George Di Domizio, 77, Merck worker, friend of Elvis Presley

George F. Di Domizio, 77, of Green Lane, a longtime Merck employee and friend of Elvis Presley, died Friday of esophageal cancer at Rockhill Mennonite Community. He was 77.

Mr. Di Domizio was the first quarterback of the Lansdale Catholic High School football team and a member of the school's first graduating class, in 1953.He earned a bachelor's degree from Ursinus College. Mr. Di Domizio worked for Merck for 35 years, starting as a mail boy and eventually rising to become director of creative services before retiring in 1992. He had extensive experience with pharmaceutical trademarks, naming such drugs as Pepcid, Zocor, Prilosec and Bextra, his family said.

After his retirement, Mr. Di Domizio founded Gemini Trademark Inc.

An Army veteran, Mr. Di Domizio was stationed in Germany as a member of the 3rd Armored Division. While serving in the Army, Mr. Di Domizio struck up a friendship with Elvis Presley, who served in the same division. Presley kept in touch with Mr. Di Domizio, who would visit when performing in the Philadelphia area. Mr. Di Domizio and his wife, Alice June Hoosier Di Domizio visited Presley on the set of several of his movies.

Mr. Di Domizio was known for his good cheer and willingness to serve. He was active in the alumni association of Lansdale Catholic, which named him its Man of the Year in 2010.

A longtime resident of Salford Township, Mr. Di Domizio served on numerous committees and boards. He was the first chair of the Open Space Committee and cochair of the Tylersport Crime Alert Committee. He served as president of the board of directors of the Lansdale YMCA, president of the American Management Association, and was on the board of directors of the Horsham-based Institute for Safe Medication Practices. He was also named Man of the Year in 1970 by the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to his wife of 44 years, Mr. Di Domizio is survived by his daughter, Lynne Ellen; his brother, Alfred and his sister, Rose Serrao.

Friends may call between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tuesday at Huff and Lakjer Funeral Home, 701 Derstine Ave., Lansdale, and at 9 a.m. Wednesday at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 445 N. Main St., Lansdale, where a funeral Mass will be said at 10 a.m.

Burial will be in the Whitemarsh Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Fox Chase Cancer Center, 333 Cottman Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 19111 or Almost Home Dog Rescue, P.O. Box 132, Doylestown, Pa. 18901.