Dominick J. Giovinazzo

September 24, 2016
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   Dominick J. “Dom” Giovinazzo, 77, of Nashua, retired executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Nashua, passed away Saturday morning, September 24, 2016 at the Community Hospice House in Merrimack after a brief illness. 

    Born in Glen Cove, New York on January 15, 1939, he was one of eight children of the late Angelo and Mary Lucy (Longo) Giovinazzo. Dom grew up on Long Island, NY and graduated from Glen Cove High School. He earned a Bachelor’s degree from Utah State University Class of 1961. An Army veteran, Mr. Giovinazzo served with the 1st Guard Company in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas from June 1962 to June 1968.

    Following his military service, Dom served as the Director of the South Omaha, Nebraska Boys Club for a few years. In January of 1971, Dom came to Nashua where he was the first executive director of the Boys Club of Nashua and later the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Nashua until his retirement in 1999.

    Dom was a communicant of the Parish of the Resurrection and was a member of the Nashua Rotary Club West. He was a loving and devoted husband and father and was an avid golfer.

    Members of his family include his wife, Elizabeth A. “Liz” (D’Urso) Giovinazzo; his four children, Rocky Giovinazzo and his partner Michael Paquette, Deborah Giovinazzo, Erica Giovinazzo and Michael Giovinazzo; two grandchildren, Emily and Connor; four sisters and two brothers, Teresa DiLeo and her husband John, Marie Wolfle, Angelo Giovinazzo and his wife Carol, Katherine Battaglia, Frank Giovinazzo and his wife Debbie, and Phyllis Morrissey; also many nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to his parents, Dom was predeceased by a brother, Louis Giovinazzo.

     SERVICES: The family will receive relatives and friends on Wednesday morning, September 28th from 9 to 10:45 a.m. at the Parish of the Resurrection, 449 Broad Street, Nashua followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 o’clock. Donations may be made in his memory to the Community Hospice House, 7 Executive Park Drive, Merrimack, NH 03054 or to the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Nashua, 47 Grand Avenue, Nashua, NH 03060. Arrangements are in the care of the FARWELL FUNERAL SERVICE, 18 Lock Street, Nashua. (603) 882-0591. www.farwellfuneral.com

27 Comments on Dominick J. Giovinazzo

dominic giovinazzo said : Guest Report Dec 25, 2018 at 7:19 PM

Hi my name is also dominic giovinazzo. I'm 96 years old . I was born in Reggio Calabria. Came to Ohio in 1930. I was in ww2. An other Dominic Giovinazzo was killed in the war and an article about him mixed us up..I'm sorry read about your loss. I'm proud of him and his accomplishments. I'm in the recent news about the battle of the bulge under (dominic giovinazzo bazzoka man)

Chucky Doyle said : Guest Report Oct 02, 2016 at 6:39 PM

I will always love Dominick and just thinking about him brings a smile to my face. Dom is a one is one in a million guy who made everyone around him feel good just by being in his presence. I know I speak for all of my Boys Club football teammates and coaches by saying Dominick made us all better people. He was truly selfless and lived to see all of his boys compete as hard as we could and develop into the men we could be. The ultimate role model, mentor and friend, a guy who gets a speed pass right into heaven! We love you Dom!

Martha Norris-Roger said : Guest Report Oct 01, 2016 at 9:14 AM

Dearest Liz, it is with a very heavy heart that I am writing this. Dom has had a special place in my heart since the first day you arrived in Nashua...I am so sorry for your loss but I pray you will have peace knowing he has gone home to be with our Lord. He was always there for me and the family...good times and bad..it has been my privalage to call him friend. I will cherish his smile, his energy, his compassion ,his love for his family, and his dedication to the Boys club/girls and boys club. I loved seeing him in Florida when he came....my prayers Liz to you and the family...rest in peace Dom...l love you

John Varney said : Guest Report Sep 30, 2016 at 6:58 AM

Dominick was special, very special! If you ever had the pleasure of time spent with Rocky, "Movie Star" Deborah, Erica, Michael, or Liz they were a true testament to the man he was and he treasured them. But for Dom it didn't stop there. Dom had a vision and he was going to implement it. Dom made people feel good about themselves! Beginning with Roger, Dick, and Steve, Dom affirmed their belief that young people should be valued. He developed and refined that culture all the way through to Norm and Curt into a fifth decade of helping people feel good about themselves. That was Dom's mantra for his club and no one did it better. Dom made a difference and he made it every day. Many, many thanks, Dom! God bless you. You will be forever remembered.

