Thursday, July 26, 2012

Uncle Dominic


He is the finest gentleman that I have ever known. The highest compliment ever paid me was by way of comparison to him.

"I see so much of Dominic in you when you do a thing like that," was the approximate wording as I recall.

The "thing" that I had done was simply to be exceptionally kind and respectful of another. I cannot consistently be relied upon to do this, but Dominic could be. Always.

My uncle died last night. I am on my way to his funeral just now. This will be a hard one for our family. Dominic was beloved profoundly and by many. He was decent and honorable and funny and able, and we will miss him very badly.

Many of you got to know my uncle a little bit through this blog. He seemed often to be on my mind, and so I wrote about him on several occasions. Like the time we tried to unravel the mystery of his famous Scottish scones or his appreciation for Gallo Hearty Burgundy wine. Once he assisted Laura, his wife of 67 years, as she prepared a batch of her delicious doughnuts one very happy afternoon we all spent together last year.

Mister Meatball will not be nearly as rewarding to author without a subject like Dominic around to inspire.

Several readers, some of them complete strangers, others dear friends, have asked about Dominic these last few months and weeks. I can't possibly describe what that has meant to me, and so I won't begin to try. Thank you all, though. Thanks very much.

In early spring, over a pot roast lunch at one of Dominic's go-to hospital cafeterias, I told my uncle that he had a lot of fans who were asking after him, wishing him well, and from far away places he had never been. He seemed genuinely touched, if a bit bemused by this news, and asked that I convey his deepest appreciation and affection.

I thought that you all should know.

10 comments:

  1. A beautiful tribute to a clearly wonderful man. The hospital cafeteria post was one of my favorites - also the one where Uncle Dom's picture gets carried into the kitchen to oversee dinner preparations. Memory keeps its own archive & I suspect that Uncle Dominic will continue to make regular blog appearances -- or maybe I'm just hoping.

    ReplyDelete
  2. So Sorry for the loss of your beloved Dominic he was a wonderful loving human being, learning this from your many blogs about him and how you attribute many of your many musings regarding food they are an omage to him..May god bless you and your family at this time of loss in your lives, rest in peace Dominic, God has you in his arms and may your family find peace..mjs from the west coast, I read your blog daily..what a neat person you are!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. i am so sorry to hear of uncle dominic's passing - i hope you have a good time with your family toasting his memory. safe travels.

    ReplyDelete
  4. So sorry to hear of this. Yes I enjoyed your posts on Uncle Dominic. God bless you all.

    PMcClure

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh I am so sorry to hear about the death of this wonderful uncle of yours. My thoughts go out to you and your family. Please don't stop writing about him though. You probably have a wealth of memories that can enrich of all of us readers. I will miss Uncle Dominic too.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Your own tender underbelly was most evident when you wrote about this beautiful man. Thank you for sharing him with us. Bless you for keeping his memories alive to ALL of us through your blog.

    I stand beside you in your grief.

    ReplyDelete
  7. My heart goes out to you and your family. By all means continue to write about this great inspiring man.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I read the blog and comments with tears in my eyes. I know how much Uncle Dom meant to you. My sincerest sympathy to you and your entire family.

    ReplyDelete
  9. sorry for your loss, losing a wonderful relative/uncle is always very sad, but one must always remember the great memories and all they taught you and all around them...

    ReplyDelete