Dominick DiGregorio

Dominick DiGregorio, 72, died Nov. 29, 2011, at St. Francis Hospital, Federal Way, Wash.

A memorial service in his honor is at 2 p.m., March 10 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Bogard Road, Wasilla.

He was born Sept. 23, 1939, in Popoli, Italy, to Cesidio and Antonia (D’Ascenzo) DiGregorio.

He lived in Ossining, N.Y., and moved to Wasilla in 1976, where he lived with his wife and children.

Dominick served two years in the U.S. Army and was stationed at Fort Richardson from 1963 to 1965. He was a machinist, tool and dye maker, heavy equipment and truck mechanic, and a certified welder. He was a member of Local 137 AFLCIO Briarciff Manor, N.Y., until 1976, and worked for ARCO and BP for 19 years. His technical know-how went beyond mechanics and into skills such as carpentry and landscaping.

He enjoyed camping, fishing and hunting. His favorite pastime was bird watching. His rough exterior hid a very deeply kind and charitable nature. He would always make time to chat with friends and strangers alike, and was quick to lend a hand on projects or to share some meat or fish he had shot or caught. His close friends and family all liked to rib him to get him to drop his guard because that is when he was at his best — smiling, laughing and enjoying life.

Preceding him in death were his parents.

Surviving are his wife, Margherita (Margie) DiGregorio; daughter, Margherita; sons, Jesse DiGregorio and Dominick DiGregorio; brother, Frank DiGregorio; two granddaughters; two step-granddaughters; five nieces; and three nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org/alzwa or the Audubon Society.