"There was a concerted effort to bring more businesses into that end of the town. In order to achieve that, they needed to knock down and get rid of some of these."
The grant was obtained, but the work was not begun until after Mr. DiJiosia left office, his son said.
Mr. DiJiosia's political career lasted from the 1950s to the 1990s, beginning when, at 25, he was elected to the Borough Council, on which he served until 1966.
Born in Conshohocken, Mr. DiJiosia graduated from Conshohocken High School in 1947. On a baseball scholarship, he briefly attended what is now West Chester University, before marrying.
With two of his three brothers, Mr. DiJiosia in 1965 opened what became the Plymouth Nursery & Landscape Co. in Plymouth Meeting, of which he was a co-owner until 2000.
In the 1950s, he was a founding member and a chairman of the Conshohocken zoning board, on which he served until he became mayor.
After the family moved to Plymouth Meeting, he was chairman of the Plymouth Township zoning board from 1996 to 1998.
Mr. DiJiosia was president from the 1970s into the 1980s of the Christopher Columbus Civic Association in Conshohocken, which he helped found.
Besides his son, Mr. DiJiosia is survived by his wife of 63 years, Joan; daughters Lori DiGiandomenico and Linda Sheahan; two brothers; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a brother.
A viewing was set from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, at SS. Cosmas and Damian Catholic Church, 209 W. Fifth Ave., Conshohocken, before an 11 a.m. Funeral Mass there. Entombment is to be in St. Patrick's Mausoleum, Norristown.
Contact Walter F. Naedele at 215-854-5607 or wnaedele@phillynews.com.
