Harry William Dilmore

He was an indispensable presence in local municipal government since the mid 1970s known for his affable nature, out-of-the-box thinking, and deep dedication to his community. But he was also an unabashed family man, a devoted son, husband, father, and grandfather who was as fulfilled taking in the Pittsburgh Pirates home opener as he was calling a council meeting to order with a playful rap of his gavel.

Harry William Dilmore, 73, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Sunday, April 6, 2025. Born to Harry J. Dilmore and Ruth L. Dilmore (Froehlich) in Avalon on December 9, 1951, Harry graduated in 1969 from the former Avalon High School. The first of his family to attend college, he earned a bachelor’s degree in 1973 from Wheeling College (now University) where he excelled in rugby, acted in student plays, and immersed himself in the music and literature of the counterculture era.

At just twenty-four years of age in 1975, Mr. Dilmore was appointed to fill the term of Avalon councilmember Gus Sefick who died in office. This role offered him an opportunity to work alongside his father Harry J., who was concluding the last of his record three terms as Avalon’s mayor (1965-1977). Dilmore married his college sweetheart Christine Elizabeth Ryan of Mt. Lebanon, in 1976. The loving and steadfast couple welcomed three children by the mid-1980s as Dilmore was soon elected Council President. A self-described ‘wallpaper guy’ he ran a successful interior decorating business well into the 1990s, bringing unparalleled craftsmanship to the city’s most vaunted personal homes and cultural institutions. And when he wasn’t climbing a scaffold, he was hitting the road with his family—travelling to far flung events like the Olympic Games in Atlanta and celebrating ‘Y2K’ in New York City’s Times Square.

In July of 2001, Dilmore’s political avocation proudly became his full-time gig. As Borough Manager of Avalon—a position he would hold for the next 15 years— Harry spearheaded municipal projects that melded the community’s past, present, and future. He combined administrative duties with Kilbuck Township whilst providing public and fire services to Emsworth, Ben Avon, and Ben Avon Heights. With the help of friend and colleague, State Representative David J. Mayernik, he secured the seven-figure grant dollars needed to build a new Municipal Building and transform a former Christian Science Church into the stunning Avalon Public Library. Dilmore would then serve as Township Manager and Secretary for Kilbuck—helping the community recover $124 million dollars in the aftermath of a landslide on the proposed site of a Walmart—and enjoyed an interim stint as Oakmont’s manager until his retirement.

At their December 21, 2022 meeting, the Quaker Valley Council of Governments unanimously approved an honorary proclamation recognizing Mr. Harry Dilmore for his over six decades of public service, duly praising (his) ‘institutional knowledge and exuberant stories.’

Mr. Dilmore is survived by his wife of forty-nine years, Christine. He also leaves behind son Matthew R. Dilmore of Hollywood, California, daughter Molly R. Dilmore, son-in-law Jeffrey C. and two granddaughters Jude E. and Maris R. Kanof of Tacoma, Washington, and brother Gary M. Dilmore of Rostraver, Pennsylvania. Friends received from 2 to 4pm and 6 to 8pm on Friday April 11th, 2025 at the McDonald-Linn Funeral Home, 529 California Avenue, Avalon, www.mcdonald-linn.com. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11am on Saturday April 12th at Assumption Roman Catholic Church-Regina Coeli Parish, Bellevue.

Donations can be made in Harry’s name and honor to the Avalon Public Library https://aclalibraries.org/explore/library-finder/avalon-public-library/.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Harry William Dilmore, please visit our floral store.