Edward R. DeLouise

1927 - 2018

DeLouise, Edward R.
Edward R. DeLouise, age 90, of Guilford CT died peacefully on August 21, 2018 at Yale New Haven Hospital surrounded by close family and love. He had been failing the past few months due to cardiovascular disease. He was born November 14, 1927, minutes after his identical twin brother Alfred to the late Joseph & Theresa Bove DeLouise in New Haven, CT. He was a faithful brother growing up to predeceased siblings Alfred, Libby, Joseph and Raymond and is survived by sisters Louise Leopold and Julie Giordano. He is also survived by his wife of 62 years Marion and loving daughters Lisa and Diane as well and numerous nieces and nephews. Growing up in the depression era was challenging but he believed that hard work and education would pay off. In 1946 he enlisted in the United States Army and was assigned to work with the Occupational Forces in Japan with the Field Artillery 1st Cavalry Division in the special service unit responsible for troop morale and recreation. He was honorably discharged in 1948 and soon after returning home he matriculated into the University of Connecticut. He graduated in 1952 with a B.A. in Zoology and Microbiology and began his life long career in public health service working as a Sanitarian in the Bureau of Environmental Health in the City of New Haven. There he met the love of his life, Marion Schmidt, and were married in 1955. For career advancement he entered Yale University and in 1957 he earned Masters in Public Health (M.P.H.) & a degree in Public Health Administration and Environmental Health. This allowed him to rise in the ranks in the New Haven Health Department serving as the Director of the Division of Neighborhood Improvement and Housing Code Enforcement, the Director of the Bureau of Environmental Health, then becoming Deputy Director and finally the Director of the Health Department, proudly the first non-physician to hold that high position. During his tenure he faithfully served the citizens of New Haven, always working with others to improve healthy living, tackling vermin and lead contamination in homes, air pollution and asbestos concerns, keeping the food supply and water safe and he even passionately worked to improve the animal control facilities. He created the first city's housing safety code and in the 1980's after the AIDS crisis escalated, he established Connecticut's first Health-Department based testing and counseling site. He served on numerous Boards of Directors including the Visiting Nurse Association, the Hill Health Center and Family Counseling of Greater New Haven. He was a member of numerous professional organizations (Lions and Melebus Clubs), governing boards and advisory committees. He held a faculty appointment at Quinnipiac College and Lectureship at Yale teaching students in the School of Public Health and Epidemiology. In 1988 he retired due to health concerns and was honored in a ceremony at Woolsey Hall that highlighted his outstanding contributions. Mayor Biagio DiLieto presented him with a plaque naming an office complex at city Health Department 1 State Street in his honor. He was praised for his tireless, innovative, creative leadership and the pivotal role he had in shaping the City's expanding public health programs. Retiring also provided the opportunity to spend more time with the most important things in life; his wife Marion and their two daughters. In retirement he pursued leisurely enjoyments with Marion including working out at the gym to stay fit and 30+ years of traveling around searching flea markets for treasures and reselling their purchases at antique shows. He thoroughly enjoyed life and interacting with people both in a professional and social capacity. He loved watching Judge shows on TV and he admired and is eternally thankful to all the doctors that have cared for him over the past 40 years.
Friends are invited to go directly to St. Michael's Church 29 Wooster Pl. New Haven to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Friday at 10 a.m. Burial with military honors will follow in East Lawn Cemetery. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Yale University School of Public Health.
MARESCA & SONS FUNERAL HOME 592 Chapel St., New Haven, is in charge of arrangements. Offer condolences at marescafuneralhome.com