Matthias D. Dileo, Esq. former Managing Partner of Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A. of Woodbridge, NJ, died May 22, 2008 of natural causes while attending the annual New Jersey Bar Association convention in Atlantic City.

Born March 22, 1927 in Trenton, NJ, he resided in Lawrenceville, NJ, Loveladies, NJ and was living in Princeton, NJ at the time of his death.

While clerking for Appellate Division Judge Smalley in 1953, Mr. Dileo was introduced to and hired by David T. Wilentz, the former NJ State Attorney General, known for his role as the Prosecutor in the Lindbergh kidnapping trial. He was a devoted employee remaining at the Wilentz firm for 54 years until his retirement in 2007 at the age of 80. He remained of-counsel to the firm until his death. He was employed post-retirement as a consultant for the Hess Corporation.

Mr. Dileo loved the practice of law and was active throughout his career in numerous professional organizations. He served as President of the Middlesex County Bar from 1978 to 1979; President of the NJ State Bar from 1991 to 1992; and Chairman of the NJ State Bar Foundation from 1992 to 1994, having received its Medal of Honor in 1988.

He received the Professional Lawyer of the Year Award in 1999, and served as: a member of the NJ Supreme Court Ethics Finance Committee, a Trustee of the NJ Supreme Courts Lawyers' Assistance Program, a Delegate to the American Bar Association in 1967 and a Fellow of the American Bar Association. In 2001 he received the Daniel J. O'Hern Professionalism Award. Of all of his accomplishments, he most cherished the privilege of mentoring young attorneys regarding professional ethics.


After serving in the Regular Army in World War II, he joined the NJ National Guard as Company Commander of the Military Police Corps with the rank of Captain from 1949-1962. In 1963 he served in the United States Army Reserve in the Judge Advocate's Corps and was a Member of the Retired Officers Reserve Corps.

Mr. Dileo graduated from Trenton Central High School in 1944. He attended Pennsylvania State College and graduated from Rutgers University with a B.A. in 1950. He received his L.L.B. from Rutgers University School of Law in 1952.

He was an avid reader of World War II history, and had recently applied for admission to Norwich University to pursue a Master of Arts degree in Military History.

He enjoyed nothing more than sitting down for a fine meal with family and friends at his home, traveling with his wife Fame, fishing and boating on Long Beach Island, meeting new people, telling funny stories, and tending to his fig trees and grape vines.

He was predeceased by his parents, Daniel and Rachel Dileo of Trenton, NJ. Surviving are his loving wife Fame Poliziani Dileo, his daughter and son-in-law Lisa and Ralph Fretz of Freehold, NJ, two sons and daughters-in-law David and Jennifer Dileo and Mark and Lisa Dileo all of Columbus, NJ and three grandchildren; Emma and Matthias Fretz and Sofia Dileo. He is additionally survived by a brother and sister-in-law Pasquale and Filomena Dileo of Hamilton, NJ, two sisters and brothers-in-law, Catherine and Salvatore Nalli, of Lexington, KY, and Mary and Joseph Lavery of Columbus, NJ, as well as numerous loving cousins, nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 28 from 9:00am to 11:00am at St. Paul's Catholic Church, 214 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ 08542 followed by an 11:00am Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will be at Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery, 400 Woolsey Street, Hamilton, NJ immediately following.

The family asks for contributions, in lieu of flowers, to the NJ State Bar Foundation, New Jersey Law Center, One Constitution Square, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 or contributions payable to the Matthias D. Dileo Scholarship Fund at the Villa Victoria Academy , 376 West Upper Ferry Road, Ewing, NJ 08628

Arrangements are under the direction of the Kimble Funeral Home, One Hamilton Avenue, Princeton, NJ 08542.