We mourn the loss of Domenic (Dom) A. Viccari, who enriched our lives with his love, dedication and service to the community that shall endure for generations to come. It is said that the good steward is the one who receives God’s gifts with gratitude, cultivates them responsibly, shares them, and then returns them with an increase to the Lord. Dom treated all of life as the consummate gardener that he was. He planted seeds in both people and projects, tended and nurtured them along the way until they produced an abundance of fruits to be shared by many.
Domenic entered this world on December 14, 1932 as a gift from God and returned to God on April 11, 2022.
Dom was one of fifteen children, growing up during the Great Depression and WWII in Ellwood City. His parents, the late Damiano “Domenic” and Brigida Lopiano Viccari, had emigrated from Italy to “the great country of America.” He carried those early life lessons with him throughout his entire life. On May 29, 1999 he married his inspiration and soul mate, Mary Ann (Fleo) Viccari. Together, they extended their immediate family to include Domenic’s grandsons, Michael and Dylan Viccari who survive their grandfather.
Growing up, Dom worked many after school and weekends jobs, among them as a pin-setter at the Shelby, a grocery store employee, a newspaper delivery boy, and a grounds keeper for a landlord who owned several cottages along the Connoquenessing Creek. He also worked at National Plumbing in his senior year of high school until 11 pm, all the while assisting his father tend acres of gardens to help his family through the burdens of the Great Depression.
Dom is a 1951 honors graduate of Lincoln High School. He attended Geneva College and Youngstown University, where he studied advertising, economics and business administration.
A veteran of the U.S. Army, he was stationed at Ft. Bragg, NC in 1953 for basic training. He was assigned to the 540th Field Artillery HQ at Ft. Bragg, NC, then to Ansbach, Germany, serving in the 18th Field Artillery Group HQ as Acting Operations Sgt. He received the Army of Occupation Medal, the Germany, National Defense Service Medal, and Outstanding Achievement Award while studying at Ft. Jackson, S.C.
Dom was employed at the Ellwood City Ledger for over 52 years in Sales & Marketing and as Advertising Director and Promotions Manager. Concurrently, Dom served 18 years (four 4-year terms and one 2-year term) on Ellwood City Borough Council. He served as Ellwood City Borough Manager from May 22, 2006 until August 23, 2013.
In connection with his tenure as advertising director, Dom served as a former director of the Interstate Advertising Managers Assn; a member of the International Advertising and Marketing Executives Committee; a member of the Pennsylvania Newspaper Publishers Assn program committee; and editor of the IAMA Bulletin. He also chaired three Total Marketing Seminars for Pennsylvania newspaper members in Harrisburg. He was the winner of the IAMA Best Retail Advertising Campaign in 1967, winner of the Ed Mac Hirsch Award for largest national lineage increase in 1966.
Throughout his time at the Ellwood City Ledger, on Borough Council and as Borough Manager, Dom fought for fairness, economic development, and for fiscal and government responsibility. During his tenure as Borough Manager, he helped secure millions of dollars in grant funding for community development, housing rehabilitation, business and economic development.
To list all the accomplishments and enhancements that Dom Viccari has secured for Ellwood City would take nothing less than a small novel. Dom fought for his city his entire life. He continually worked for what was best for the community and relentlessly spoke out about those who did not.
Dom was the President of the Ellwood City Economic Development Authority and the Ellwood City Borough Planning Commission. He also served on the Lawrence County Planning Commission. He created a brochure detailing the history, deterioration and closing of the bridges in and around Ellwood City. He led a contingent to a Harrisburg, meeting with the chairperson of PennDOT which resulted in the Fifth St Bridge being placed on the priority list within six months.
He was quick to lead and then step back, allowing others to continue his projects. Dom was founder of “Christmas in the Park,” the Ellwood City Men’s Slow Pitch Softball League, and the Ellwood City Girls Slow Pitch Softball League., He instituted the “Share the Harvest” Gardens at the Holy Redeemer Food Ministry, where produce is grown and donated to the food bank. Dom began the first “Earth Day” celebration in Ewing Park. In 1980, Dom conducted a three-day promotion to boost businesses in downtown which gave birth to Arts, Crafts, Food Festival and then served as a volunteer board member for 35 years. Through Dom’s efforts he brought the Vietnam replica of “The Moving Wall” to Ellwood City in 2009 and it is again planned for 2022.
