Stephen A. DiMauro, age 87, of Winter Park, Florida passed away on Wednesday, May 20, 2020 at his home in Winter Park.
Steve was born on November 29, 1932 in Camden, NJ, son of the late Concetto and Josephine (Privatera) DiMauro. On November 12, 1955 he married his wife of 64 years, Kathryn Donato.
At the age of 15, Steve began his career in racing on the backstretch of Garden State Park Racetrack exercising horses in the mornings. At 19, he became a jockey and was the leading apprentice rider known as "The Jamaica Rocket" at Jamaica Racetrack in New York, which is now Aqueduct Racetrack. After sustaining an injury from a race day spill, he set his sights on becoming a thoroughbred horse trainer. Over the next 45 years he was an Eclipse Award winning champion thoroughbred horse trainer, owner and breeder. Always a gentleman, he was well liked and well respected by all. He was the epitome of everything good in horse racing and in his personal life as well. He resided in New York until 2002 when he retired from horse racing and moved to Florida to be near his family and grandchildren who meant everything to him. He was a very loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and will be truly missed by all.
Steve is survived by his wife, Kathryn C. DiMauro; his son, Stephen L. DiMauro and his wife, Melinda, of Plantation, FL; two daughters, Kathy Worswick and her husband, Doug, of Winter Park, FL, and Joanne Grass, and her husband, Jim, of Orlando, FL; eight grandchildren, Vanessa (Ben) McFadden, Siena (Rick) Carrico, Matthew Worswick, Jenna Worswick, Samantha DiMauro, Nicole DiMauro, Jami (Shane) Hess, and Dan (Cassie) Grass; five great-grandchildren, Mia, Natalie, Taylor, Kaleb, and Kiya; a brother, Anthony DiMauro and his wife, Joanne, of Williamstown, NJ, and a sister, Francine DiMauro of Monroe, NC and many nieces and nephews and their families.
He is preceded in death by his parents, and three sisters, Blondie Carullo, Sara Graham, and Mary Mercantini.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, May 28, 2020 at 11:00 AM at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, 526 N Park Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789 with Fr. Richard Walsh officiating.
The funeral mass will be livestreamed, and can be viewed here -
St. Margaret Mary LivestreamEntombment will take place in Holy Cross Cemetery, Mays Landing, NJ on Monday, June 1, 2020.
In Lieu of Flowers, Contributions in Steve's Memory May be Made to
The Alzheimer's AssociationTo share your memories of Steve or leave a special condolence message for his family, please visit the guestbook below.
Daily Racing Form - Champion trainer Stephen A. DiMauro dead at 87Thoroughbred Daily News - Eclipse Award Winning Trainer DiMauro Passes Away at 87Paulick Report - Trainer Stephen A. DiMauro, Backstretch Community Advocate, Dies At 87