Benjamin F. Deliso

Benjamin F. Deliso
1922 - 2014
Agawam
Benjamin F. Deliso, 92, of Agawam, longtime resident, passed away peacefully on March 20, 2014, surrounded by his family. Ben, the son of the late Clemente and Virginia (Migliore) Deliso, was born in Queens, N.Y. in February 1922. He was part of a large extended Italian family of 9 children growing up in the Depression, which instilled a work ethic and desire to succeed. His family owned the Deliso construction firm that worked in the NYC area during the 1930's. In 1939, Ben and his brothers moved to the Springfield area to work on public works projects in the Western Mass area as part of the Deliso-Brown Construction firm from the late 1930's to late 1940's. Ben was integral in the building of Pioneer Valley Refrigerated Warehouse, Chicopee MA, constructing the facility as part of the Deliso-Brown Company. Ben was the General Manager of PVR, retiring after 50 years. While at PVR, Ben was responsible for managing the growth and expansion of PVR into a full service storage facility, with both cold and dry storage. Ben had an avid interest in European sports cars and was the owner of Sports Cars Limited of Springfield, a car dealership specializing in European sports cars during the 1950's. He was involved in amateur sports car time trials, driving at Lime Rock Sports track and Thompson Raceway, in the 1950's. Ben completed 2 off -the -frame restorations of MG's- a 1947 MG TC and a 1953 MG TD. Residing in Agawam, since 1952, Ben built his home with his brother, Charles and resided across from the Connecticut River for 62 years. He maintained a large garden, focusing each year's attention to growing tomatoes. He brought an interest in living life through being active and enjoying each day living his ethics and treating all he met with honesty and dignity. Ben enjoyed afternoon coffee with visitors always welcome to his home. In later years, he enjoyed summer evening MG drives in the Western Mass countryside with his wife, Sylvia. Ben was a link to the past for many of his nieces and nephews and enjoyed sharing the stories of the Deliso family in Western Mass, chronicling their lives from 1939 to the present. Ben was a past member of UNICO Agawam chapter and the New England MG T Register. Ben married his wife of 59 years, Sylvia L. Rafferty, in 1955 with the reception held in the backyard of their Agawam home. Ben and Sylvia traveled Europe and the Caribbean from the mid 1950's, enjoying exploring countries on their own and enjoying the beaches in the winter. Each trip was planned out by Sylvia and allowed them to experience the food, sights and people. Ben is survived by his wife, Sylvia, and his children - Elizabeth Deliso and her husband, James Clement; grand children, Samuel and Olivia, son, Thomas and daughter, Katherine Deliso Richter and her husband, Scott Richter. He was predeceased by son, Andrew. Ben is survived by his siblings - Michael Deliso, Charles Deliso, Grace Ferrara, and Mary Johnston. He was predeceased by his siblings - John Deliso, Joseph Deliso, Ann Ceniglio and Rose Caruana. Ben is also survived by many nieces and nephews and family friends, special regards to: William Caruana of Wilbraham, Susana Hall of Springfield, Clement Deliso, Jr. of Suffield, CT, Joseph and Maggie Liberatore of Agawam, Ann Hall of Agawam, Mark Ruddock of Southwick, Michael Rafferty of Stonington,CT, Roberta Doering of Agawam, Linda Crean of West Springfield and Edward Clampit of Agawam. Calling hours will be held at Agawam Funeral Home, 184 Main Street, Agawam, MA on Tuesday, March 25, 2014 from 4pm to 7pm. There will be a private burial. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ben's memory to a charity of one's choice.