Freezing temperatures and snow didn't stop friends and family from honoring local broadcasting legend Lewis Thomas D'Elia, known locally as Lew Dee, with a tree planting in McAlister Park.
He died in October after a battle with cancer. Saturday would have been his 80th birthday.
A red oak was planted in the city park that's named for Bill McAlister, who worked with Lew for many years.
Lew's widow chose the location. Diana D’Elia said, “He would love this. He talked about it on the air for years that he wanted a tree. He would have loved the fact that he'll have grandchildren and great grandchildren that can come out and look and sit under the tree.”
Lew's former business partner, fellow broadcaster, and current city councilman Paul Beane paid for the tree. “This is the beginning of what we hope will be a grove of trees at the Bill McAlister Park to honor Lew's memory,” Beane said.
