The ALHS Alumni Hall of Fame has 79 members to date. If you would like to nominate an accomplished alumnus for the Hall of Fame, please submit your written nomination to Al Graziano c/o Lincoln High School. Please include a detailed description of what the nominee has accomplished since graduating from Lincoln, including career successes, community service, and service to Lincoln High.
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Congratulations, 2011 Hall of Fame Inductees:
Colonel Kelly Kirts – Class of 1982
Dr. Kenneth Sufka – Class of 1978
Lewis DeMarco – Class of 1940
Kate Aspengren – Class of 1970
Raymond “Skip” Phillips, Jr. – Class of 1968
Becky (Clinton) Dewey – Class of 1983
Click HERE to see the previous year's inductees, as well as the complete HOF list.
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Lewis A. DeMarco Obituary
Lewis DeMarco (1921 - 2011)
Des Moines
Lewis A. DeMarco, 89, passed away peacefully on July 1, 2011 at Iowa Methodist Hospital. Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 8, 2011 at 10 a.m. at St. Augustin Church in Des Moines. Burial will follow at Glendale Cemetery. Visitation will be on Thursday, July 7 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Dunn's Funeral Home.
Lewis was born on July 7, 1921 in Des Moines, Iowa to Andrew and Rose (Bellizzi) DeMarco. Lewis lived in Des Moines all of his life and graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in January 1940. He was active in many school programs and was president of the 1939 Student Council. In this role he organized the first all-city student council and served as vice president.
After high school, Lewis was employed by Valley Bank and Trust. In 1942 he entered the Air Force and was assigned to the airplane mechanics school in Sheppard Field, Texas. Later he went to airplane gunnery school in Laredo, Texas and became an instructor for two years. He was later assigned to the 8th Air Force in England and was honorably discharged in December, 1945. On February 11, 1945 Lewis and Mary Ellen Facciola were married in Des Moines, Iowa.
After serving his country, Lewis returned to Valley Bank and Trust and managed the Veterans' Loan Department. In 1949 he became employed by the Federal Housing Administration. After 28 years Lewis retired from the Department of Housing and Urban Development where he served as Deputy Director for 13 years. While working for DHUD, Lewis was assigned to assist 21 field offices in processing mortgage loan applications and served the Regional Administrator by reviewing various offices and developing employees. Lewis received a number of awards for his service and after retirement he became a member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees.
After his retirement, over the next twenty years, Lewis remained active and involved in the community. He became self-employed and performed appraisals and construction inspections for HUD, he served on the funds-allocation panel for United Way, was a senior arbitrator for the Better Business Bureau and was selected in 1988 as one of five National Arbitrators of the year. He also assisted low and moderate income families and the elderly with Federal and State income tax preparation under AARP and IRS programs and was a member of the Polk County Board of Review and the Iowa Assessors Association and International Association of Assessing Officers. Lewis was a Dispute and Conciliator for the National Academy of Conciliators Panel and a member of the American Arbitrators Association where he performed field reviews for the Federal National Mortgage Association.
Lewis and his wife have been active members of St. Augustin Church for 65 years. They were life members of the guild, charter members of the Church Foundation, and charter members of the over 50 club. Mary Ellen and Lewis were also life members of Bishop Drumm Guild, members and co-hosts of the Serra Club, and members of the Polk County Pioneer Club. Lewis was a member of the Lincoln High School Alumni Association and in 2011 was inducted into the Lincoln High School Alumni Hall of Fame and was a charter member of the Knights of Columbus Club.
Lewis and his wife traveled extensively to 26 countries and 49 of the 50 states. As a result of his interest in history, he found traveling through the Panama Canal one of their most educational experiences.
Lewis is survived by his wife of 66 years, Mary Ellen; daughters, Ellen (Willis) Stuckey, Williamsville, MO, Yvonne (Jeff) Bradley, Charlotte, NC; granddaughter, Christina (Jim) Duea, Des Moines, IA; great-grandson, Benjamin Duea, Des Moines, IA; sister, Patty DeMarco, Des Moines, IA; sisters-in-law, Evelyn Facciola, Tampa, FL, Sunny Facciola, Albuquerque, NM; one aunt, Betty Bellizzi and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Jean.
The DeMarco family suggests that donations in Lewis' honor be made to St. Augustin Church or to the Bishop Drumm Care Center.