Melinda said : Guest Report Sep 29, 2016 at 9:47 PM

Dear Giovinazzio family, I was so sad to learn about the passing of your beloved Dominick. The loss of a loved one is never easy. But the Bible has so much comfort for us. An especially encouraging scripture is Revelation 21:4. Here Jehovah God promises that death will soon be no more along with the suffering it causes. I know your family is hurting now but I hope you will find some comfort from this wonderful promise found in the Bible. For more information please go to jw.org. Sincerely, Melinda

Joanne & Larry Goodwin said : Guest Report Sep 29, 2016 at 9:21 PM

Our condolences go out to Liz Giovinazzo and their children, Rocky, Debra, Michael, Erica and his grandchildren: Emily and Connor and to the D'Urso family for the loss of such a great husband and dad. Having lived next door to them for 40 years we had the pleasure of many funny stories over the fence. We will never forget his kindness and dedication to the job he liked best, "The Boys Club", Peace be with you Dominic.

Bob Bowman said : Guest Report Sep 29, 2016 at 1:04 PM

To the Giovinazzo Family: Please accept my condolences on Dominick's passing. His passing is a great loss to everyone whose life he touched. When the opening of the First Boys Club in Nashua happened back in the 70’s, I was one of the first boys, along with the Moriarty boys Dan and Frank to join the club. Dom coming from Omaha really stuck out in my mind for some reason. It was like why someone would come to Nashua to open a Boys Club? Boggled my young mind. Anyway one night after the club had closed some friends of mine and I went into the club to do some games and to see if we could get extra product from the vending machine. Well Dom came back to the club and we fled like no one’s business. But somehow I was one of the kids who got caught. Not at that time but the next day. To this day I do not know how he found out I was one of them who got into the club that night. It was Dom who decided not to press charges but to instead help me focus on other life paths. This is the person Dom was. And at that point I figured out why he came to Nashua. Not for me but for all Nashua kids. To give them something to do that was healthy and good. To be able to socialize in a safe place and make many new friend. I saw Dom do so many wonderful things for Nashua. He will be greatly missed.

Lt Col (R) Michael Stylianos, US Army said : Guest Report Sep 29, 2016 at 9:25 AM

To the Giovinazzo Family: Please accept my heartfelt condolences on Dominick's passing. I was one of the first young men in Nashua (Boy's Club membership card #005) to benefit from his vision and commitment to the youth of the city, and still have fond memories of the countless hours spent at the original Boy's Club facility across from Simoneau Plaza on Main Street. While it has been more than forty years since I last spoke with Dom, his gentle guidance, kindness, and faith have never been forgotten. May you find comfort in knowing that his light will continue to shine in the many lives he has touched during his time on Earth.

Martha Ouellette Cudd said : Guest Report Sep 28, 2016 at 2:17 PM

I am saddened to hear of your great loss. I worked for Dominick on a work study program in the early years of the Nashua Boys Club on Main Street. From the moment one met Dominick, you knew you were in the presence of one of God's great warriors. Dominick's love and commitment to the boys of the city was evident in everything he did. The world lost a great man! May your family receive the Peace that only God can give.

