Dominick Ferrandino

SHARON — Dominick Ferrandino, 90, better known as “Dominick the Tailor� of Brooklyn, N.Y., died peacefully at home on Jan. 1, 2010, after a long battle with emphysema, while his devoted wife, Rita (Assante) Ferrandino was making lasagna.

Born on Sept. 23, 1919, in Ischia, Italy (near Naples), he was the son of the late Maria (DiMeglio) Rifugia Ferrandino and Peter Ferrandino.

At the age of 11, he started working as an apprentice in tailoring men’s clothing. He came to the United States at the age of 15 in 1935 with only a fifth-grade education and his tailoring skills.

He was drafted into the U.S. Army in August 1941; there he learned to speak English and play poker. He served at Fort Dix, N.J., Fort Bragg, N.C., Fort Jackson, S.C., Fort Sill, Okla., and Camp Gordon, Ga.

He became a U.S. citizen in England, the day before he was to land on Utah Beach in Normandy, France. His platoon was responsible for laying down the lines of communications for the Allied forces.

Dominick participated in the Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge), Central Europe, Normandy, Northern France and Rhineland battles as part of the 196th Field Artillery. On the day the Allies liberated Paris, he was riding in the back of a truck when an old French woman came up to him, kissed his hand, and cried, “Merci, Merci!�

After the war, he went back to Italy and married Rita Assante on Jan. 7, 1951. He returned to the U.S. and started his family and his tailoring business.

Dominick “The Tailor� worked and served his community at 317 Smith St. in Brooklyn from 1950 to 1990. During this time, he learned to read and write English by helping his children with their homework.

He was a parishioner and usher at St. Agnes Roman Catholic Church for many years.

He enjoyed gardening, and cultivated his fig tree with love and attention. As an immigrant, he was proud of having the privilege of voting and never missed the opportunity to do so, be it a local or national election. He began smoking while in the army, and quit 40 years ago, always encouraging people to never start and to stop if they did smoke.

In addition to his wife, Rita, of 59 years, he is survived by a son, John, and his wife, Carolyn, of San Juan, Puerto Rico; a daughter, Mary, and her husband, Richard, of Sharon; a son, Peter, of Brooklyn; five grandchildren, Stephanie, Saxon, John-Carlos, Elizabeth and Meredith; and many nieces and nephews in both the U.S. and Italy.

His granddaughter, Katherine, predeceased Dominick 26 years ago.

Donations in his memory may be made to the American Lung Association.

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