Wilmington officials remember longtime Delaware politician following his death Monday

Wilmington officials on Wednesday expressed condolences following the death of a longtime Delaware Republican politician and former DuPont employee.

Joseph G. DiPinto, who died Monday, served 12 years on Wilmington City Council in the 1970s and 1980s followed by 20 years as a Republican in the state House of Representatives before retiring from the legislative branch in 2006 and taking on the role of Wilmington’s director of economic development, according to a Wilmington news release.

DiPinto, a Wilmington native, also worked for the DuPont Co. for 36 years, retiring in 1990 as development programs manager in the Specialty Polymers Division, according to the former lawmaker’s biography on the state Commission on Italian Heritage and Culture. His private sector career focused on new polymer applications and development, and he held three patents, the biography states.

Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki recognized DiPinto for his years of devotion to “Wilmington’s growth” and “preserving the strength” of the state, expressing his condolences to the family, including DiPinto’s son Jim DiPinto, who is the city’s zoning administrator.

“Joe was a Republican in a heavily Democratic city and state, yet he never let political party affiliation or politics interfere with getting the job done,” Purzycki said in the news release. “He was focused and determined to serve the needs of the people of Wilmington, whether he was in Dover at the Delaware General Assembly or in Wilmington inside his City Hall office. We have lost an outstanding person and public servant.”

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U.S. Sen. Chris Coons issued a statement Wednesday, saying he was "deeply saddened" to learn of the longtime politician's death.

“We forged our friendship through civic service at different levels of government, and Joe always put Delawareans first and looked to improve the First State," Coons said. “Annie and I send our condolences to his wife, Pat, and their children. I hope the fond memories of Joe provide some comfort in this time of difficulty. We will be keeping you in our prayers.”

Former city Mayor James Baker was the executive of Wilmington when DiPinto was looking to retire from the state House, and asked the longtime lawmaker to serve as the city’s director of economic development.

“Joe knew that this position gave him the opportunity to directly help the people of Wilmington through development agreements that provided jobs for city residents and revenue to support city services,” Baker said. “Joe cared about people regardless of their standing in life, race, religion, or politics. He served the people of Wilmington well. Joe made people feel comfortable discussing complicated projects.”

DiPinto also served on the state Commission on Italian Heritage and Culture, Delaware’s Science and Technology Council, the Riverfront Development Corp., the Greater Wilmington Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Delaware Science and Technology Commission.

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City officials said DiPinto also served as president of the Wilmington UDAG Corp. and was a board member of Wilmington Renaissance Corp., Downtown Visions, WEDCO, and the Christina Gateway Corp. He also served on the boards of St. Francis Hospital, Ronald McDonald House, Ministry of Caring, Sacred Heart Village, Salvation Army and WHYY.

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This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware Republican, former DuPont employee Joseph G. DiPinto dies