1923 – 2016

AUBURN — Dominick J. Ranucci, 93, formerly of 104 Davis Ave., Auburn, and a resident of the Woodlands Memory Care Facility in Lewiston for the past year, died at the Hospice House of Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice on Monday, Sept. 26.

Born in Harlem, N.Y., on Sept. 12, 1923, he was the son of Italian immigrants Giuseppe and Irena Fiorello Ranucci. Educated in Harlem and Bronx schools, he worked for many years as a draftsman for the Duralab Corp. in Brooklyn, designing laboratory furniture and equipment.

In 1948, he married Marie Abbattista and they had a daughter, Irene. Marie passed away young from leukemia. In 1952, Dom married Elsie Roenbeck, of Lynbrook, Long Island, N.Y., and they had three daughters and three sons. In 1969, they bought a camp in Hartford and enjoyed their summers in Maine so much that in 1976 they moved to Hodgdon, and owned and operated Ranucci’s Market until 1983. That year they moved to Auburn, and Dom went to work as a draftsman for Modern Woodcrafts, and then as a realtor for Century 21 before retiring.

Besides his technical drawings, he loved to paint watercolor seascapes, and had several showings of his work in towns across southern Maine. He also enjoyed listening to music, singing, telling jokes and socializing. At 81 years old, he visited his ancestral home of Naples, Italy, with two of his sons and a granddaughter.

Besides his loving wife, Elsie of Auburn, he is survived by three sons, Michael and wife, Karen, of Auburn, Paul and wife, Sonomi, of Auburn, and Frank and wife, Beth, of Pickens, S.C.; four daughters, Irene Ranucci and husband, Gary Gordon, of San Jose, Calif., Lenore Ricciardelli of Waterville, Diane Stanley of Farmingdale, and Mary and husband, Phil Edwards, of Lisbon; a former son-in-law, Cliff Stanley of Waterville; 20 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Predeceased are three brothers, Frank, Mike and Louie; three sisters, Josie, Rosey and Lucy; and his son-in-law, Lou Ricciardelli, late husband of Lenore.

Condolences, donations and a video tribute may be found online at www.albert-burpee.com.