He was especially proud of his ability to rally the community and always grateful for their generous response to his initiatives. He took pride in the Community Center project, through which his committee was able to pay off the debt and re-open the Center. Because of his efforts, the $13,000 mortgage, held by Bell Memorial was eliminated.
When the late Adam Scoccia came to council to urge them to clean up what is now the Nature Trail, it was Dom who took the lead. He recruited the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Lawrence County Vo-Tech students, as well as other concerned individuals to work together to restore the site. The Ellwood City Nature Trail is now a “treasured asset” as Dom liked to call it, which council dedicated to him for his efforts.
His leadership talents are exemplified in the beauty of the park as it exists today: spring blossoming memorial trees, flower beds and gardens, kiosks, shade trees, shelter restorations, new wrought iron gates bollards, handicap parking at each shelter, the paved entrances and parking areas, attractive guard rails, benches, and the restoration of Trefoil Lodge.
Dom has been the recipient of many awards in his civic and professional life: Jaycees Young Man of the Year Award, 2005 Distinguished Service Award, Lawrence County Conservation Award, Best Advertising Campaign Award from the Interstate Advertising Managers Assn and the David Knipe Award from the PA Newspaper Publishers Award.
It was easy for Dom to see the face of God in others, especially those who were shunned. He always reached out to those in need, which motivated him to found the “Share the Harvest” community gardens at the Holy Redeemer Ministry Food Bank. It was his strong desire that family and friends forgive one another as he often sought to bring about peace. He was a very spiritual man who recognized that his own crosses were lightened by the Cross of Christ. He found daily quiet time for prayer and reflection from which he drew his strength, especially after the deaths of his three sons. He felt especially close to God through nature. We celebrate the lessons and giving of himself that Dom modeled for us which are his true legacy.
The number of people that regard Dom as a friend is too large to count. His loyalty was unshakable.
Dom was a member of Holy Redeemer Parish, Ellwood City Italian American Heritage Foundation, Ellwood City Area Historical Society, Ellwood City Library Board, VFW, American Legion Post 157, All Aboard Ellwood, Lawrence County Planning Commission, Economic Development Authority and numerous other boards and memberships.
Dom is survived by his grandchildren: Michael and Dylan Viccari, Timothy (Stephanie) Viccari, Domenic (Laura) Viccari, Brianne (Timothy “TJ”) Hervatine, Katrina Winters, Christian Winterbottom, and his two great-grandchildren: Abigail Viccari, and Lilianna Viccari, daughters-in-law: Tammy Viccari, Valerie Viccari and Darlene Cragle and hundreds of nieces and nephews.
He is also survived by his sisters: Rosemarie Moser of Franklin Twp., Jean Cummings, and Donna Rickert of Ellwood City, and his brother, Donald (Sondra) Viccari of Ellwood City, and sister-in-law, Delida Viccari.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his sons Mark A. Viccari, Michael J. Viccari and Martin W. Viccari, his sisters and brothers-in-law: Mary (Andy) Fabian, Elizabeth LaCava, Antoinette Poerio, Viola (Domenic) Mine and his brothers and sisters-in-law: Anthony (Angie), Philip (Connie), Patrick, Ralph (Jeanette), Frank, and Bobby (Patty). Brothers-in-laws: William Moser, Ron Cummings, Joseph Rickert, Domenic Sayers.
Family and friends will be received on Monday, April 18th from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at Joseph A. Tomon Jr. Funeral Home and Crematory, 97 Grim Ave, Ellport.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, April 19th at 11 a.m. at the Holy Redeemer Church with the Very Rev. Kris D. Stubna, presiding . Interment will follow at the Holy Redeemer Cemetery.
Dom’s vision was the leading force in securing McDonald’s Restaurant to locate in Ellwood City. In honor of his civic contributions to the community, local McDonald’s owner, Paul Sweeney, provided the funding for a scholarship endowment for graduates of Lincoln and Riverside in 2014.
Memorial contributions in Domenic’s name may be made to “The Domenic A. Viccari-McDonalds of Ellwood City Scholarship Fund” c/o Beaver County Foundation, PO Box 569, Beaver, PA 15009.
Other memorial contributions may be made to The Holy Redeemer Social Services, 415 4th St, Ellwood City, PA or any local organization of which Dom was a member.
A most loving , Pious & devoted man. Someone I loved & was honored to call him my Cousin.
I will miss him dearly.
Carlo Dozzi