Hampton,

Domenic Vittorini, 85, (LTC U.S. Army Ret.) passed away on Friday, October 5, 2018.  Born in Ripa Fagnano Alto, Italy, to Gaetano and Ida, he has been a resident of Hampton for 42 years.

After Gaetano spent many years working in the United States, he sent for his family. Domenic, his brother Alfeo, his sister Fausta, and his mother, all immigrated in 1946 and settled in Gary, Indiana.

Domenic who was 13 years old and knew no English, attended St. Emerics Catholic School and then Froeber High School where he graduated in the top 10% of his class. He met his beautiful wife, Shirley while in high school. In 1953, Domenic was drafted into the U.S. Army, completing his Basic Combat Training at Fort Breckenridge, KY.  He was then discharged in order to attend Officer Candidate School in  Fort Benning, GA.  His first assignment as an officer was at Fort Bragg, NC as a Platoon Leader of an infantry regiment.

Domenic retired from the U.S. Army in 1982 after 29 years.  He then worked Civil Service at HQ TRADOC at Ft. Monroe as a Supervisory GS-14 Management Analyst. He retired a second time in December, 1994.  Throughout his distinguished career, Domenic was the recipient of numerous decorations and awards, including the Expert Infantryman Badge, Combat Infantry Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Staff Service Medal First Class, Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class, the Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star Medal.

Domenic was also a grandfather three times over and his "grandpa skills" were awesome!  He taught his grandsons, Grahame, Kyle, and Connor, about all his favorite things, including archery, and there were trips to the zoo, Bluebird Gap Farm, and the dinosaur exhibit. Domenic was always there to give advice and support to his children and grandchildren and family was always very important to him.

He was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Hampton.

Surviving are his wife of 61 years, Shirley L. Vittorini; children, Mark P. Vittorini, Darian G. Vittorini (Annikken), Alesia A. Vittorini and Janine C. Franklin (George); and three grandchildren, Grahame, Kyle and Connor.

The family will receive friends from 5:30-7:00 PM Wednesday, October 10, 2018, at Berceuse Funeral and Cremation Traditions in Hampton.  A Funeral Mass will be celebrated by Rev. John Grace at 11:00 AM Thursday, October 11, 2018 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 2150 Cunningham Dr. in Hampton.  Interment with full military honors will be 3:00 PM Thursday at Albert G. Horton Jr Memorial Veterans Cemetery.

Arrangements are by Berceuse Funeral and Cremation Traditions, 2609 Cunningham Dr. in Hampton, 757-825-8070.