More than 350 people joined Bishop Malooly at the Chase Center on the Riverfront on April 11 to honor the Buccini family at the annual tribute dinner by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Wilmington.
Honorees were D. Robert and Bernadette Buccini and their sons, Rob and Chris, winners of the Msgr. Thomas J. Reese award. The award was created in 1989 in memory of Msgr. Reese, community activist and longtime director of Catholic Social Services, the forerunner of Catholic Charities, and recognizes exemplary individuals who have demonstrated a deep commitment to promoting and restoring the well-being of people – Catholic Charities’ mission.
Bernadette and D. Robert, have together led the family business, the Edward J. De Seta Company Inc., since 1967. The business has grown into one of the largest heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) contractors and engineering firms in the mid-Atlantic. They are past members of the board of directors for the Ministry of Caring, St. Anthony of Padua Church, Padua Academy, Grand Opera House, St. Francis Hospital and numerous other philanthropic efforts. Rob and Chris’s real estate investment and development company, The Buccini/Pollin Group, Inc., owns places in Wilmington such as the Hotel DuPont, former DuPont world headquarters buildings, WSFS Bank Center, I.M. Pei Building, and Queen Theater; and is a leader in redeveloping the Wilmington Riverfront with its Christina Landing, Justison Landing, Penn Cinema and Imax, and Westin Hotel projects.
Bishop Malooly thanked the Buccinis “for all you’re doing now in addition to what you’ve already done for the city of Wilmington.” He encouraged people to follow the Buccinis lead in supporting Catholic Charities.
“We ask that you continue to support all of the wonderful work on behalf of those that are vulnerable,” the bishop said.
“We were born into a family of immigrants and our lives have been centered around the church,” said Bernadette Buccini. “Faith, family and community. Those are the ideals we try to live by.”