Adam Delity

1943 - 2025

ELLICOTTVILLE - Adam Delity, 92, of Ellicottville, passed away Sunday (Oct. 26, 2025) at the Pines Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center of Machias.

He was born May 11, 1933, in Csátalja, Hungary, a German village on the Danube River in Southwestern Hungary, son of the late Josef and Barbara Stark Delity. On July 2, 1955, he married Norma Jean Peterson at the Holy Name of Mary Roman Catholic Church in Ellicottville. They built a life raising three sons on Mill Street in Ellicottville.

With his parents and his life-long companion and older brother Joseph, he moved to the Ostfriesland region of Northwest Germany in 1940, where his brother Ludwig was born.

He emigrated to the United States with his parents and brothers on Jan. 11, 1952.

After arriving in the U.S., he, his father and brother Joe worked at Murphy & Sons Mill.

In 1953, his youngest brother, Tony, was born, leaving Adam with one brother born in Hungary, one in Germany and one in the U.S.

He worked at Signore Inc., joining as a tool and die maker and as the company's tenth employee. He retired 46 years later as the plant production manager for the company that had grown to over 200 employees.

He was a soccer referee for over 35 years, officiating games ranging from Little League to the NCAA level. His brother Joe and he were the co-founders of the Ellicottville Youth Soccer program. The village soccer field in Ellicottville is named Delity Field in honor of his brother and him.

He was an active member of the Holy Name of Mary Roman Catholic Church since 1951.

In addition to his family, soccer and church, he enjoyed bowling, square dancing, woodworking, Old West novels and movies and rooting for the Ellicottville Eagles, Buffalo Sabres and the Buffalo Bills.

He was a proud and devoted husband, father, grandfather, uncle and brother.

He is survived by his children, Stephen (Harshini) and William (Sharon) Delity; a daughter-in-law, Rita Delity; a brother, Ludwig (Barbara) Delity; two sisters-in-law, Cheryl Peterson and Lisa Delity; 11 grandchildren, Scott, Ashley, Akshay, Maya, Arjun, Alex, Nick, Emilee, Hannah, Madison and Adam; as well as 12 nieces and nephews; along with several great-grandchildren.

Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his wife, Norma; his son, Daniel; his brothers, Andrew, Joseph and Tony Delity; and a brother-in-law, Robert Peterson.

Friends may call from 3-6 p.m. Friday (Oct. 31, 2025) at Mentley Funeral Home Inc., 411 Rock City St. in Little Valley. A Catholic funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday (Nov. 1, 2025) at Holy Name of Mary R.C. Church.

Memorials may be made to the Town of Ellicottville Youth Soccer Program or the Ellicottville Central School Sports Boosters Club.