E. Jack Ippoliti, ex-mayor in Delco

E. Jack Ippoliti, 79, a former mayor of Clifton Heights, car salesman, and real estate developer, died of Alzheimer's disease Monday at Harlee Manor in Springfield, Delaware County.

Mr. Ippoliti, a Republican, was president of the Clifton Heights school board in the 1960s and then served two four-year terms as the borough mayor in the 1970s. He was later elected to a term as Delaware County prothonotary.

While mayor, Mr. Ippoliti oversaw the development of a new borough hall. In 1972 he negotiated the transfer of the Clifton Heights School District's athletic field to the borough when the district merged with Upper Darby School District.

The field is used by the borough's youth sports programs and for annual Fourth of July fireworks. After leaving office, Mr. Ippoliti was involved in negotiations to acquire additional land for the Clifton Heights Swim Club.

He loved Clifton Heights, said his son, Carl, and considered the borough hall and the athletic field to be his legacy to his home town.

After graduating from Clifton Heights High School in 1947, Mr. Ippoliti was a soda jerk, a movie-theater manager, and a bank teller, before going to work for Mac & Sam Chrysler in Clifton Heights in 1950. He retired as manager of the dealership in 1980.

Mr. Ippoliti developed residential apartment buildings and renovated commercial properties, doing most of the work himself. For several years, he owned Malz Bros. Hardware in Sharon Hill and M. Paul Payne Oil Co. in Collingdale. After selling the oil business in 2000, he sold used cars on the property for seven years. He was a talented salesman and loved making a deal, said his wife, Katherine Read Ippoliti. He and his wife had met at a dance in Chester and married in 1958.

Mr. Ippoliti was a member of the Columbus American Italian Society in Clifton Heights.

In addition to his wife and son, he is survived by daughters Patricia Ippoliti and Katherine Schwartz; a sister; and six grandchildren.

Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. today at Williams-Lombardo Funeral Home, 33 W. Baltimore Ave., Clifton Heights, and from 9:30 a.m. followed by the funeral at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow at Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church, 645 E. Springfield Rd., Springfield.

Memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer's Association, 399 Market St., Suite 102, Philadelphia, 19106