Richard “Dick” DeMario

Richard “Dick” DeMario, age 85, lost his long battle with numerous forms of cancer on Aug. 31, 2023, at Zilber Family Hospice in Wauwatosa, Wis.

Dick is survived by his six children, Scott (Lori) DeMario, Terry (Jan) DeMario, Tammy (Tom) Freichels, Sheri DeMario, Mike (Katie) DeMario and Rick (Nicole) DeMario. He had 15 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren who increasingly became his greatest source of pride and joy.

Dick was married in August 1960 for over 30 years to Diane (Kohlmetz) DeMario, the mother of his six children. Subsequently, he was married to Marti (Masters) DeMario for nearly 30 years.

Dick loved living in Port Washington and could be seen cruising in his red Jeep around the bluff or walking lakeside at south beach.

He is preceded in death by his mother Virginia (Gheller) DeMario and father Louis DeMario. He was their only child.

Dick was born on May 20, 1938, in West Allis, Wis.

He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 1959 with a degree in biology and competed in football, gymnastics and track.

In 1960, he moved to Waterloo, Wis., for his first job in education as a biology teacher along with a coaching role for football and wrestling. At 21, he was the youngest head coach in the school’s history.

In 1962, Dick accepted a position as a biology teacher at Port Washington High School, where he resumed his passion for coaching both football and wrestling. Dick was proud of the many exceptional athletes he coached through the years and maintained lifelong friendships from this stage of life, earning him the nickname of “coach,” which he cherished immensely.

Dick’s love of sports extended to attending as many of his children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events as possible. This took him all over the United States to watch football, baseball, basketball, wrestling, hockey, soccer, swimming, tennis and track. Once a coach, always a coach. He was the proudest cheerleader in the stands!

A celebration of life was to be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6, at Eernisse Funeral Home in Port Washington. Bonnie Jacque will lead the celebration. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Dick’s life and legacy.

The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to Chico and Karen Poull and Bob and Nancy Poull for all their support and compassion provided to Dick during his final years in Port Washington. Those friendships meant the world to him.   

The DeMario family would also like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Zilber Family Hospice for the compassionate and dignified end of life care that Dick received.

Flowers and donations can be sent in Dick’s memory to Zilber Family Hospice at 1155 N. Honey Creek Pkwy., Wauwatosa WI 53213.