Louis DiLalla passed away on August 7, 2021, in Chesapeake. He was born in 1927 in Rochester, N.Y., the youngest child of Giovannina Bellucca and Luigi Di Lalla. He served in the Navy during World War II, always cherishing the memory of saluting President Truman and exchanging hellos as they both enjoyed a stroll in Washington. He attended Heidelberg College on the GI Bill and then moved to Charleston, S.C., for an internship at the Dock Street Theatre. There he met his wife of 63 years, the late Barbara Ross DiLalla, and began a joyous run of acting, singing, and directing that would last for the rest of his life. After an early career teaching high school English and theater, he moved his family to Virginia in 1967, becoming the longtime manager of Western Auto at Southside Plaza. As he and Barbara raised their children in Chester, he devoted many happy hours to performing and directing in community and semi-professional theater, including the John Rolfe Players, Swift Creek Mill Playhouse, and Theatre IV. Fondly known as “Scapino” following his portrayal of that lovable rogue in the play of the same name, he was an incorrigible ham to the end. Late in life he became an avid traveler in Italy, where he was honored by the mayor of his parents’ hometown of Melfi, embraced his Bellucca and Di Lalla cousins, made dear friends, and sang and danced to great applause everywhere he went. He is cherished and will be missed by his children, Deborah DiLalla White (David), Donna DiLalla Kain (Don), David DiLalla (Lisabeth), Richard Ross DiLalla (Ann), and Jennifer DiLalla (Kent Carter); his sister Carmella Petrillo; his grandchildren, Rachel and Jeffrey White; Kevin, Brian, Betsy, and Katie Kain; Matt and Shaina DiLalla; and Aric, Alex, James, Elizabeth, and Emma DiLalla; his 12 great-grandchildren; a host of nieces and nephews; and many friends. A celebration of his life will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 11, at Maymont Park’s 1000 Westover Modern, 1001 Spottswood Road; the family asks that everyone attending wear a mask. The family would be grateful for memorial donations to community theater groups.