Dominick A. DeSimone

SCHENECTADY – Dominick A. DeSimone, lifelong educator, 84, passed away peacefully on January 12, 2018 after a short illness. Dominick was born on March 8, 1933, in Schenectady, a son of the late Domenick and Helen (Lena) Venditti DeSimone. He graduated from Nott Terrace High School, class of 1951. He honorably served his country in the US Army from 1956-1958. Dom earned his Bachelor of Science Degree from Syracuse University in 1956; his Master of Education at SUNY Oneonta in 1960; and his Doctorate of Education from SUNY Albany in 1975. Dom started his long tenure as an educator with the Shenendehowa and Schalmont School Districts, before becoming a Business Administrator at Schalmont and Cobleskill Central School Districts. With his passion for education, Dom took a position as an Associate in Educational Facility Planning with the NYS Education Department in Albany, retiring in 1990. He owned and operated his own consulting business, Educational Facility Planners until 2015, during which time he consulted with Glynn, Spillane, Griffing Architects, Turner Construction and his last significant consulting project; the renovation of Niskayuna Central School district facilities. Dom enjoyed classical music, (especially Beethoven); sailing; his weekly lunch date at Katie O'Byrnes with the "Wednesday lunch bunch"; Syracuse football and basketball and his NY Yankees. Dom was a member of the Board of Directors of Joy Through Art; Torch Club International; Phi Delta Kappa; a former member of the; Italian American Community Center and its Scholarship Committee; Knights of Columbus; Kaydeross Sailing Club; and Syracuse Alumni Club of the Capital District. He was a lifelong communicant of St. Kateri Tekakwitha (formerly Our Lady of Fatima Parish). Of the many accolades Dom received throughout his life, he was most proud of his family, especially his granddaughter's talent and exceptional academic ability in her pursuit of a degree in music education. Dom is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Rita A. (Nicodemi) DeSimone; loving daughter and son-in-law, Michele T. and Frederick Shellard; cherished granddaughter, Alessandra M. Shellard; devoted sisters, Elizabeth A. DeSimone and Patricia C. DeSimone, all of Niskayuna. Also surviving are many cousins in the Capital Region, as well as in Pittsburgh, PA, Italy and France. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday at 10:30 am at St. Kateri Tekakwitha, 2216 Rosa Road. Interment will follow in St. Anthony's Cemetery, Glenville. Relatives and friends are invited to call at the Rossi & Ditoro Funeral Home, 501 Union Street on Monday from 4 to 6 pm. Memorial contributions may be made in Dom's memory to Community Hospice at www.communityhospice.org or the Joy Through Art Foundation, Inc., (a not for profit organization that brings music therapy and song to nursing home residents) 1441 Broadway, Suite 3090; New York, NY 10018

Dominick A. DeSimone

March 8, 1933 - January 12, 2018