Dante N. Dithomas

Dante N. DiThomas, 93, of W. North St., New Castle, died Saturday evening, October 11, 2008 at Jameson Memorial Hospital. He was born November 1, 1914 in New Castle, Pennsylvania a son of the late Cesidio and Liberata (DeFiore) DiThomas. He was married to Elizabeth (Boone) DiThomas who died in October 1975. After graduating from New Castle High School in 1932, Mr. DiThomas went on the road with a dance bank from Cleveland, traveling from the East Coast to Denver. It was during this time that he learned to arrange music. In 1942 he was drafted into the US Army and played in the Army’s concert and dance bands until 1945. For 23 years, Dante worked in Hollywood at various movie studios, including 10 years at Disney in Burbank. He worked on more than 200 motion pictures and television movies during his career. The most notable were, “Beauty and the Beast”, “The Little Mermaid”, “Dick Tracy”, “Dances with Wolves”, “Rocky II”, “Rocky III”, “Batman”, “The Right Stuff”, “Out of Africa”, “E.T.” and “Indiana Jones”. He also helped with the music for the Walt Disney MGM Tour. For the past ten years he has been the leader of the Dante DiThomas Orchestra, which specialized in Big Band Sounds.

Dante will be especially remembered for his great devotion to his faith and local churches. He sang in several choirs and was a founding member of the Legion of Mary.

He is survived by one daughter, Karen Shoffner of Round Rock, TX, two sons, William ‘Buddy’ DiThomas and Nick DiThomas, both of Seattle, WA, one brother, Dan Thomas of LaMirada, CA, one sister, Elvira Ruozzo of New Castle, PA, three grandchildren, Lisa D'Andrea, Carissa DiThomas and Katie DiThomas and three great grandchildren, Dylan Justad, Rosemary D'Andrea and Joseph Dante D'Andrea.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Arnold Thomas, John DiThomas, and Tony ‘Catty’ DiThomas, and one sister, Olga Frederick.

Visitation will be held at the William F. & Roger M. DeCarbo Funeral Home on Thursday, October 16, 2008 from 4 pm to 8 pm.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, October 17, 2008 at 11:30 am at St. Vincent de Paul Church. Father Kenneth Keene of St. Vincent de Paul Parish will be officiating. A funeral procession will leave the funeral home at 11:00 am. Burial will be in the St. Lucy Cemetery.