Richard A. Alaimo Sr

Mass Live Stream: https://youtube.com/live/25ZNASwsrE0?feature=share Richard “Dick” Alaimo, a stalwart of civil engineering in New Jersey, died Friday, March 6, 2026, at his home in Mount Holly. As the founder and president of The Alaimo Group, he established a firm that became synonymous with excellence in sanitary and civil engineering. If the essence of a good life is passion-driven excellence, meaningful impact, and a lasting influence that inspires admiration—with a little "Horatio Alger" thrown in—that was Dick. Early Years and Education Born April 11, 1935, in Passaic, NJ, his mother, Rose, relished telling how he was born at home with a midwife, weighing ten pounds. He grew up in the city’s Second Ward, then a manufacturing stronghold for European immigrants like his grandfather, Domenic Neglia. Domenico, who emigrated from Italy as a teenager, served as a vital father figure to Dick. A diligent student, Dick navigated the competitive multi-ethnic public school classrooms of Passaic with a self-sufficiency learned early as the son of a divorced, working mother. His leadership skills emerged at age ten. He organized neighborhood friends into a baseball team, appointed himself captain, and convinced a local ice cream shop owner to provide uniforms. They scheduled games at city parks against anyone who would take them on —including men’s teams from neighboring towns like Paterson. They arrived by bus with their families and would picnic in the park after the game. An outstanding athlete, Dick excelled in football and baseball at Passaic High School. He famously hit a triple to win a game against their biggest rival, Clifton High—a memory he cherished alongside his teammate’s recollection of Dick offering “frequent constructive suggestions” to the coach. Named Outstanding Student-Athlete his senior year, he proceeded to Rutgers University on a baseball scholarship. When worsening eyesight made the eye-covering contact lenses of the era intolerable, he left the team—a move he later called a "positive," as it freed up the grueling lab hours required for his civil engineering degree. Though a guidance counselor steered him away from law toward engineering due to his math skills, Dick always considered his legal expertise equal to any lawyer he encountered. The Alaimo Group and Professional Legacy Fraternity life beckoned at Rutgers, where he became president of Delta Upsilon. Under his watch, there were no hazing shenanigans; instead, pledges were required to paint and repair the residence, and the general population was ordered to keep quiet after 10 PM so he could study. His decisiveness was already legendary: during a heated debate over a tree limiting parking on the property—which included a dramatic reading of Joyce Kilmer’s “Trees”—Dick ended the meeting with an emphatic: “The tree comes down tomorrow.” After a brief stint with a New York City corporation, Dick headed south to Mount Holly to work for Al Jones. When promises of a partnership did not materialize, he took a second mortgage on his home and founded his own company. Starting with one client and a single employee, he worked long hours just across the street from his former employer, determined to succeed. A stickler for perfection, Dick was intolerant of verbosity. He would often cut through a lengthy explanation with a direct "What’s the bottom line?" This wasn't impatience, but rather a precision of mind. He reviewed plans and drawings with a questioning eye, scrutinizing every detail, and managed the company until shortly before his death. By its 50th anniversary in 2017, The Alaimo Group had grown to 120 employees across offices in Wayne and Mount Holly. Dick took great care to ensure the seven buildings that comprise the High Street offices preserved the area’s Colonial and Federal charm, noting some of the architecture reminded him of his fraternity house. Beyond engineering, his reach was vast. He founded and served as President of Mount Holly State Bank, once foiling an attempted takeover by a group of out-of-town shareholders. He served on the board of the South Jersey Port Corporation under 17 governors for more than 50 years (32 as chair), playing a central role in the port’s evolution from a single terminal in Camden to four terminals across three cities. Community and Mentorship Dick’s leadership extended to numerous local institutions. He served as president of the Mount Holly Rotary Club, Burlington County United Fund, Burlington County 200 Club and the Rancocas Valley Regional High School Board of Education—a post he held for over 40 years. Selected as the Boy Scout Distinguished Citizen of the Year in 1989, he later chaired the committee for more than 20 years. In 1980 he transferred his love for baseball to a "Casey Stengel" role, coaching the Mount Holly Senior Babe Ruth teams from 1980 to 1982. He reveled in their championship wins and found those summers of mentorship to be among the most rewarding of his life. Though rarely a jokester, in the late 70’s a playful persona emerged. After arriving home from a night out to find a giant "pet rock" blocking his front door, he determined the source and retaliated by dumping a load of "baby rocks" (gravel) in the friend’s driveway. Other legendary pranks followed: tires in trees, a garbage truck with no tires, turkeys in yards, and bogus signs—all providing "silly gaiety" among his close circle of friends. Architecture and Family An astute real estate investor, he purchased a combination of farms on Woodlane Road in Westampton Township. Dick designed the British Colonial style clubhouse and the 18-hole Carolina-style course at Deerwood Country Club, which opened in 1996. He was immensely proud of the Deerwood housing community and would often "take a drive" just to check that the properties were being well-maintained. At his core, Dick’s greatest love was his family. During rare down time, he enjoyed playing golf, going to Phillies and Eagles games and trips to a beach house on Long Beach Island—always toting a bulging briefcase for a dedicated morning of work at the dining table. A summer weekend afternoon might include joining family on the beach, wiffle ball or a husband-wife Scrabble game, never played without a dictionary nearby to settle word challenges. Dick is survived by Doris, his loving wife and workmate for 49 years; son Rick; daughters Peggy Alaimo-Mulligan (Terry), Susan (J) Ferrelli, and Donna (Larry) Clarke; stepsons Brian, Leigh (Jen) and Miles (Sue), and grandchildren Ryan and Rachel Mulligan; Michael, Julia and Richard Ferrelli; Dean, Owen, Ava and Grace Clarke; step-grandchildren Brian, Teagan, Casey, Paige, Avery, Henry, Madison and Miles Powell, and brothers-in-law Bob (Judy) and Jack (Shirley) Kipp and sister-in-law Louise Walden plus cousins Steven Leonardo, Linda Contillo, Joe Perno, Laura McArdle, Kathy Hawkins, Janine Moesdoerf and Deborah Yarmula and several nieces and nephews. The family invites memorial contributions in Dick’s name to Rancocas Valley Regional High School / Richard A. Alaimo Baseball Scholarship Fund (520 Jacksonville Road, Mount Holly, NJ, 08060) or to Virtua Memorial Hospital in appreciation of the outstanding dedicated care provided to Dick. Select Dr. Mary Campagnolo Fund for Excellence in Family Medicine Education or Care Transformation Project at Virtua Mount Holly (Virtua Philanthropy, 4rth Floor, 303 Lippincott Avenue, Marlton, NJ 08053. Visitation: Friday, March 20, 4:00–7:00 PM at Perinchief Funeral Home, 438 High Street, Mount Holly. Mass of Christian Burial: Saturday, March 21, 11:30 AM at Sacred Heart Church, 260 High Street, Mount Holly.

Richard A. Alaimo Sr

April 11, 1935 - March 6, 2026