Dominick Deo, Jr., 71

Scotch Plains - Dominick Deo, Jr., 71, of Scotch Plains, died August 17th at the Center for Hope in Scotch Plains with his family by his side. Dom was raised in Hillside before moving to Scotch Plains 36 years ago.

Dom was a four-sport athlete in baseball, basketball, wrestling and football at Hillside High School, where he graduated in 1955. In his senior year, he earned All-Union County honors in baseball and football. Dom played minor league baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals organization right out of high school, as well as semi-pro football for the Jersey City Giants in 1965.

Dom, a veteran of the U.S. Army in the 82nd Airborne, was a graduate of Montclair State University, where he was an All-American football player and still holds many school records today, a Metropolitan wrestling champion and a catcher on the baseball team. He was inducted to the school's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1974. Dom received his Masters degree from Kean University. He began his career at Irvington High School, followed by Governor Livingston in Berkeley Heights and Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School. He also coached football and wrestling at each school. He was employed as Director of Physical Education for the South Orange/Maplewood Board of Education for 20 years before retiring in 1996. His office was located at Columbia High School. Dom was an avid softball player throughout his life, in which he played more than 2, 500 games during his career. He later became a founder, player, manager and commissioner for the Union County Senior Softball Association.

Dom is survived by his wife, Judith Ann; son, Derek; two daughters, Suzan Boeck and her husband Scott, and Kimberley Myers and her husband Matt; 3 sisters, Josephine Giuffredo, Pauline Jazikoff, and Dolores Tardif; his mother-in-law, Ann D'Andrea; and his granddaughter Brooke Sydney Boeck.