Dominick J. Vanacore, Sr

Dominick Joseph "Donny" Vanacore, Sr. died peacefully December 6, 2011 at Kingston Hospital surrounded by his loving family and friends. Born March 26, 1943 in Jamaica, New York, Dominick resided at the family homestead also known by family and friends as Vanacoreville on Markle road in Shokan, NY. He is survived by his wife Rita Perry Vanacore and three children: son Dominick Vanacore Jr. of Kingston, daughter Gina Vanacore Tisch and husband, Errol of Shokan and son, Tony Vanacore and his long time partner, Jennifer Bruno of Shokan:; granchildren Dartagnan Vanacore and Gianna Tish, to whom he was "PaPa". He is also survived by his brother, Louis Vanacore of Virginia Beach plus many generations of extended family including nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles and cousins. Dominick was pre-deceased by both parents - Agnes Beatice Vanacore in 1993, Fred Vanacore in 1995 and his sister-in-law, Madelyn Trippico Vanacore in 2010. Dominick came to Shokan with his parents in 1955 where his father, Fred, created Shokan Stairbuilders. Dominick worked with him for over 30 years. The onset of ALS forced his retirement in 1998. Dominicks love of sports kept him involved in many area sporting activities including previously managing a team in the Olive Little League, as well as, playing on various Olive Softball Teams such as Doughnut Mix, Westwood Realty, Jmar Gems and finally, managing and sponsoring the Shokan Stairbuilders team until his retirement. He was an avid skier, tennis player, basketball player, football player....you name a sport and if available, Dominick tried it. Dominick was a co-founder to the Woodstock Junior Chamber of Commerce of which he was a Board member for many years. His love of life and his strong will power and stamina carried him through his 20 year battle with primary lateral sclerosis, a crippling and fatal sister disease to Lou Gehrig's. The family will receive friends at the Simpson-Gaus Funeral Home, 411 Albany Ave, Kingston on Friday from 1-4 and 7-10. The funeral procession will form on Saturday at 9:00 a.m. at the funeral home. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. John's Church, West Hurley at 10:00 am. A memorial celebration in the spring will be conducted at Hudler Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the St. Peters ALS Clinic, 19 Warehouse Row, Albany, NY, 12205 or Kingston Hospital Foundation, 396 Broadway, Kingston, NY 12401