Remembering Adam Delity: Beloved Ellicottville Community Member and Soccer Pioneer
Adam Delity, 92, of Ellicottville, passed away on October 26, 2025. A devoted husband, father, and mentor, Adam helped found Ellicottville’s Youth Soccer Program and spent a lifetime dedicated to family, faith, and community.
Adam Delity • May 11, 1933 - October 26, 2025
ELLICOTTVILLE - Adam Delity, 92, of Ellicottville, passed away Sunday, October 26, 2025, at the Pines Nursing Home of Machias. He was born on May 11, 1933, in Csátalja, Hungary, a German village on the Danube River in Southwestern Hungary, son of the late Josef and Barbara (Stark) Delity.
On July 2, 1955, he married Norma Jean Peterson, at the Holy Name of Mary Roman Catholic Church in Ellicottville. They built a life raising three sons on Mill Street in Ellicottville.
With his parents and his life-long companion and older brother Joseph, he moved to the Ostfriesland region of Northwest Germany in 1940, where his brother Ludwig was born. He emigrated to the United States with his parents and brothers on Jan. 11, 1952. After arriving in the U.S., he, his father, and brother Joe worked at Murphy and Sons Mill. In 1953, his youngest brother Tony was born, leaving Adam with one brother born in Hungary, one in Germany and one in the U.S.A.
He worked at Signore Inc., joining as a tool and die maker and as the company’s 10th employee. He retired 46 years later as the Plant Production Manager for the company that had grown to over 200 employees.
He was a soccer referee for over 35 years, officiating games ranging from little league to the NCAA level. His brother Joe and he were the co-founders of the Ellicottville Youth Soccer program. The village soccer field in Ellicottville is named Delity Field in honor of him and his brother.
He was an active member of the Holy Name of Mary Roman Catholic Church since 1951.
In addition to his family, soccer, and church, he enjoyed bowling, square dancing, woodworking, Old-West novels and movies, and rooting for the Ellicottville Eagles, Buffalo Sabres, and the Buffalo Bills.
He was a proud and devoted Husband, Father, Grandfather, Uncle, and Brother. He is survived by his children, Stephen (Harshini), and William (Sharon) Delity. Also surviving is a daughter-in-law, Rita Delity; a brother, Ludwig (Barbara) Delity; two sisters-in-law, Cheryl Peterson and Lisa Delity; eleven grandchildren, Scott, Ashley, Akshay, Maya, Arjun, Alex, Nick, Emilee, Hannah, Madison, and Adam; as well a 12 nieces and nephews, along with several great-grandchildren.
Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his wife, Norma; his son, Daniel; his brothers, Andrew, Joseph, and Tony Delity; and a brother-in-law, Robert Peterson.
Friends may call on Friday, October 31st from 3:00-6:00pm at Mentley Funeral Home Inc., 411 Rock City St. in Little Valley. A Catholic funeral at 10:00am at Holy Name of Mary R.C. Church will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2025.
Memorials may be made to the Town of Ellicottville Youth Soccer Program or the Ellicottville Central School Sports Boosters Club.