STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Michael DiMarco, 59, of Meiers Corners, a retired Baruch College bursar who loved helping students and cherished his family, died July 13 in New York Presbyterian Hospital, Manhattan, of amytrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease.
Born and raised on Staten Island, he later settled in Castleton Corners.
A graduate of St. Peter's Boys High School, Mr. DiMarco earned his bachelor's degree in accounting from Wagner College, Grymes Hill, and received his two masters' of business administration degrees, in computer science and management, respectively, from Baruch College, Manhattan.
He was the bursar at Baruch College for almost 30 years, until stopping work due to illness in April 2009.
Mr. DiMarco loved to serve students in his position as bursar, said his wife, the former Judy Wong. Helping them was very important to him, she said, and even when offered a choice of other positions, he chose to stay as bursar because he thought he could do the most good there.
"He was a people person, and he loved working with students and his colleagues. He was very honest and true to his word and straightforward, a good man," she added.
Mr. DiMarco enjoyed playing games, loved the New York Yankees, Giants and Knicks, and loved to listen to music.
Time spent with his family was most important to him.
"He was always smiling, laughing and good-humored," his wife said. "Even after his diagnosis and the progression of his illness. He was so courageous."
Surviving, along with Judy, his wife of 29 years, are his daughters, Stephanie and Samantha DiMarco, and his parents, Salvatore and Jean DiMarco.
The funeral will be Tuesday from the Casey Funeral Home, Castleton Corners, with a Mass at 9:30 a.m. in St. Teresa's R.C. Church. Entombment will follow in Moravian Cemetery, New Dorp.