Richard William DiRinaldo, 92, of State College, formerly of Bolivar, died Friday, Dec. 4, 2009. Born Jan. 3, 1917, in Export, he was a son of the late Giacondo (Joe) and Elvira (Plebani) DiRinaldo and stepmother Giacoma (Jane) DiRinaldo.
He graduated from Bolivar High School in 1935. While attending high school, he served a barbering apprenticeship during evenings and weekends. He received his barber license in June 1935. He attended Penn State and while attending college, worked part-time for George Smith's Barbershop at 107 S. Allen St. In 1940, he received his teacher's license in beauty culture and in 1980 he received his teacher of barbering business license.
He purchased the Smith's Barbershop business in 1953, when it became "Rinaldo's Barbershop," and purchased the building in 1975. Richard retired in 1988 and sold the business, which is still called Rinaldo's Barbershop.
On Sept. 17, 1946, he married Mary Angeline Nease of Blairsville. Richard and Mary have three daughters, Gina (Joel) Ramich, Dr. Marie (Jack) Cornelius, and Dr. Joanne DiRinaldo; and eight grandchildren, Ellyn, Leslie and Neil Ramich, Nathan (Bloom), Steven and Mary Cornelius, and Kristin and Mario Pasquino.
He is survived by three sisters: Julia Eisenhuth, Helen Pingtella, and Elvira Carney. He was predeceased by three brothers (Patsy, William, William); and two sisters (Mary Maniglia and Jessie DiRinaldo).
Richard (most fondly known as "Dick") was a veteran of World War II from 1943-1946 as a technical sergeant in the Medical Unit at Camp Ritchie Intelligence Training Center, Md. He was a member of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, Elks Club, American Legion, and Fraternal Order of Police. Dick had many passions in life including his deep love for State College ("the best town in the world"), Penn State and their sports teams, gardening, entrepreneurship, and coin collection to name a few. He loved people, laughter and mostly his family. He taught his children and grandchildren many values including the importance of education, hard work, perseverance, and a deep appreciation for their Italian heritage. He and his wife lived in State College for 63 years, before moving to Pittsburgh in October of 2009.
Visitation will be held from 10-10:30 a.m., on Monday, Dec. 7, 2009, at the Shoemaker Funeral Home, 49 N. Walnut St., Blairsville, where a Blessing Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Interment with military honors will follow at Saints Simon and Jude Cemetery in Blairsville.