Nicholas M. DeMaio Jr. (Jay) 84, passed away peacefully at home on Dec. 6, 2015 after a four-month battle with cancer.
Nicholas DeMaio Jr. (1931 to 2015)
Nick was born in Stamford on Sept. 14, 1931 to the late Mary (Abate) DeMaio and Nicholas M. DeMaio Sr. Growing up in Stamford’s historic west side, Nick maintained strong roots there, later becoming a 57-year resident of Darien.
After graduating from J.M. Wright Technical High School in 1948, he was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies baseball organization. He went on to play minor league baseball for several years, including the K.O.M. league based in Commerce, Oklahoma.
Nick joined the Armed Forces during the Korean War and continued to play baseball for the U.S. Army team. At the conclusion of his service, he continued his 50-year career in printing at Communications Corporation in Stamford where he was plant manager.
Nick married the love of his life, Molly, in 1956 and moved to Darien in 1958. He was a longtime member and former president of the Piedmont Club in Darien, as well as a proud member of the Stillwater Indians baseball organization.
Apart from his family, Nick’s greatest legacy is in country music. Nick was known to his legions of fans as “the Ambassador of Country Music”, and as a respected vocalist and authority on this genre.
____________
— an obituary from Lacerenza Funeral Home
____________
He was a member of “The Country Singing Pals” for 17 years before joining his sons in the band “Gunsmoke” for the past 23 years.
Nick was widely known in the country music and western swing communities from Connecticut to Nashville, forming relationships and performing with country legends such as Ray Price, Hank Thompson, and Hank Williams Jr. Nick was proud to have performed for both President George H. and President George W. Bush during their campaign tours.
Yet above all of his career highlights, Nick had no greater joy than sharing the stage with the three generations of family in “Gunsmoke.”
He was predeceased by his parents, his brother Michael DeMaio and his wife Margaret (Molly) DeMaio of 54 years.
He is survived by his loving sons, Nicholas M. DeMaio III and his wife Marilyn of Darien; Jeffrey DeMaio and his wife Margaret of Darien, as well as his four devoted grandchildren, Nicholas DeMaio IV, Christina DeMaio, Jessica DeMaio and Rebecca DeMaio. He is also survived by his sister in laws, Etta Guarino of Darien, Lois Guarino of Fairfield, and many nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, Dec. 11, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. in St. John’s Church, 1986 Post Road, Darien. Entombment will follow at St. John’s Cemetery in Darien. Relatives and friends may call at the Lacerenza Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 8 Schuyler Avenue, Stamford, Conn. on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015 from 4 to 8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 2151, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38101-2151