Leonard J. Desiderio, Father of the Sea Isle Mayor, Dies at 93

Condolences to the Desiderio family on the passing of Leonard James Desiderio.

The elder Desiderio, the father of Sea Isle City Mayor Lenny Desiderio, died on Monday, Jan. 10, according to a post on the Kix McNutley Facebook page. He was 93.

The Facebook post remembers Desiderio as the first generation owner of Sea Isle businesses KIX and Freda Sea Isle Inn, which he started in 1965.

Leonard James Desiderio was a teacher and the principal of the Oak View Elementary School in Bloomfield, NJ for 33 years before opening the Sea Isle businesses.

His son, Leonard C. Desiderio made Sea Isle City his full-time home in 1983 and has been the mayor of Sea Isle since 1993. Mayor Desiderio and his daughter Carmela now run KIX and the Sea Isle Inn.

Many people responding to the post about Desiderio's death, fondly remembered him and his impact on Sea Isle City...

Mr D gave me my first job, running the merry go round in the acme parking lot. From there to tending bar at Kixx, I have many fond memories of Mr D. He was always so kind to me and my family. What a great guy. A true gentleman.

He and Mrs. D we’re always incredibly nice to me as a kid is Sea Isle. I used to be in their penny arcade all the time. Very few men left like Mr. D.

A True Loss, To Sea Isle as A Whole. What an Awesome Man and Family Friend.... The Mccarthy Household is saying, and Sending Prayers. God Bless....

In the post remembering Mr. D., the Desiderios reminisced about their family connection to their successful Sea Isle businesses.

'We are fortunate that all 3 generations were able to work together."

A viewing for Leonard James Desiderio will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 18 from 4 - 8 pm at Godfrey Funeral Home in Marmora.

The funeral is Wed. Jan. 19, 9-11:30 am, with mass at St Joseph's Church in Sea Isle City.

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