Anthony J. Damiani | Army veteran, 84

Anthony J. Damiani, 84, of Broomall, a retired auto body shop manager, died of heart failure Wednesday, Jan. 26, at home.

Mr. Damiani graduated from Overbrook High School.

During World War II, he served in the Army with the 90th Infantry in Northern France and Belgium, and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Later, in Germany, he was wounded by enemy shrapnel and earned a Purple Heart. He was proud of his service, and attended annual Army reunions, including one this past year in New Orleans, daughter Angela Wrolstad said.

After his discharge, Mr. Damiani, who trained as a mechanic in the military, worked for Morrow Motors in Philadelphia. In 1948, he married Angela Galantino. They met at a dance in West Philadelphia.

In 1957, the couple moved to Broomall, where he operated an auto shop, Larchmont Motors, for 10 years. He then worked for MacAtee Auto Body in Broomall and from 1970 until retiring in 1980 was body shop manager for Ferraro Cadillac in Springfield

Mr. Damiani enjoyed winter vacations in Florida and summer vacations with his family at the Jersey Shore. He had been a member of Llanerch Country Club since 1975. He kept busy with construction projects, his daughter said, including building a deck for her and making dollhouses for his grandchildren. His golf buddies nicknamed him "Dusty," she said, after he repaired a wall in the pro shop at Llanerch.

In addition to his wife and daughter, Mr. Damiani is survived by daughters Sandra Kleckner and Joan Nagle; son John; two sisters; 14 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Jan. 31, and 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 1, at D'Anjolell Memorial Home, 2811 West Chester Pike, Broomall. A Funeral Mass will be said at 10 a.m. at St. Anastasia Church, 3301 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square. Burial will be in SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Marple Township.

Donations may be made to Cornelia de Lang Syndrome Foundation, 302 W. Main St., Avon, Conn. 06001.