Richard John “Rick” Delello, Esq., age 70 years, of Ringoes, NJ, died suddenly but peacefully on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at Overlook Medical Center, Summit, NJ, surrounded by his loving family after a short battle with bladder cancer.
Rick was born in Bainbridge, NY, to Anthony “Tony” Delello and Ann Binelli in 1954. He graduated from Bainbridge-Guilford Central School in 1972. He then went on to attend and graduate from the School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University in 1976, where he met his first wife, Margaret Boyle Delello. Rick earned his Master’s degree from Cornell in 1977. In 1983, he obtained his law degree from Seton Hall University, attending night classes while working full-time for ACF Industries in New York City. He then embarked on his lifelong career as a management-side labor and employment attorney, first with Grotta, Glassman & Hoffman, where he became a partner and helped lead the firm through a merger with Fox Rothschild. Rick retired from the firm in 2014 and was Of Counsel to The Horowitz Law Group and Trinity & Farsiou until his death.
Rick was preceded in death by his college sweetheart, Margaret, and is survived by his brother Mark (wife Susan); his sons Matthew (wife Rosie), Jared (wife Marina), and Jonathan (wife Christine); his wife, Betsy Ioannidis; her sons Andrew (wife Morgan), Matthew (wife Cait), and Kevin; and five grandsons.
Rick’s life was deeply intertwined with his love for baseball, a passion he carried from his earliest days to his final years. As a talented player, Rick showcased his skills on several teams, including the Cornell University freshman team in 1973, the St. Louis Browns of the Tandy League in 1978, and the Otsego Macs from 1992-1995. Beyond playing, Rick found joy and purpose in coaching, sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm with generations of young athletes. It was here that Rick truly left his mark on the community. Among his many coaching accomplishments, he led the Readington Renegades to the 2004 Babe Ruth State Championship.
Family and friends will gather on Saturday, February 1, 2025, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.
A life celebration service will take place at 4:00 p.m. at the funeral home, and to which all are welcome.
Interment will be private.
You are encouraged to visit Rick’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of his life.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations in Rick’s name to Whitehouse Post 284 Baseball (EIN 82-3734965) at post284baseball.com/fundraiser, or checks may be made out to Hunterdon Legion Baseball Club, Inc., and mailed to 25 Mott Way, Flemington, NJ 08822.
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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”
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