Harriett ‘Dee Dee’ Zambito
Harriett “Dee Dee” Zambito, 85, died Jan. 27.
She was born Aug. 3, 1941, in Newport News, Virginia, the oldest of five siblings.
Her family moved to Florida when she was a child and she adored the abundant sunshine and being a Floridian. She fell in love with Anna Maria Island in the 1970s and relocated her family from Tampa in 1980.
She was married to the love of her life, Angelo Zambito, for 50 years and they had four children.
Mrs. Zambito was passionate about the island and even ran for city council. She proudly called herself an “Island Girl.”
She went back to school at 35 and graduated from college the same year as her middle son. She majored in education and worked as a substitute teacher. She was involved in all of her children’s school activities and volunteered for many years.
She was a creative and talented artist, with clay her favorite medium. She regularly attended art and pottery events with her artist friends. She was a huge fan of Salvador Dali.
A highlight of her life was visiting the Louvre. Being in love with Elvis Presley since her teenage years, she was ecstatic to finally visit Graceland last year for her 83rd birthday. She adored music and singing and learned to play guitar.
She traveled to Italy, Sicily, Spain, France, Canada, Mexico and Guatemala. She also traveled extensively with Angelo and their children all over the United States, from Key West to Seattle, including road trips around the Pacific Northwest and Canada.
She found her success in a second career in real estate at an age when most were retiring.
In the last few years of her life, she rekindled a relationship with her first husband, Merlin DePew, after both were widowed. They enjoyed travel, laughter and singing along to music. Her time with Merlin and his daughter, April Geer, greatly enriched her life.
She had a closeness with her siblings and spoke to her sisters almost daily and cared very deeply for them. She often expressed her gratitude for the help she received from her brothers and sisters.
Mrs. Zambito is survived by her siblings, Larry, Dwight, Roberta and Deborah; her children, Patrick, Chip and Shannon; and beloved grandson Christopher.