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Mario A. DiFederico late-'70s company chief
By Jim Mackinnon Beacon Journal business writer
Published on Saturday, Nov 10, 2007
Akron native Mario A. DiFederico was described as an American success story.
He was one of four children of a North Hill Italian immigrant grocer and grew up in the old neighborhood near the viaduct. He graduated from North Hill High School and got an engineering degree from the University of Akron. Soon after getting a master's degree in business administration from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he joined Firestone in 1947 as an engineer.
Some 32 years later, DiFederico retired at age 57 as president of the Akron tire maker.
Along with his successes, he also was among company executives who played a role in the 1970s national controversy over the Firestone 500 radial tire safety recall that nearly bankrupted the company.
Mr. DiFederico died Thursday in Akron at the age of 86 from complications of Parkinson's disease.
Nancy Joyce, the oldest of his three children, said her father retained a love of learning up until the very end.
''He was a student until he died,'' she said. ''He had what must have been the first computer. He taught himself how to do things. He had a lifelong love of learning.''
Her dad's parents, both Italian immigrants, played a huge role in shaping his outlook on life and emphasis on family, she said.
Joyce said her father's jobs at Firestone over the years took him, often accompanied by his wife, around the world.
Her father also loved golf a great deal and got to play in courses all over the globe as well, she said.
''He had an amazing life,'' she said. ''To the end, he was true to himself.''
Firestone was his first love and golf was his second love, Robert Schobert, one of his longtime friends, told the Beacon Journal at the time of DiFederico's retirement.
Friends told the Beacon Journal in 1979 that DiFederico had a great sense of humor and at rare times when he lost at golf would prankishly pay off a $20 bet in dollar installments.
DiFederico began climbing the Firestone corporate ladder soon after starting there. Promotions included running the steel products, international operations and the tire division before being promoted to president in 1976. He joined the company's board of directors in 1970.
He also was one of the focal points in the federal government's investigation into the steel-belted radial Firestone 500. Memos showed that while he was head of the company's North American tire operations, he was aware of tread separation problems with the tire in 1972, several years before the investigation began. Crashes caused by Firestone 500 tire blowouts caused injuries and deaths.
Firestone family members in 1979 offered conflicting statements on whether the Firestone 500 controversy played a role in DiFederico's retirement. He was succeeded as president by former Zenith Radio Corp. executive John Nevin, the first outsider ever hired to run Firestone.
DiFederico was also a director of Dana Corp. of Toledo from 1971 to 1996. He was a past trustee of the University of Akron and also Akron City Hospital. He was a past president of Akron Junior Achievement.
His love of golf was reflected in his having been a founding member of the Sharon Golf Club and the Jupiter Hills Club. He also held memberships in other golf clubs.
He leaves his wife, Jean, and their three children, Nancy Joyce of Bedford, Martha Friedman of Georgia and Anthony McNally of Florida. He also leaves a sister, Connie Percoco of Akron, and eight grandchildren.
Friends may call from 10 a.m. to noon today at St. Hilary Catholic Church, 2750 W. Market St., Fairlawn. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at noon.
Memorial contributions may be made to either Hospice of the Visiting Nurse Service, 3358 Ridgewood Road, Akron, OH 44333 or to Hospice at Summa, 444 N. Main. St., Akron OH 44310.
Jim Mackinnon can be reached at 330-996-3544 or jmackinnon@thebeaconjournal.com.
Akron native Mario A. DiFederico was described as an American success story.
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