Philip Barney said : Guest Report Sep 27, 2016 at 10:09 PM

I first met Dominick at his official announcement at the Holiday Inn in Nashua that he was bringing the Boys Club to Nashua. It was an old, very small two bedroom house on Main Street across from the IHOP. As part of getting folks interested in donating to the Club he would have small lunches with the "movers and shakers" of Nashua. He had me prepare 25 club sandwiches every week for what seemed like an eternity. Of course he got me to donate them every week. It isn't that Dominck was a remarkable man, he was more than that, he was a man amongst men. Kind, hard working, chearful, determined, loyal, funny, and loving. He would flash that smile and you knew he was just a real guy. He was willing to do anything to help the kids at all hours of the day or night for all his years of dedicated service. A role model, a father figure, a mentor to countless youth in Nashua who are now upstanding adults. Dom helped kids to learn to make the right decisions. Did all of them, no? Most of them, absolutely. Dominick taught me how to be a better father and a better man. For many years I would just emulate what I thought Dominick would do in a situation. Dominick has left us, but the world is so much more a better place by what he has taught us. Love, dignity, self belief, it just goes on. We need to go forward and celebrate his life everyday by making sure we treat others the way Dominck would have treated someone. He could walk with Kings and the Common Man, and never change being Dominick. I love you my brother. You taught me so much. I'll catch up with you on the 10th hole.

Lori Aponovich said : Guest Report Sep 27, 2016 at 6:34 PM

To the Giovinazzo family, I send my sincere condolences and prayers at this difficult time. To see Dominick's unparalleled service ethic, encouragement, and concern for others was to witness greatness. Thank you, Mr Giovinazzo, for all you have done for the youth of Nashua. It was a pleasure to work at your Club.

Ron Hadorn said : Guest Report Sep 27, 2016 at 2:35 PM

I will forever be thankful to Dom for the love of the the Boys & Girls Club movement that he inspired in me. I am grateful for his standard of excellence, for the many personal lessons that he taught me, for the way he encouraged me to grow in my career and most of all for the opportunity to know his warm and gentle spirit. My enduring memory of Dominick was the way he would just walk through the Nashua Club so full of joy and happiness for the kids that we all served and the way that his love just radiated to all of us. I can't begin to express how much we will miss Dom and how much he meant to everyone that was fortunate to be a part of his staff and guided by his example. I will continue to think of him often and do my best to reflect Dom's spirit in my ongoing work with our Clubs. Please know that you and all of your family are in my prayers.

Angelo D'Urso said : Guest Report Sep 27, 2016 at 1:47 PM

As I think of my Uncle Dominick, I am reminded of his great smile; love for Italian food ("Ang, have some peppers!"), his love of sports and, most of all, his love for family. He influenced my life, greatly, despite geographic constraints limiting our time together. I cannot express how thankful I am for his goodness. God bless to my Aunt Elizabeth, and cousins Rocky, Deborah, Erica and Michael.

Joe Panetta said : Guest Report Sep 27, 2016 at 11:32 AM

Sorry to hear that Dominick has passed away. I grew up with him and is family and would stay in contact with emails on a pretty regular basis. The last time we visited was when he stopped by our house in Glen Cove and he was preparing for a trip to Italy. My memories go back to when he was active in the Greenville Boy's Club in Locust Valley in the 1950's. Sorry to see him go and will miss our frequent emails that would back and forth on a regular basis. May his soul and all those who have departed rest in Peace

Art and Charlene Paquette said : Guest Report Sep 27, 2016 at 9:56 AM

Reading the accomplishments of and tributes for Mr. Giovinazzo, it is clear, he was an exceptional gentleman. Although we were not privileged to know him personally, we are grateful and blessed to have ties to his caring family. We pray for strength as you pass through this time of sorrow.

Brian Tremblay said : Guest Report Sep 27, 2016 at 9:52 AM

Dominick's spirit will surely live on through the lives of countless staff members and Club members who were mentored by his care and concern for others. So many Boys & Girls Club leaders of today are a tribute to the lasting impact Dominick will have on our youth for generations to come. His guidance and encouragement when I entered the world of resource development in 1991 made all the difference in my career direction at the Boys & Girls Club of Manchester. Our hearts and prayers go out to the Giovinazzo family.

