Louis Dell'Ermo

Louis Dell'Ermo

Louis R. Dell’Ermo, 79, of Whitehouse Station passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on November 4, 2013.

Funeral is from the Galante Funeral Home, 2800 Morris Avenue, Union, New Jersey on Saturday at 9 AM.  A Funeral Mass celebrating his life will be held at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark at 10:30 AM. Entombment will take place at Gate of Heaven Chapel Mausoleum in East Hanover. Visitation is on Friday from 2-4 PM and 7-9 PM.

Louis was born in Newark in 1934 to James and Olga Dell’Ermo. He attended Barringer High School where he was a standout football and baseball player. While at Barringer, he also met the love of his life, Vivian Christopher.

Louis received a scholarship to play football at North Dakota State University.  Shortly after arriving on campus in the winter of 1953, where he was greeted with three feet of snow on the ground and frigid temperatures, he decided to return home to Newark.  The decision to return home set him on the path to the successful man that he ultimately became.

After being honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps in 1956, Louis became a Newark Police Officer in 1957. One year later he married Vivian and they had two sons, James and Gregory.  He quickly rose through the Police Department ranks, first as a patrolman and shortly thereafter when he was promoted to Detective. While in the Detective Bureau, Louis continued to make his mark.  First, in the Bandit Squad and then in the Homicide Squad, where along with his life-long pal, Gerry Inneo, he became part of the one of the greatest tandems that the Newark Police Department ever produced. Louis continued his rise in the Department when he was promoted to Sergeant and then Lieutenant.

In 1972, the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency asked the Newark Police Department if Louis could head their Narcotics Task Force out of their Newark office.  The Department obliged, and Louis found his true calling.  It was there at the Task Force, Louis realized his passion to lead and inspire.

In 1984 Louis retired from law enforcement and re-directed his focus to the business world and a venture that allowed him to use his law enforcement knowledge, leadership skills and larger than life personality.  As chairman and founder of Gateway Security Inc., Louis eventually grew the company into a national organization, Gateway Group One. The company has been recognized numerous times, including Inc. Magazine’s Fastest Growing Urban Company, NJ Family Business of the Year and NJ Smart Workplaces.

Louis credited much of his success to his Newark roots and the close community-based relationships that he built over the years.  In particular, the experience he gained with the Narcotics Task Force shaped his ability to foster cooperation and build synergies between the many clients and communities that his company served.

Louis worked tirelessly with state law enforcement officials in launching the Security Officer Registration Act (SORA) that enhanced the security industry standards in New Jersey, which currently serve as a model for other states.

Louis also had a deep commitment to civic and charitable organizations.  He served on the boards of the 200 Club of Essex County, the NJ State Citizen Corporate Council and the Regional Business Partnership of NJ.  He also served as Chairman of the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in Somerset County and President of the Newark Athletic Hall of Fame, where he was an inductee. Other recognitions include induction into the New Jersey Business Hall of Fame.

While Louis was undoubtedly a highly successful businessman, it was his family that was his highest priority and his greatest joy.  In addition to his wife, two sons and his daughter in-law Lisa, Louis’s passion was his grandchildren Remy, Alexa, Louis and Raena. They truly were the loves of his life. He loved nothing more than spending time telling tales and imparting his sage wisdom to his family over a great Italian dinner at his favorite places down the shore or on his cherished upstate New York farm.

Louis was predeceased by his father James Dell’Ermo, his mother Olga Dell’Ermo (nee Suozzo); sister Josephine Catullo and her son Anthony Catullo; and sister Olga Radice and her husband James.

Louis  is survived by his beloved wife Vivian (nee Christopher); His loving son James and his wife Lisa; and his son Gregory; and his grandchildren Remy, Alexa, Louis and Raena Dell’Ermo. He is also survived by his brother-in-law Anthony Catullo, the Catullo Family, nieces Jamie Kirk and Cindy Hahne; Kurus Elavia, his Gateway family, and his many other friends and relatives

In lieu of flowers the family prefers that.