Gilbert DiNello was a member of both houses of the Michigan Legislature between 1979 and 1994. Born in 1935, DiNello earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Detroit and began a career in real estate. Beginning his political career as a precinct delegate, DiNello was elected to the state House in 1972 where he served three terms and was known as a suburban Detroit conservative Democrat. In 1978, he was elected to the Senate. DiNello suffered a heart attack at the Somerset Collection in Troy and was pronounced dead on arrival at Beaumont Hospital. He was 61.