take place on Saturday the 28th, with the family greeting friends in the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home and Crematory at 803 North Wooster Ave. Dover, Ohio from 11:00 am until 12:00 noon. Graveside service will be held in the St. Joseph Calvary Cemetery, Dover at 12:30 pm with Fr. Jimmy Hatfield officiating. Following the graveside services, a reception will be held in the Toland-Herzig Monarch Center at 831 Boulevard, Dover. The Toland-Herzig Funeral Home and Crematory at Dover is handling arrangements. Those wishing to express their fondest memories of David may do so by visiting the online obituaries link on the funeral home’s website.

In lieu of flowers, donations are requested for Our Lady of the Wayside, 38023 Colorado Ave., Avon, OH 44011 (Tel: 440.934.6788 or www.thewayside.org/give) or Starlight School (aka Tuscarawas Board of Developmental Disabilities), 610 Commercial Ave., New Philadelphia, OH 44663 (Tel: 330.308.7160) in memory of his brother, Bernie and his father, Bernard, who was a co-founder of Starlight.