Daniel V. DeSimone

Daniel V. DeSimone

Daniel V. DeSimone, 79, died Tuesday, September 15, 2009, in Longwood Florida, in the company of his loving family.

On May 4, 1930, he became the first child born in the United States to Helen and James DeSimone after the family fled fascist Italy in the 1920s. He served his country as a United States Air Force enlistee during the Korean War; graduated with highest honors from engineering and law school; began his career at a leading research laboratory and then devoted his life to public service.

He began his career at a leading research laboratory and went on to devote his life to public service as a counselor to Presidents and Congressmen and a leader of the nation's engineering profession.

He was involved in major policy projects for three Presidential administrations; Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon and for the Congress, finally serving as the chief executive of the American Association of Engineering Societies and the World Federation of Engineering Societies.

He received the Gold Medal award for distinguished achievement in Federal Service, the nation's highest award for outstanding achievement in the federal government. The University of Illinois also awarded Mr. DeSimone its Distinguished Alumni Award.

He traveled all over the world and especially enjoyed his many visits to Charlottesville be with his family in Charlottesville, Virginia.

He is survived by his former wife, Virginia Carey De Simone, a daughter, Jane DeSimone Dittmar and her children, William, Mary, Virginia and Jed, all of Charlottesville, Virginia; two sons, James DeSimone, his wife, Beth, and their children, Rebecca and Jack of Longwood, Florida; and Daniel Carey DeSimone, his wife, Helen Dooley and their children, Helen and Alexander of Washington, D.C.

A memorial service will be held in Winter Park, Florida.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.