Dino Dominici

Racine – Dino Dominici, age 82, beloved husband of the late Grace Dominici, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Friday, February 14, 2014. 

Dino and his wife, Grace, are best known as long time owners of Dino’s Restaurant in Racine who retired the business in July 2013 after operating it for 58 years. Dino was a very hard working and dedicated husband, father and grandfather. He is fondly remembered for his remarkable sense of humor making people laugh all the time. He truly loved joking around and telling stories, many of them about his adventurous childhood growing up in Italy with his mother during WWII while his father was breaking ground for their arrival in the USA. He can be remembered for many things, above all, his generosity not only to his family, but many others as well.  He taught and encouraged a strong work ethic and values to both his children and seven grandchildren. 

Dino was born in Rosaria, fraction of Ascoli Piceno Italy, on July 21st, 1931 to the late Petro and Rosalie (ne: Ticchiarelli) Dominici. He came to the United States in 1948 and proudly served his newly adopted country during the Korean Conflict where is first discovered his passion for the kitchen and cooking, but not before graduating from Washington Park High School in 1950. Six years later, on April 24th 1954, he married the love of his life Grace, also from Italy, at Holy Rosary Church – Kenosha. 

Together, Dino and Grace opened their first restaurant on February 17, 1955.The original "DINO'S" was located at 1816 16th St and over the years this modest establishment, with ten stools and one table for two, turned into a historical restaurant landmark. Dino added delivery service in 1959, beginning a 54-year tradition that delivered the first piping hot foods in heated ovens to your door. You could always find Dino in the restaurant  either cooking in the kitchen or out in the dining room personally making sure all his guests were happy and of course getting a chuckle or two out of them too. Over the years, Dino has been recognized by groups within and outside the restaurant industry. He was elected President of the Southeast Chapter of the Wisconsin Restaurant Association. In 1982, Dino was given the "Golden Key Award" in recognition of his activity in the economic growth of the Racine area. His colleagues named Dino "Restaurateur of the Year" in 1980 for his outstanding achievement in the restaurant business. And in 1985, Dino was again elected President of the WRA. Dino was given the "Real Seal" Award from the Wisconsin Dairy Association for serving 100% dairy products in his restaurant. Dino was a member of various local organizations. 

Most recently he was proud to support the Racine Police Department with their new 16th St Community Oriented Policing House.  Dino proudly donated food to volunteers and after school programs. He was always active in giving back to the community. In 2011, he helped organize an event to support Julian Thomas School and Safe Haven of Racine. Over the years, he was proud to make hundreds of gallons of his famous spaghetti sauce that supported many fundraisers including the “Wednesday Optimist Club” and “The Miracle on 16th St.” His generosity went far beyond his neighborhood. He was loved by so many in the community.   Together with members of his family who worked with him, were active supporters of “We Are Racine”. On the night of the Jacato fire, Dino made sure the first responders and residents were taken care of with a “truck load” of pizzas and sodas. In June of 2012, Dino with the support friends and family made and donated picnic tables for W.A.R.  His Family will continue there support in Dino and Grace’s Honor. Since 1955, Dino has believed in serving the best quality food, and that without your support and the help of his family, none this would have been possible. 

Surviving Dino are his children, Rosalie (Jim) Ferderer of Racine; Vivian (Leopoldo Sacripanti) Dominici of Fano, Italy; and Peter A. Dominici of Racine; grandchildren, Michael J. David J. and Amanda Rose Ferderer; Michelle and Jacqueline Sacripanti; Nika M. and Dino J. Dominici; and his only brother, Leonardo Dominici living in Fano, Italy. Also survived by many dear friends, employees and customers.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Richard of Chichester Catholic Church, 1503 Grand Avenue, on Wednesday, February 19, 2014 at 11:00 am with Fr. Ron Gramza officiating. Entombment, with military honors, will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Tuesday from 4:00 – 7:00 pm (Roma Lodge ritual offered at 6:00 pm) and in the church Wednesday from 10:00 – 11:00 am.  In memory of Dino, memorials to St. Richard’s Parish or to the Dominici family have been suggested. 

A heartfelt note of thanks to the entire staffs of Wheaton Franciscan Hospice and Hospice Alliance for the compassionate care and loving support given in Dino’s time of need. May God bless all of you!