Ron Brochu said : Guest Report Sep 26, 2016 at 8:00 PM

Dominick was an inspiration to so many. His easy going nature, positive spirit, and his passion to elevate those less fortunate was unequalled. I will never forget working with him on the first Great American Duck Race down the Nashua River. We canoed down the river searching for a good spot to catch all those ducks. I thought - this might be a disaster, he thought- this will be perfect! Of course, he was right and what fun we had with that event over the years. Dominick was also a skilled master at fundraising who always got what he asked for without being overbearing. His belief in the "cause" was so great and genuine that no donor could say no. I learned much from Dominick and was fortunate to have known him. Peace be with you my friend.

Paul Urbon said : Guest Report Sep 26, 2016 at 7:10 PM

Rest in Peace Dominick. My memories of our times together will always bring a smile to my face. He was the best father-in-Law in the entire world. Thank you for being so good to us, Your love for Emily and Connor and your family was truly an honor for me to be a part of. Elizabeth and Family, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Please accept my condolences and may our prayers comfort and ease the pain during this difficult time. R.I.P 'Papa' you are sorely missed.

Rich LaCount said : Guest Report Sep 26, 2016 at 5:24 PM

Dom was like a father to me and my brothers as children attending the boys club in nashua,I had the utmost respect for him as a child.He taught us all how to be good friends and neighbors.He was an inspiration in my life and will never be forgotten

Susan Normand said : Guest Report Sep 26, 2016 at 4:13 PM

Dominick will be missed by myself and many more. He was a great man and a wonderful individual. Elizabeth you and the family are in my thoughts and prayers.

Alda Moriarty said : Guest Report Sep 26, 2016 at 2:32 PM

I am deeply saddened to hear of Dominick's passing! He was a great friend and my husband and I loved him like family! My deepest condolences to family and friends.

Linda Moriarty said : Guest Report Sep 26, 2016 at 1:20 PM

I am so sorry for your great loss! Dominick was a wonderful man and will be missed by many! My heart goes out to all his family and friends.

Obie Barker said : Guest Report Sep 26, 2016 at 1:01 PM

I am sadden to learn of Dominick's passing, he was truly a legend in the Boys & Girls Club field. A mentor to many who left an imprint on many hearts. Rest in Peace my friend.

Denise King said : Guest Report Sep 26, 2016 at 11:54 AM

My heart goes out to the whole Giovinazzo family. I was lucky enough to not only have Dominick as a "boss" but most importantly as a friend. He was an important role model for so many kids and Boys & Girls Club professionals including myself. He was always willing to lend a helping had. Rest in Peace my friend.

Brian and Jean Skanes said : Guest Report Sep 26, 2016 at 11:25 AM

We were extremely sorry to hear of Dom's passing. He was a great man who had a tremendous impact on thousands of children. For those of us who knew "Nick" and his personal story we knew that he was always giving back to those less fortunate as a way of saying thanks to those who helped him. He lead by example and was an inspiration to many of us who followed his career path in serving children who needed a Boys & Girls Club. He was my life long mentor and friend. There will be no other like you !!!

Al Savage said : Guest Report Sep 26, 2016 at 11:08 AM

In 1971 I had the pleasure and honor to meet a very special man, who had a driving love for helping children, Dominick Giovinazzo. From that time on, my life as Chairman of the Nashua Elks Youth Committee and a co-owner of Nashua Beef Company with the late Larry Elliott, brought our lives together on many beneficial youth projects with Dominick Giovinazzo, the Executive Director of the Boys Club of Nashua. His warm and compassionate smile was always there to meet, greet and a burning desire to help the children of Nashua He did this and more and the seeds he planted in 1971 have grown and spread out with the help of the dedicated hands of many others to help thousands of children.. May God Bless Dominick with his warm and loving smile and his hands outstretched as he looks down upon us from heaven. Thank you Dominik for what you have done for all of us and the children of Nashua, New Hampshire.

Joe, Bonnie & Avery Hungler said : Guest Report Sep 26, 2016 at 10:25 AM

I am sorry sorry for the loss of a wonderful man. He was a great man and achieved many things, but what I will remember is his kindness and how much he loved life and those around him. He always was caring and genuinely wanted to know how you were doing. He and the entire family will be in our prayers.

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