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Obituary

Ex-counsel for diocese, 76

By CRAIG BASSE
Published June 13, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - John J. DiVito, a Catholic deacon and retired lawyer who represented the Diocese of St. Petersburg for many years, has died at 76.

Mr. DiVito, general counsel for the diocese from its establishment in 1968, died Sunday (June 12, 2005) at his home of cancer.

In private practice here for 42 years, beginning in 1957, he worked in partnerships that included Fred Bryson and David Patterson, both of whom became circuit court judges. He formed the firm of DiVito & Higham in 1977.

In 1987, he was ordained as the ancient order of the permanent diaconate. W. Thomas Larkin, then bishop, officiated at the event that saw 30 men obtain a rank just below that of a priest.

He served at St. Matthew and St. Patrick churches, both in Largo, as a member of the ancient clerical order. Part of the early church, the order was discontinued after the fourth century. The movement to restore it is seen as a way to lessen the impact of a nationwide shortage of priests.

In 2004, Mr. DiVito was awarded the church's highest honor available to a lay person, the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, by Pope John Paul II. He also received the Medal of St. Jude for his service to the diocese.

Born in Philadelphia, he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1949. He received his law degree as a member of the first Stetson University College of Law class to complete a full law course at the Gulfport campus.

At Stetson, he won the Perry Nichols Award in trial practice and the Gulf Life Scholarship.

Mr. DiVito, who lived in Seminole, was a member of St. Jude's Church and the Holy Name Society. He was a past grand knight and state deputy of the Knights of Columbus and a past president of the Breakfast Optimist Club and the Pinellas County Trial Lawyers Association.

He belonged to the Sierra Club, the Jaycees and the American Arbitration Association, the Florida Bar and the St. Petersburg Bar Association. He was an Army veteran.

Survivors include his wife of nearly 54 years, Gloria; four sons, Joseph A., Seminole, Nicholas and Allyn C., both of St. Petersburg, and Paul F., Roswell, Ga.; a daughter, Helen S. DiVito, St. Petersburg; a sister, Theresa Ciullo, Brigantine, N.J., a brother, Tito, Philadelphia; and eight grandchildren.

A wake is from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Cathedral of St. Jude with a prayer service at 7 p.m. A funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Cathedral. Brett Funeral Home & Cremation Services, St. Petersburg, is in charge.

The family suggests memorial contributions to Hospice of the Florida Suncoast, 300 East Bay Drive, Largo, FL 33770.

--Information from Times files was used in this obituary.

[Last modified June 13, 2005, 06:13:04]