Philip L. DiBIANCA

Philip Lewis Di Bianca, of Ohio, passed away peacefully, November 23, 2025, at his home in Euclid. Born in East Cleveland, he was raised in Euclid and graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1964. He attended Kent State University and later volunteered for military service in 1966, rather than face the draft. This began a 28 year military career that would take him coast to coast and around the world.
Enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1966, he attended recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina and was assigned as a machine gunner. In 1967 he deployed to the Republic of Vietnam as an infantryman with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, serving through the Tet Offensive. Upon completion of this combat tour he returned to the U.S. where he was discharged in 1968 as a Corporal and transferred to the reserves with 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines in Cleveland. In 1969, he was promoted to Sergeant.
In 1973, he returned to active duty and served as a recruiter in Cleveland. In 1975, upon completion of recruiting duty, he was assigned to 1st Battalion, 8th Marines at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina where he served as an infantry squad leader. In 1976, he promoted to Staff Sergeant, served overseas in Okinawa, Japan for one year, and was then transferred to 1st Battalion, 9th Marines. During this period he was selected to be part of the Marine honor platoon that participated in Queen Elizabeth II's diamond jubilee cruise and celebrations that occurred in the United Kingdom.
In 1979, he reported to Parris Island, South Carolina where he served as a drill instructor with 1st Battalion and in 1980 was meritoriously promoted to Gunnery Sergeant. After serving on the drill field he was assigned for one year as an assistant Marine Officer Instructor at the NROTC detachment at Iowa State University before being selected for Warrant Officer.
In 1982, he was transferred to 1st Battalion, 4th Marines in 29 Palms, California where he served as an ordnance officer. In 1984 he was then assigned as the ordnance officer for the first Light Armored Vehicle (LAV) battalion in the Marine Corps, also at 29 Palms. In 1985, he was selected to First Lieutenant as a limited duty officer (LDO) and once again received orders to Okinawa, Japan where he served for one year with 2nd Battalion, 12th Marines.
In 1986, he was transferred to 1st Marine Regiment at Camp Pendleton, California where he served as the regimental ordnance officer and was promoted to Captain. In 1989, he was then ordered to take the position of assistant division ordnance officer with 1st Marine Division, where he served until 1990. He then transferred to Quantico, Virginia and served as the ordnance officer at The Basic School until his retirement in 1994. In 1995 he returned to Euclid to care for his parents who had still lived in his childhood home on Forestview since 1950.
He was a long time member of Ss. Robert and William Catholic Parish in Euclid, was a 4th Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus, a lifetime member of the Marine Corps Association, a Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame supporter, and a local Democrat party volunteer. He was also a loyal Indians and Browns fan and enjoyed attending rock concerts in later years, watching many of the rock legends of his youth.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel J Di Bianca, of Cleveland, Ohio and Nona Gartrell, of Idaho Springs, Colorado. He is survived by his sister, Karen Biddle, of Carol Stream, Illinois; three sons, Samuel of Yuma, Arizona, Hartley of Richmond, Virginia, Eric of Fredericksburg, Virginia; daughter-in-law, Kathleen of Yuma, Arizona; and three grandchildren, Samantha, Siena, and Sterling.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday Dec. 12 at 10 AM.at Ss. Robert and William Parish, 367 E. 260 St., Euclid, Ohio where the family will receive friends Friday Morning from 9-10 AM. Burial will follow at All Souls Cemetery.
Contributions to Ss. Robert and William Parish would be appreciated.