Rutgers Law Newark Alumnus Celebrates 100th Birthday
Ralph D. Del Deo ’51 celebrated his 100th birthday on March 15, surrounded by friends and family, watching his great-grandson, Ryan Vilade, play for the Cardinals in a pre-season game in Florida. They capped off the celebration with a 9 to 5 Cardinals' victory. As the donor who established the Ralph and Blanche Del Deo Endowed Scholarship and the co-founder of Crummy, Del Deo, Dolan, Griffinger & Vecchione law firm (today known as Gibbons P.C.), Del Deo has longstanding ties to both Rutgers and the Newark community.
During his time at Rutgers from 1948 to 1951, Del Deo served as the Case Editor for the Rutgers Law Review. While focused on his goal of starting a law firm, he also played a significant role in shaping campus life. After graduating from Rutgers, Del Deo quickly gained recognition for his legal expertise and co-founded the Newark-based firm Crummy, Del Deo, Dolan, Griffinger & Vecchione in 1961.
A defining moment in his career came in 1980 when he argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in Curtiss-Wright Corporation v. General Electric Company. Del Deo led the team representing fabled New Jersey manufacturer Curtiss-Wright, which had attempted to diversify by building steam generator casings for Admiral Rickover's Naval Nuclear Program, but had lost money in the process. Del Deo achieved a unanimous Supreme Court decision in Curtiss-Wright’s favor. Rutgers Law Associate Dean for Advancement Robert Steinbaum, who was a young associate on the opposing legal team, said "Ralph took on the fearsome Hyman Rickover, who had built and commanded the entire nuclear Navy. It has been a gratifying experience in my current role to reconnect with him during the past decade and to reminisce about the personalities in that case, as well as to discuss current world affairs with this informed and insightful alumnus."
Del Deo’s contributions to the field extend beyond the courtroom. He authored important texts for the New Jersey Practice Series, served on the New Jersey Supreme Court Rules Committee, and became a lifetime member of the American Bar Foundation. In 2015, the New Jersey General Assembly recognized his "outstanding character, exceptional determination, and compassionate nature" with a formal resolution.
For 75 years, Del Deo shared his life with Blanche Wagner Del Deo, his wife and longtime partner. The couple had a passion for breeding and showing purebred dogs, with Del Deo’s expertise earning him the opportunity to judge at prestigious events, including the Westminster Kennel Club in New York.
He continued to stay involved with Rutgers. In 2007, he decided to establish the Ralph and Blanche Del Deo Endowed Scholarship. His endowed scholarship now stands at $280,000 and has made an impact on 20 law students since its inception.
The Rutgers Law community extends its warmest wishes to Ralph D. Del Deo on reaching this incredible milestone. His remarkable career, generous support, and lasting impact on the Rutgers community are inspiring.