Vito DeLeo Obituary - Death Notice and Service Information

LOCATION

New York, New York

'Never Surrender'
Vito DeLeo was in court in March 1994 when four defendants were convicted in the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center.

A trade center mechanic who had grudgingly worn a hearing aid since the explosion, Mr. DeLeo had been fixated by the trial. He plastered his office with clippings about the case. When the verdict came, he rushed to meet his wife, Sally Ann, to have a vodka on the rocks in celebration, he said in an interview with The New York Times at the time.

"I had chills coming down my body when I heard it," he said. "For my colleagues who are deceased: 'We can't bring you back, but I hope now that your souls will rest in peace. Never surrender.' "

Mr. DeLeo, 42, who was 150 feet from the explosion in 1993, was partly deafened by the blast. Nonetheless, he helped dozens of people escape from the building, said his cousin Helen Potenzano. Witnesses told the family that Mr. DeLeo, a father of two, was back at it again on Sept. 11. "He was a hero twice," Ms. Potenzano said.

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Posting Guidelines|FAQ

Vito is one of the most memorable men I ever met. I was working at CBS2 as a TV reporter in New York City, when I first encountered Vito on February 26, 1993. That was the afternoon of the first attack on the World Trade Center, when a truck bomb blew a crater six stories deep in the parking garage. Vito, an air conditioning mechanic, was only 150 feet away. He was eating lunch at his desk. The desk flew up and then protected him from the falling walls and ceilings. Six people close by...

Mary Murphy

September 11, 2024 | New York, NY

Remembering Vito on the 20th anniversary of 9/11...

Cindy Roe

September 07, 2021 | Galesburg, MI

Thinking about you today and always. Miss you

Stacy Hecht

September 11, 2019 | Jupiter, FL

Thinking of you Vito. You are missed.

Stacy Hecht

September 11, 2014 | Jupiter, FL

Vito, man I think about often. We had soooo many laughs at Dewey...thanks for the memories...buddy RIP... Sal the twin. Peace

December 04, 2013

I went to elementary school with Vito it's very strange for me
I remember I happy well like young classmate.
God shine a light on his family.

thomas cordero

November 23, 2013 | Brooklyn, NY

Remembering you on this tragic day.
Till we meet again.
Stacy Hecht

September 11, 2013 | Jupiter, FL

To my fellow ABM employee Hero, we the "ABM family" will always remember our co-workers and understand how you loved your buildings. Take pride. God Bless.

Karen C Morgan

September 12, 2011 | Tampa, FL

Just donated blood in his memory in Tulare, California. I didn't know him but I'll never forget.

diane reis

September 11, 2011 | Tulare

Vito Joseph DeLeo

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