Mr Nicholas "Nick" DiLiddo

Nicholas (Nick) Victor DiLiddo passed away peacefully on May 23, 2022 to join his beloved wife, Angela.

Nick had a competitive spirit, worked hard and played hard. He enjoyed being outside and working in his yard. He was tough but tender. He loved sports and athletics, cars and racing and loved his family and friends passionately.

Nick was born in Springfield, Massachusetts on September 12, 1933 to Frank and Julia DiLiddo. His family migrated to Fresno, California in 1946. Growing up during The Depression, he learned work ethic at an early age and how to make the most out of what was available. As a child, he discovered his mechanical ability by repairing bicycles in the basement and building his own bicycle from spare parts. A few youthful years later, Nick would realize his passion for cars and racing.

Nick attended Fresno High School where he participated in football, boxing and diving. After graduating in 1951, he attended Fresno Junior College where he played football for the Rams as a tight end and defensive end. The Rams went on to win conference championships in both his collegiate years.

While in college, Nick worked at a gas station owned by Archie Burton. He started as an attendant and worked his way up to manager. This provided invaluable experience that he would later use to open his own service station business.

In January of 1957, Nick met Angela (Angie) Renna at a St. Therese social. After a brief courtship they were married on August 18, 1957, a union that lasted 65 years. In August 1959, Nick and Angie welcomed their first child, daughter Nicolyn. Son Frank would follow in August of 1961.

Nick’s love for cars, racing and speed brought him into an engine performance machine shop partnership with Joe Boghosian where Nick drag-raced their modified Ford coupe known as the “Dago Special” at several sanctioned NHRA events at Kern and Madera speedways. In 1971, he purchased a micro midget with his brother-in-law Joe Renna, racing for ten years at Lemoore Jet Bowl with cars driven by Tom Bryant and Jeff Meyer.

Nick opened his first Shell service station at Cedar and Belmont in 1960. He worked hard and long hours and quickly became a distinguished Shell dealer. A few years later, Shell offered him a brand new four bay full-service station located at First and Shields, DiLiddo Shell opened in 1967. Nick took great pride in his quality of auto repairs and service to his customers. In 1991 Nick was one of 44 Shell dealers and jobbers nationwide to win the Shell Customer Care Excellence Award.

Nick never forgot the loss of his older brother, Frank, who flew bombers in World War II and went missing in action. This gave him a lifelong appreciation for the military and armed services. Nick would go on to send correspondence and care packages to former employees who were serving in Vietnam.

Nick was affiliated with local Italian men’s organizations, the Dante and Verdi Clubs where he enjoyed playing bocce ball and attending social events. Nick bought his first Corvette in 1980 and joined the Corvettes of Fresno with his wife Angie. Nick and Angie made many lifelong friends through C.O.F. and they enjoyed the road trips, car shows and social events.

Nick and Angie enjoyed rooting for Fresno State athletics whether it was watching the Dogs win the NIT Championship in 1983, or the football team at the Freedom Bowl in 1992. They enjoyed hosting many tailgates at Bulldog stadium and Nick was known as the unofficial cheerleader for FSU softball.

In his 70’s, Nick began an unexpected new hobby, competitive powerlifting, where he would go on to set state bench press records in his age class. His lifting pals knew him lovingly as “Nickie Two Plates”.

Nick proudly served as an usher at St Anthony of Padua, and was an active member in the Italian Catholic Federation.

Nick was preceded in death by his beloved wife Angela, parents Frank and Julia DiLiddo, brother Frank DiLiddo, sister Rosemarie Douglas. He is survived by his sister Madeline Lynes, sister Linda Campopiano and husband Sam, daughter Nicolyn DiLiddo and husband Patrick Paddock, son Frank DiLiddo and wife Teri, his 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

The DiLiddo expresses their deepest appreciation to Jasmine and The Staff of 5 Star Assisted Living for the care given to Nick.

Recitation of the Rosary, Wednesday, June 1, 2022, 7:30 p.m. at Jay Chapel, Madera, CA
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on, Thursday, June 2, 2022, 10:00 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua, Fresno, CA. Followed by interment at St. Peter’s Cemetery, Fresno, CA

Remembrances in Nick’s memory may be made to the Fresno State Athletic Scholarship Endowment Fund, The Bulldog Foundation, P.O. Box 26267, Fresno, CA  93729-6267 or the Italian Catholic Federation Scholarship Fund  ICF Branch 308, Attn: Antoinette Pecora, 308 W. Bullard, Apt. 304, Fresno, CA  93704