James V. DiPaola, 57, Malden

James V. DiPaola, Middlesex County Sheriff, passed away on November 27, 2010. He was 57 years old.

Jim was a lifelong resident of Malden and was the devoted husband of Adeline “Addie” (Izzicupo) DiPaola. He was the beloved father of Jennifer Perna and her husband Joseph of Wilmington, Jaime Kenny and her husband Chris of Marshfield and Jillian Orcione and her husband Justin of Malden. Jim was the dear brother of Kristine DiPaola, Donna Ferragamo, Debbie Lacey and Patricia Covelle and the brother in-law of Richard Izzicupo, Phyllis and Kevin Giannino, Diane and Joseph Annello, Sheila and Stephen Beradino and Marylou and Frank Divito. He was the cherished grandfather of Amelia Rose and Keegan Perna and Christopher James Kenny and is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Jim was elected Middlesex Sheriff in November of 1996 (to fill out the remaining two years of the term) and re-elected in 1998 to a full six-year term and again in 2004 and 2010. Prior to being elected Sheriff, DiPaola served on the Malden Police Department for eighteen years and served two terms (four years) in the Massachusetts House of Representatives as the State Representative from the Thirty-Six Middlesex District (Malden). Additionally, Sheriff DiPaola has served more than twenty years in the United States Military Reserves.

Sheriff DiPaola was recognized by numerous local groups for his participation in the relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. In the immediate aftermath, Sheriff DiPaola led a team of twenty deputies and volunteers to the devastated region for one month to aid in peacekeeping and public safety duties.

Sheriff DiPaola was also the past President of the Massachusetts Sheriff’s Association and presided as the Massachusetts State Director for the National Sheriff’s Association.

Sheriff DiPaola has received the prestigious “Law Enforcement Award” from the Massachusetts Order of the Sons of Italy. Sheriff DiPaola was also presented with the “Law Enforcement Officer of the Year” Award from the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Massachusetts. In 2000, Sheriff DiPaola was awarded the “Building Disaster Resistant Communities Leadership Award” from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Association of Counties (NACo) in Washington D. C. The award, one of only eighteen given nationwide, was given to Sheriff DiPaola because of his leadership and vision in establishing the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Youth Public Safety Academy. Sheriff DiPaola received the “Outstanding Public Service Award” from the Malden Democratic Committee and the “Above and Beyond Award” from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

In 2010, Sheriff DiPaola received the prestigious St. Michael the Archangel Award from the Massachusetts Italian-American Police Association. The award is presented for outstanding dedication and commitment to public service. On October 15, 2010 Sheriff DiPaola was honored by the Billerica Boys and Girls Club as their 2010 Man of the Year for his unwavering support for the youth of Middlesex County.

At the request of the family services and interment were private. Donations in memory of Sheriff DiPaola may be made to University Advancement The Sheriff James V. DiPaola Scholarship, The University of Massachusetts Boston, Quinn Administration Building, Plaza Level, 100 Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125-3393.

– Information from A.J. Spadafora Funeral Home