DOVER, N.J. – Railroader, editor, and writer Michael Del Vecchio, 63, died Thursday, Aug. 31, after a lengthy battle with cancer. He is best known as an associate editor at Railfan Magazine, and later at the industry publication Railway Age.
Prolific at any endeavor he set his mind to, his booming voice and New Jersey accent could have made him a shoo-in as a voice coach for fictional mob boss Tony Soprano.
He was born Michael Joseph Del Vecchio, Jr. — he said he was actually the III, but his grandfather didn’t have a middle name – on July 29, 1960, in Dover, N.J. He moved to Baltimore in 1979 only to return home on the weekends to do construction jobs at his high school. He soon returned to stay.
Del Vecchio became interested in railroading at about the same time he started learning photography. Soon after he could be found exploring the local rail yard with camera in hand. Joining the Dover Fire Department in 1978, he saw a state photographer set up a tripod and paint with light at the scene of an auto accident.
More than the shutter clicked with him that evening. He noted having the shutter open was a good way to control shadows. Further inspiration to do night photography came from watching the TV show Hogan’s Heroes and how light was used in its portrayal of night scenes.
Throughout the next few years, Del Vecchio packed his Heiland flash gun and No. 2 flashbulbs wherever he went.
A chance meeting with Howard Pincus got him involved with the Tri-State Chapter of the National Railroad Historical Society. Ultimately, he became the president of the chapter during his 27-year relationship with it. He was instrumental in getting numerous excursions off the ground and as well as preserving equipment. The writing bug bit him and he soon signed up for the NRHS chapter’s journal editor’s job.
Weekly get-togethers with other fans routinely turned into slide shows. He already knew Railfan Editor Jim Boyd who was a regular. The latter came to a meeting one night with printer’s proofs of the latest issue of Railfan & Railroad, and asked Del Vecchio to look at it. Boyd soon offered him the job as the fledgling magazine’s first associate editor.
Del Vecchio soon became fully immersed in the many facets of editing, cropping photos, and layout, along with Boyd and associate editor Bruce Kelly. While on staff, he took great pride in being one of the instigators of the 50th anniversary celebration at General Motors’ Electro-Motive Division.
In 1996 he jumped to the associate editor position at Railway Age, which included the job of engineering editor at Railway Track & Structures. The commute was too much, however, and he went freelance, which paid off when he was writing marketing brochures for the Morristown & Erie Railway.
He soon found himself as an M&E trainman, and earned qualification through NJ Transit. He also found himself working with movie companies looking for technical advice on productions that included Rocket Boys, Fried Green Tomatoes, and True Lies.
He was on the job when he saw aircraft hit the first of the two World Trade Center towers on Sept. 11, 2001.
Del Vecchio was once asked what made him so enthusiastic about everything he did.
“It’s just the way I’m wired,” he said. “I just love what I’m doing. I’m having gobs of fun.”
He is survived by his wife, Christina.
Services are pending.
Really sorry to read of Mr. Del Vecchio’s passing. He was part of a great Boyd-led trio of editors for a decade at R&R. A real loss.
A huge loss for all, RIP
I am going to miss bumping into Mike at railroad shindigs where I’d say, “Where’s the party?” And his stunned response of, “You came all the way here for this?” The railfan AND railroad community have lost another great treasure and a great fan of the DL&W. Sic transit gloria mundi.
Thanks Mike and Trains!
A true loss to the industry, its fans, and the world.
Our loss. I think of the pictures that we won;t see because he passed away too soon. Saw great photos of his in R & R.
Mike was a great guy who deserved a great obit, and you gave him one, Dave. We’ll all miss Mike.