Emilio "Deac" D. DiCarlo

Emilio “Deac” D. DiCarlo, Battalion Chief, West Warwick Fire Dept. (Ret.), 81, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 15, 2024 surrounded by his loving family. He was the beloved husband of Mary (Palazzo) DiCarlo for nearly fifty-eight years. Born in Warwick, he was the son of the late Alfred and Mary (Bisceglio) DiCarlo.

Deac attended Warwick Vets High School, and grew up in E. Natick prior to settling in West Warwick. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army National Guard, and he achieved his Associate’s Degree in Fire Science at CCRI. Following in his father’s footsteps, Deac became a volunteer firefighter in 1966, the same year he married his high school sweetheart whom he met at Sacred Heart CYO. He joined the West Warwick Fire Department in 1970, became a certified EMT in 1974, was promoted to Battalion Chief in 1984, and headed the Fire Prevention Bureau as Fire Marshall from 1984-1987 and from 1991 until he retired in 1995. He was well-known around town for visiting elementary schools during Fire Prevention Week, and he truly loved seeing the children’s excited faces when firefighters climbed the enormous ladder truck.

In addition to his career at WWFD, Deac served as Secretary-Treasurer for Local 1104 of the International Association of Firefighters from 1980-1995. He instructed classes at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and was a certified Instructor for the National Fire Protection Association. During his career he participated in several charitable activities like Christmas Is in West Warwick, and was President of the Firefighter’s Relief Association which provided assistance and scholarships to families of firefighters. He was a member of the New England Fire Marshals Association, the State Fire Safety Association, the RI chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators, and the RI Auto, Theft, and Arson Investigators Association.

Deac continued working in the community as an inspector for the State of Rhode Island’s DCYF, formed his own company, Northeast Fire Investigation, and served as Vice President of the Pawtuxet Valley Elderly Housing Corporation. An avid golfer, he was a longtime member of the West Warwick Country Club. He enjoyed vegetable gardening, mushroom foraging, woodworking, cooking, and especially spending time with his grandchildren, who were his pride and joy. Deac will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, and devoted friend.

Besides his beloved wife, he is survived by two loving daughters, Deanna DiCarlo and her partner, Amy Peker, of Albany, NY and Maria Bertino and her husband, Anthony, of N. Attleboro, MA; two grandchildren, Sofia and Dominic Bertino, also of N. Attleboro, MA; two sisters, Marie (DiCarlo) Lowe and her husband, Douglas, of Hope Valley and Joanne (DiCarlo) Cardinale of Cranston, and many godchildren, nieces, nephews and dear friends.

His funeral will be held on Friday, June 21, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. from PRATA-GALLOGLY Funeral Home, 78 Providence Street, West Warwick, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. in Sacred Heart Church, 820 Providence Street, West Warwick. Interment will follow at St. Mary Cemetery, West Warwick. Calling hours will be held on Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the West Warwick Firefighters Association or the West Warwick Public Library would be appreciated. Information and condolences, please visit: www.PrataGallogly.com

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