Donn C. DiBiasio, 81, owner and operator of the former D & B Antenna & Electronics and D & B Guns in Providence until retiring in 2001, died Saturday in Fatima Hospital, North Providence. He was the beloved husband of D. Cynthia “Cindy” Julien.
Born in Westville, NY, a son of the late Vincenzo and Bernice (Barlow) DiBiasio, he moved to RI at age seven. He graduated from Hope High School and RI Radio & TV Electronic Technicians School.
Mr DiBiasio also taught Electronics at Davies Vocational School and Woonsocket Voc-Tech School. As his vocation was Electronics, TV and Radio but his passion was firearms and the 2nd Amendment.
He was a NRA Benefactor life member, a 50 year volunteer lobbyist on Gun, Sportsman and 2nd amendment related issues at the RI General Assembly, an avid sportsman, hunter, fisherman and recreational and competitive shooter. He had a federal firearms dealer license and was a nationally known court expert on firearms.
Mr. DiBiasio sat on the board of numerous firearm, shooter and sportsman groups including the NRA, RI State Rifle and Revolver Association were he served 50 years as secretary and legislative director, Continental Sloop Providence, RI Firearms Dealers Association, the Review Board of RI Pre-Purchase Firearms Safety Training Review, Gun Owners Political Action Committee, Federal Blues RI Militia, Providence Maritime Heritage Committee.
He was a member of Wallum Lake Rod and Gun club, Le Regiment Bourbonnois, United Train of Artillery, State of RI Trail Advisory committee, also an honorary member of the Artillery Company of Newport and Providence County Sheriffs.
Besides his wife, he leaves his sons, Michael DiBiasio of North Providence, Steven DiBiasio of Cranston, Kenneth DiBiasio of Woonsocket, Roger DiBiasio of Manchester, NH, siblings, James DiBiasio of FL, Jean Fleury of Westville, NY, Ann Fricker of NV, many grandchildren. He was the brother of the late Margaret Day, PhD.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday at 9:30am in St. Philip Church, 622 Putnam Pike, Greenville. Visitation Wednesday 4-8pm in the ANDERSON-WINFIELD Funeral home, Route 44 at Greenville Common, Greenville. In lieu of flowers donations in his memory may be made to the NRA-ILA , 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA, 22030
www.nraila.org