Francesco DiPalma

Francesco DiPalma, 93, of Eltingville, a retired machinist who was an avid sports fan, died Tuesday in Staten Island University Hospital, Prince's Bay.

Born in Fair Lawn, N.J., he was raised in Brooklyn. He settled in Eltingville more than 30 years ago.

Mr. DiPalma was a machinist in the composing department of the New York Daily News in Manhattan for 25 years. He then worked at Howmedica Osteonics, an orthopedic medical manufacturing company in Mahwah, N.J.

He was the ultimate sports fan and enjoyed watching all types of sporting events, even curling, hia family said.

A fixture in his community, Mr. DiPalma enjoyed power walking and walked five miles daily in his neighborhood. He also enjoyed playing craps in Atlantic City.

Surviving are his wife of 67 years, Theresa; his sons, Anthony and Felix; his daughters, Theresa Miller and Frances Napolitano; two sisters, Maria (Connie) Esposito and Mary Conelli; seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

The funeral will be Saturday from the Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home, Tottenville, with a mass at 10:30 a.m. in St. Thomas the Apostle R.C. Church, Pleasant Plains. Burial will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, also Pleasant Plains.

Services: St. Thomas the Apostle RC Church Saturday, February 28, 2015 10:30AM

Visitation: Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home Saturday, February 28, 2015 9-10AM

Cemetery: Resurrection Cemetery (Staten Island)

Location: Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home

Church: St. Thomas The Apostle RC Church