Philip DeChicco

CANFIELD — Philip Richard DeChicco, 89, affectionately known as “Pat,” passed away peacefully, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. 

He was the oldest son of the late Andrew and Theresa Piazza DeChicco. He was born in 1935 in Youngstown, in his parents’ home, on his parents’ first anniversary. He attended Rayen High School.

As a youth, Pat spent every hour possible at Evans Baseball Field. He was a member of a two-time championship baseball team in the city league, along with his brother, Bob. Their rewards were going to Cleveland Indians games. He was an avid bowler, setting pins at North Side Lanes at the age of 13. He was a newspaper delivery boy at age 9, caddied at the Youngstown Country Club from age 13, where he fell in love with the game of golf. Starting with “free caddy Mondays” at the country club, his passion for the game grew, and for years, he golfed with a group of friends every weekend. 

He was a mechanic at Sears Auto Southern Park Mall for 38 years, retiring in 1994. Although retired, Pat never stopped working. He was the “go to” guy for all things mechanical. He had a close-knit group of friends since childhood and the remaining members met weekly at Arby’s for coffee and to discuss how to solve all the world’s problems.

Pat was a diehard fan of The Ohio State Buckeyes, the Cleveland Indians and the Cleveland Browns. He stayed true to the Cleveland Browns through thick and thin, even seeing Jim Brown play in person.

He was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church for 66 years and St. Michael Catholic Church for 12 years.

Pat was a much-loved mentor and coach for many years at the Austintown Pony League. He enjoyed coaching his daughter, Christine, at the Austintown Girls Softball League, winning a championship there. He loved the beach, vacationing once or twice a year in Florida. He also went with his wife to St. Maarten, Cancun and Hawaii.

Pat leaves behind his children, Michael (Jane) DeChicco of Ostrander, Robert (Pamela) DeChicco of Westlake, Marianne Lappin of Carmel, Indiana, and Christine DeChicco of Columbus; his grandchildren, Nichole (Steve ) Kuklica of Gahanna, Michelle (Noah) Mabry of Columbus, Matthew (Francesca) DeChicco of Lyndhurst, Jack Lappin and Grace Lappin, both of Carmel, Indiana, Alison (Jonathan) Rivera of Cranford, New Jersey, and Jeanette Smith of Fort Worth, Texas; his great-grandchildren, Ava DeChicco, Ruby Rivera, and Noah Slimane-Muriel. 

Philip was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, the former Dorothy Vinarsky of Girard, who passed Sept. 19, 2024; his infant daughter; his parents; and his brother, Robert DeChicco of Youngstown.

He will be entombed in Green Haven Memorial Gardens in a private ceremony. A Mass celebrating the life of Philip and Dorothy DeChicco will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org) in their honor. 

Professional arrangements were handled by the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes.