29-Year-Old Pinellas Deputy Recalled for His Determination

Deputy Dan DiCicco is being recalled for inner strength and perseverance to reach his goals, despite a diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease in high school.

DiCicco died Sunday, April 14, at the age of 29.

The funeral service for DiCicco will be Monday at First Baptist Church in St. Petersburg.

According to an article in the Tampa Bay Times, he passed away at Northside Hospital two days after collapsing in a parking lot.

Friends and family are recalling the deputy as a man who worked hard to achieve and never gave up.

DiCicco was a standout player and captain of his football team at Dixie Hollins High, when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease.

The treatment – radiation, chemotherapy and throat surgery – were too hard on his body. He had to give up plans to play college ball. Yet miraculously he was able to finish out his high school season.

According to his obituary:

A diagnosis such as cancer would devastate most individuals - not Danny. Danny took this news in stride and made his best effort to keep family, friends, and football at the center of his life. Despite being weakened from chemotherapy and radiation, Danny managed to continue playing football.

The only outward sign of the disease was the damage to his vocal cords from surgery. He could not talk above a whisper. DiCicco was determined to be in full recovery by 2002.

DiCicco went on to graduate from the University of South Florida in 2006, and then he enrolled in the Manatee Tech Law Enforcement Academy. He joined the Pinellas County Sheriff's Department after graduation.

Later he advanced to the SWAT team, a source of pride, according to family members.

DiCicco was a tireless worker, enrolled in a master's program in Public Administration at Nova Southeastern University, even as he worked full time.

DiCicco also had wanted to work with police dogs, but his hoarse whisper from throat surgery kept him from doing so.

His mother, Cheryl DiCicco, told the Tampa Bay Times that his quiet voice enabled him to defuse potentially violent situations.

Last week, he was eating at the Wing House in St. Petersburg with a buddy, when he complained of chest pains and then collapsed in a parking lot.

He died at Northside Hospital. His mother told the Tampa Bay Times that if he had lived, DiCicco would have needed a heart transplant.

According to his obituary:

Visitation will be held Sunday, April 21st, from 2-4 pm & 6-8 pm at Memorial Park Funeral Home, 5750 49th Street North, St. Petersburg, FL 34209. Funeral services will be on Monday, April 22nd, at 1 pm at First Baptist Church of St. Petersburg, 1900 Gandy Boulevard North, St. Petersburg, FL 33702. In lieu of flowers, please help a child with cancer. You may make donations to All Children's Hospital - Oncology, 500 7th Ave South, 6th Floor, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 or to Children's Dream Fund, 1 Progress Plaza South, Suite 821, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.

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