Paul DeMaio’s love for public libraries lasted a lifetime.
The Dania Beach resident’s greatest desire was to expand people’s minds. That was the driving force behind his longtime effort to find a spacious location for the Dania Beach branch of the Broward County Library, which became a reality when it moved from its cramped quarters at City Hall to a location on Federal Highway four years ago. Mr. DiMaio, known to many as “Mr. Library,” died on Friday. He was 93.
The oldest of 10 children, Mr. DeMaio grew up in the early 1900s in New York City, the son of Sicilian immigrants. His ticket to explore the world was a book from the local public library, the only venue at the time other than public schools where people could improve their lives, said his son, Charles DeMaio.
“As a young man, he realized that knowledge and education were the way to advance himself,” he said. “He traveled the world through the library.”
After fighting in World War II, Mr. DeMaio opened the Paul DeMaio Riding Shop on Long Island, an equestrian goods store.
In 1975, he retired to Dania Beach, and began volunteering at the Dania Beach library. Mr. DeMaio was a generous man, donating books, shelves and even helping pay for library programs such as storytelling time for children, said Val Hines, library branch head. Mr. DeMaio was also the founder and past president of the Friends of the Dania Beach Library.Funeral services were held Sunday. Mr. DeMaio is survived by his wife Charlotte; daughter Carlotta DeMaio Dillon of Chadds Fords, Pa.; son Charles of Carmel, Ind.; brother Nicholas DeMaio of California; and sisters Catherine Campanale, Mary Gaguillo and Josephine Salamone of New York.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for donations to be sent to the Friends of the Dania Beach Library, 485 S. Federal Highway , Dania Beach, FL 33304.
