Gino DiClemente

Gino DiClemente
DEVOTED HUSBAND, LOVING FATHER, and WELL-KNOWN INDUSTRY LEADER
Gino DiClemente died peacefully Saturday October 14, 2023, and was reunited with his loving wife of 68 years, Luciana after a short 11 weeks. He was 91 years young.
Devoted father of John (Jeannie), Perry (Linda), Steve (Brenda), and Gino (Stephanie) and proud grandfather of Michael (Jenny), Natalie (Chad), Mark (Kate), Jonathan (Jillian), Elaina, Joseph, Sabrina, Christian, Jenna, Kimberly (TJ), Robert, Scott; deceased, Michael, Erica (Jake), Brandon, Richard (Cindy), Nicole (Brandon) Johnathan (Natalie), William, Sofia. "Nonno Gino" is also survived by 20 great-grandchildren.
Gino was an Italian immigrant, who arrived with no money or formal education, couldn't speak English and became an American citizen, serving this country, obtaining several degrees (BSEE, MBA, Honorary PHD) and became an entrepreneur, businessman, philanthropist, and charitable benefactor to many people and organizations. Gino once stated, referring to his career and family, "All my dreams came true".
Family will receive friends Tuesday, October 24, 3-8pm, with Rosary service 7pm, at A.J. Desmond & Sons, 2600 Crooks (btw Maple & Big Beaver), Troy, 248-362-2500.
Funeral mass will be Wednesday, October 25, 11am at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 4580 Adams Rd., Troy. Visitation at church begins 10:30am.
Memorial tributes to the PIME Missionaries, 17330 Quincy St, Detroit, MI 48221, (313) 342-4066 or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Gino's History
Gino was born in 1932 to Maria Zannetti and Giovanni DiClemente northeast of Rome in the mountain region of Rocca Di Mezzo. Before Gino's birth, his father Giovanni had worked seasonally in the Detroit factories and obtained US citizenry with intention to move family to Detroit in future, but a war injury kept him from working hard labor again.
Gino grew up in a poor farming town at high-altitude and lived an alpine agrarian life. WW2 made his rural area unviable so in his early teens he had to travel 15 miles daily down the mountain to the provincial capital L'Aquila to continue his schooling. To support Gino, his elder sister Gemma tended to their cows and chickens and sold mozzarella and eggs to raise money for him. Her commitment inspired Gino's life of "paying it forward".
He was an exceptional and highly decorated student and rooted for the Juventus soccer team. In his late teen years, Gino was slated to be a Catholic priest and attended the seminary, that is, until he met his future wife, Luciana; everything changed.
Upon turning 18, he had the option of becoming a US citizen. This, however, would require immediately entering the US military, and a renouncement of Italian citizenry.
In 1951, Gino at 19 was sent alone to the new world to pave the way. Gino had the drive and ambition for the better life and wanted to achieve the American Dream. During that period many Italians, relatives included, all started immigrating into the United States where the jobs were. Gino renounced his Italian citizenship and departed for army boot camp in Fort Benning, Georgia while not knowing a word of English.
After his service with very little money saved, Gino went to live with another Italian immigrant, his father's brother, Uncle Nunzio. Gino got his first job setting up bowling pins for $3 per day. He then got a job as an engineering draftsman. This started his desire to become an engineer.
In 1953, he began his studies at Wayne State University and the Detroit Institute of Technology (DIT), now Lawrence Technological University (LTU). Things then changed for Gino within that same year. He got drafted into the Army and was sent to Austria where he served as a Morse Code Specialist in the Korean War during 1954-55 where he received several medals. Just 8 days after his discharge, his father died back in Italy. During his time spent in the Army and working in Detroit he always kept tabs on his love Luciana. With his father gone, he wanted to have a family life in the States. Immediately he returned to Italy, proposed to Luciana, marriage, and starting a life in the US. They got married in late 1955 and immediately departed on a US military boat for New York. The Ellis Island immigration officers tried to anglicize him and many Italians to American names like Gene Clement or Clemens but Gino was steadfast and proudly kept his surname.
