Daniel (Danny) A. Limongelli, 74, of Bear Creek, passed away Monday, January 18, 2021 in Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.
Born in Pittston on July 15, 1946, he was the son of the late Joseph and Santa (Zanta) Limongelli. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Anthony and Anna Zarichak; granddaughter, Ava Louise Dunleavy; sister, Jean Marie Nardone; brothers in law, Joseph Nardone and Edward Appel.
Danny was a graduate of Sacred Heart High School, Plains and Lackawanna Jr. College. During the Vietnam War, he served honorably as a decorated soldier in the United States Army, F Troop, 17th Cavalry, 196th Brigade.
Danny loved cars, so it was fitting that he spent his career in the auto industry. In 1971, he and his father opened Jo-Dan Motors, which has been family owned and operated in Plains ever since. Jo-Dan has received many awards over the years, and it gave Danny great pride to be recognized by the community he loved to serve. He was a longtime member of the PIADA, where he served as both President and Vice President for more than twenty years.
Danny’s keen understanding of the auto industry led him to invest in Guardian Warranty Company, now known as GWC Warranty, which was immensely successful. Feeling the time was right for retirement, Danny and his partners sold the company in 2006. However, years later, Danny reentered the service contract industry as a partner in ProGuard Warranty. He enjoyed overseeing ProGuard’s growth over the past several years as it became one of the leading service contract providers in the industry.
Most recently, Danny fulfilled his lifelong dream of owning a franchise dealership when he established Jo-Dan Buick GMC in Moosic. He was honored to be a part of the General Motors family and was proud of the franchise’s accomplishments.
Danny was a true gentleman who believed in the value of a handshake and the importance of a man’s word. Because of this, he was well-respected in our community, especially by all those with whom he did business.
His professional accomplishments were vast, but Danny’s greatest pride was his family. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Louise Zarichak Limongelli; children, Danny Limongelli and his wife Jill, Bear Creek, and their children, Danny, Santa, Angelo and Sicilia; Dean Limongelli and his wife Tamatha, Wapwallopen, and their children, Dean Jr. and Anthony; Dana Moore and her husband Chris, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, and their children Taormina and Valentino; Danielle Dunleavy and her husband James, Wilkes-Barre, and their children, James, Nicholas, Nina and Ella; Dominic Limongelli and his wife Meghan, Laflin, and their children, Lia, Dominic Jr., Roman, and Marco; and Deidre Clark and her husband Robert, Morristown, NJ, and their dog, Millie; sister, Sandra Appel, Pittston; brother, Joseph Limongelli and his wife Debbie, Avoca; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Danny was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He met his wife when he was fourteen. Early on, they discovered a shared love for music and dancing. They attended countless concerts over the years and always impressed on the dance floor. He enjoyed traveling with his wife, often to Florida where they shared a vacation home. More than anything, he enjoyed his wife’s cooking, especially in the company of his family. He taught his children and grandchildren by example. He was warm-hearted, honest, caring, generous and loyal. He was our hero.
In his spare time, Danny could usually be found at a car show, a horse racing track, or his family farm. He loved classic cars and, over time, collected some of his favorites. He was fond of Chevy Impala’s, and his 1958 was his pride and joy. From childhood, Danny adored horses. With nearly 500 wins as a thoroughbred owner, he turned his hobby into a profession. He frequented Penn National and Laurel Park to watch his horses race, often accompanied by his cousins. His most successful horse, Banjo Picker, held a special place in his heart. He also loved to ride horses and would often visit his farm to be with Sammy, his horse for more than 30 years.
To know this man was to love him, as was evidenced by the tremendous outpouring of love and support offered by family, friends, and business associates during his greatest time of need. Danny was a success in every way: business, husband, father and grandfather. He was truly a wonderful person and will be missed by all who knew him.
Danny, Daddy, Pop Pop – We loved you every day we had you, but it wasn’t long enough. We are happy you’re in Heaven, but we will miss you forever.
Our hearts are broken.
A walk-through visitation will be held, Sunday, January 24, 2021 from 1pm-5pm at Adonizio Funeral Home, LLC, 251 William Street, Pittston, following CDC guidelines of wearing a face covering and practicing social distancing. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated and interment will take place in St. Rocco’s Cemetery with full Military Honors.