Anthony J. D'Lauro Jr., 80; ran DiNardo's Famous Seafood

Anthony J. D'Lauro Jr., 80, formerly of Blue Bell, a retired advertising executive and owner of DiNardo's Famous Seafood in Old City, died of pulmonary fibrosis Wednesday, Sept. 14, at Physicians Regional Hospital in Naples, Fla.

When he was working in advertising, Mr. D'Lauro took clients to the original DiNardo's restaurant in Wilmington. He used to say he could gauge clients' personalities watching them cope with platters of hard-shell crabs, a daughter, Jane DiNola, said.

In 1976, Mr. D'Lauro opened DiNardo's Famous Seafood at Third and Race Streets, with partners Bill DiNardo and Ralph Patrone. The restaurant specialized in fresh seafood with an Italian twist.

Initially, Mr. D'Lauro did the marketing for the restaurant, and Patrone handled the finances. A manager was hired for day-to-day operations.

In 1978, when the manager had to be replaced, Mr. D'Lauro stepped in. "He was there morning and night," his daughter said. He was a wonderful mentor to employees, many of whom stayed for more than 20 years, his daughter said. "He taught them that customers expect the back of the house to be just like their home - you have to keep it clean and keep it fresh," she said.

Mr. D'Lauro retired from managing the restaurant in 1996, when his daughter and Ralph Patrone's daughter, Liz Massimo, took over operations. Since Jane DiNola's move to Florida in 2003, Massimo has run DiNardo's.

After he retired, Mr. D'Lauro continued to call the restaurant every day to see how things were going, his daughter said.

The son of Italian immigrants, Mr. D'Lauro grew up in Chestnut Hill. He graduated from Roman Catholic High School and attended Charles Morris Price School of Advertising and Journalism in Philadelphia and Villanova University.

From 1952 to 1953, he served in the Navy in Hawaii and Alaska and remained in the Navy Reserve, stationed at Willow Grove Navy Air Station, for several years.

Mr. D'Lauro began his advertising career with the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin and then was with Acme Markets Inc. In 1967, he was named director of public relations for Matlack Inc. After Matlack merged with Rollins International in Wilmington, Mr. D'Lauro held several positions with the company. He was corporate vice president when he left in 1975 to devote more time to his marketing and consulting firm, D'Lauro Agency.

Mr. D'Lauro served on the board of Roman Catholic High School and was cochairman of the school's building-fund drive. He was past president of Ivy Ridge Lodge 251, Order of Sons of Italy, and served on the executive committee of Blue Bell Country Club.

He volunteered at Naples Community Hospital and enjoyed playing golf at Naples Heritage Country Club in Naples, Fla., where he lived for the last seven years.

Besides his daughter, Mr. D'Lauro is survived by his wife of eight years, Mary Evans D'Lauro; daughter Kathryn Strunk; stepdaughter, Cheryl Fogle; a sister; six grandchildren; and a great-grandson. His wife of 46 years, Peggy Connor D'Lauro, died in 2003. Their daughter Carol Ann died in 1967.

A visitation was set for 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, at Our Mother of Consolation Church, 9 E. Chestnut Hill Ave., Philadelphia, before a noon Funeral Mass. Inurnment will be in St. Patrick's Cemetery in East Norriton.