They moved back in with his uncle. Many pushed him to take a factory job with other immigrants and discouraged him from furthering his education.Gino, determined to make a better life for himself and his bride, was persistent and refused to quit his studies. He wanted to become an engineer. He went to night school at the DIT and earned an Electrical-Engineering degree in 1961. By then, he had three children and three jobs. Gino and Luciana bought a house on the Detroit's east side near 8 Mile and Gratiot and worked for an engineering firm for a few years to learn the business. His entrepreneur spirit led him to form his own consulting firm.
In 1967, after working at another firm for several years, Gino opened his own engineering consulting firm, DiClemente Engineering, Inc. but soon realized for a firm to survive in the field, it had to be multi-disciplinary. So in 1969 Gino took a monumental risk by using every penny he had and, unbeknownst to Luciana, used his house as collateral to get a business loan, to partner with mechanical engineer Edwin Siegel to form DiClemente-Siegel Engineering Inc. in Detroit.
A year later he had a fourth son, and Gino moved the family to Bloomfield Township and the company to Southfield. Several years later he bought out Mr. Siegel. Gino then exponentially grew the company even during hard economic times amid the oil embargo, providing vital engineering consulting services mostly to the automotive industry.
In 1971, Gino took up golf which became his favorite hobby. He was the first Italian immigrant to become a member of the Forest Lake Country Club. He immensely enjoyed golfing with clients and friends and spent leisure time in Traverse City.
Gino continued his education during the evenings. He attended the Michigan State University BROAD College of Business where in 1977 earned an Executive MBA degree with distinction.
In the early 80's, DiClemente-Siegel Engineering Inc opened an additional office in Flint, Michigan. During the 80s recession his company barely survived when the industry experienced a sharp economic downturn and consolidation. Yet, while others went bankrupt or were absorbed, DiClemente-Siegel Engineering Inc came out bigger and stronger. In 1989, Gino designed and built a new office building for his company in Southfield. DiClemente Siegel Design, Inc. where it still resides today.
In 1996 Gino's firm acquired the world-renowned Gunnar Birkerts & Associates, thus adding an architectural division and to form DiClemente Siegel Design Inc. (DSD). In 2000 his firm acquired Steele Engineering. DiClemente Siegel Design Inc, became and still is a full Engineering and Architectural consulting firm working on projects around the country, including automotive factories/facilities, universities, hospitals, libraries, schools, casinos, airports, museums, and governmental buildings.
DSD is still family owned and run with their main office in Southfield and an additional office in Burton, Michigan. Gino, being the entrepreneur and investor, also started several investment groups in conjunction with his company whereby he designed and built retail and industrial buildings.
In Gino and Luciana's twilight years leisure was replaced with time in the sun of Anna Maria Island, Florida. Gino and Luciana also travelled the world extensively with the Nomads group, and ultimately Florida became their second home in the late 80s and eventually became Florida residents. Gino loved spending time with family and friends.
Education he held in the highest esteem, not only for himself but encouraged and supported his sons and grandchildren to succeed in their educational endeavors. Gino believed in "paying it forward". Gino created perpetual endowment scholarships to prospective engineers and architects at Wayne State and Lawrence Technological Universities, where he recently was inducted into their College of Engineering Hall of Fame.
Gino paid it forward to many charities, organizations, and families in need. Gino always helped many people in need silently and donated to many organizations. He has been supporting the catholic missions worldwide with PIME Missionaries (Pontifico Istituto Missioni Estere) for over 66 years. Gino was a philanthropist. Gino leaves his philanthropic legacy with the "Gino and Luciana DiClemente Foundation" that will benefit many charitable organizations and people in need for many years to come.
Gino and Luciana had a full and wonderful loving life together. As Gino once stated for an article, featured several times in Crain's Business publication, referring to his career and family "All my dreams came true".
Gino was pre-deceased by his parents, elder siblings Pietro and Gemma, sibling in-laws Livio, Clara, Raffaello, Rossanna, Dino, Nino, Marcella, nephews Vincenzo and Gianfranco, niece Patrizia, and grandson Scott.