Phyllis DeMarco, “First Lady of the ICL”, Passes Away at 97

Phyllis DeMarco, wife of longtime ICL President the late Les DeMarco passed away on July 14. She was considered the “First Lady of the ICL”. Mrs. DeMarco was instumental in the success of the league and was a regular figure at most Wakefield Merchants games. For years before the internet, Phyllis was the familar voice that took the game scores each night that were reported by the managers. She was always the cordial hostess when many ICL meetings were held over the years at the DeMarco home in Wakefield. A truly wonderful woman who will remembered and missed by the entire ICL community.

Mrs. DeMarco’s obituary is below. Her services were held on July 19.

Phyllis P. DeMarco, 97, a longtime Wakefield resident, passed away peacefully at home on July 14, 2026. She was born in Lynn on June 29, 1929, the daughter of the late Antonio and Anna (Cipriano) Stanco.

She was the beloved wife of the late Les DeMarco, longtime baseball coach of the Wakefield Merchants. For more than 50 years, she could be found at nearly every Merchants home game. She supported the team in countless ways, including making sure the players stayed hydrated during games and repairing uniforms afterward.

She enjoyed sharing homemade pizzelle with friends and neighbors. She also enjoyed spending time at the Wakefield Senior Center, especially playing bingo, taking trips to the casino, and enjoying seafood outings to Farnham’s. But more than anything, she treasured spending time with her family and her cherished friend, Diane Aiello.

She will be remembered for her generosity, quiet kindness, unwavering devotion to her family, and the many friendships she cultivated throughout her life.

Phyllis was the loving mother of Michael DeMarco and his wife Mary Ellen of Woburn, Sharon DeWyngaert and her husband Keith of Fair Haven, NJ, Susan Colson and her husband Jay of Belford, NJ, and Robert DeMarco and his wife Brenda of Middleton. She is survived by her eleven cherished grandchildren: Nicole Rideout and her husband Michael, Catherine DeWyngaert and her husband Finlay Boland, Lauren DeMarco and her husband Mateo Barbagelata, Christopher DeWyngaert, Alexandra DeWyngaert, Emilia DeWyngaert, Rachel DeMarco, Jessica DeMarco, Emily DeMarco and her fiancé Bryce Hewitt, Natalie Colson and Ian Colson. She is also survived by her two cherished great-grandchildren, Olivia and Madison Rideout, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Anthony Stanco.

Visiting hours were held at the McDonald Funeral Home in Wakefield on Sunday, July 19.