Domenic Sammarco, 72, of New Canaan, CT passed away on May 2, 2024.
Domenic Sammarco
Domenic was born on July 26, 1951 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania to Menotti and Giannina (Speziale) Sammarco. His family moved to Stamford, CT in 1961 where he attended St Maurice Elementary School. He graduated from high school at Fairfield Prep, always proud of his Jesuit education. After high school, he attended St Vincent College in Latrobe PA, and then transferred to Southampton College in Long Island where he received a degree in marine biology. An animal lover and fluent in Italian, Domenic attended veterinary school in Bologna Italy, but returned to school in the United States to follow a new career path. He graduated from the Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy in Brooklyn, NY in 1979 after which he began his dedicated practice in pharmacy. After completing a residency at Greenwich Hospital, he opened Palmer Pharmacy in Greenwich with business partner Lou Visconti. He expanded his pharmacy practice to Professional Pharmacy in South Norwalk, which after many years moved to the Tully Center in Stamford. Always a champion for the practice of pharmacy, he served as a State of CT Pharmacy Commissioner from 1994 – 1999. He received the Honorary Alumni Award from the University of CT in 1997. Domenic developed a unique niche practice in the Fairfield County area as a compounding pharmacist, serving not only human patients, but a large number of veterinary patients as well. He took pride in his compounding service to bring health and healing to all animals. Domenic shared his knowledge of pharmacy practice by teaching the Pharmacy Technician Training Course at Norwalk Community College for many years, where he instructed and helped students start their pharmacy technician career.
A true patriot, Domenic joined the United States Army Reserves in 1980. He served at various military bases in the United States, Germany, Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Most of his 23 year military career was spent with the 340th General Hospital and 405th Combat Support Hospital. He retired as Lieutenant Colonel after 23 years of service and received the Meritorious Service Medal in July 2004.
Throughout his life, Domenic found and embraced opportunities to help people. In his younger years, he was a volunteer fireman for the Glenbrook Volunteer Fire Department. He was founder and organizer of both the Louise Crisafi Spring Stride, a road race that raised money for cancer research, and the Vietnam Veteran Scholarship Road Race, that successfully raised money for children of Vietnam Veterans for 9 years. He organized fund raising and clothes collections for an orphanage in El Salvador, and frequently donated time and medical supplies to the Americares Foundation, and other domestic and international causes.
Domenic was the ultimate family man and his family was his top priority and love. Domenic met Elizabeth (Betsy) Bell Sammarco through a dear friend at Greenwich Hospital and they married on October 8, 1988. They raised their two boys, John and Matthew, in New Canaan. They enjoyed summer getaways at Roton Point in Rowayton and Green Hill Beach in Rhode Island. Although an only child, Domenic had close and sibling-like relationships with his cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Domenic will be remembered for his sense of humor, his generosity, and his ability to connect with people in all walks of life. He lived life with a creative passion and an incredible work ethic. He had many interests and was a true “do-it-yourselfer”. He could build and fix anything from bird houses to cars and enjoyed spending his spare time in his work area basement.
Domenic was predeceased by his father, Menotti. He is survived by his mother, Giannina, wife Betsy, and sons John and Matthew. He also leaves brother in-law Jeff Bell and his wife Joan, and brother in-law David Bell and his wife Lety. Many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews will miss him dearly.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday May 7 from 4pm – 8pm at Hoyt Funeral Home, 199 Main Street New Canaan, CT.
The funeral will be held Wednesday May 8 at 10am at St Aloysius Church, 21 Cherry Street in New Canaan.
Entombment will follow at St Mary Cemetery, 35 Parsonage Road in Greenwich, CT
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project:
https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/
[This obituary appeared on the Hoyt Funeral Home website.]
“Throughout his life, Domenic found and embraced opportunities to help people.” This is an understatement. We lived around the corner from the Sammarco’s for almost 20 years. If only everyone could have a neighbor – and a friend – like Domenic. He was the neighbor who would, without being asked, plow an elderly neighbor’s driveway after a big storm. He was the neighbor who went around the neighborhood with a chain saw and handsaw to resolve other people’s issues after Hurricane Sandy. He was the neighbor who would console – and truly help – others after a loss. He was always available to advise on the best doctors and how to get things done in hospitals. All done with a smile and a truly unique sense of humor. He was extremely loyal to his family and friends. And, from what I could tell, a good soldier. A big loss for his family and the community. May he rest in the peace he has earned.