Dominic “Dick” Costanzi
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m.Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Chisholm, with Rev. Fr. Fred Method and Rev. Fr. Tom Radiach concelebrating. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the Rupp Funeral Home & Cremation Service Chapel, with a combined Knights of Columbus and Parish Prayer Service at 7:30 p.m. Visitation will continue for one hour prior to the mass at the church on Wednesday. Private family inurnment will be in the Chisholm Cemetery at a later date. Arrangements are entrusted to Rupp Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Chisholm.
Dominic “Dick” Costanzi, age 96, lifelong resident of Chisholm, died Friday, October 15, 2010 at Fairview University Medical Center-Mesabi in Hibbing, with his family at his side. He was born May 30, 1914 in Chisholm to Giocondo and Annetta (Mariucci) Costanzi.
Dominic attended Chisholm public schools, where he played French horn in the high school band, high school orchestra, and the Chisholm City Band. He graduated from Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis, as a machinist. While there, he played French horn for the Pillsbury Band. In January 1942, Dominic enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he proudly served his country as a staff sergeant, pilot trainer, and flight engineer on the B29 development project, and despite his best efforts to be transferred overseas, the Air Force kept declaring Dominic “essential” to service on American soil.
On December 23, 1942, he married the love and the light of his life, Victoria Fiorio in Tucson, Arizona. This December, they would have celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary.
After an honorable discharge following WWII, Dominic returned to Chisholm and worked for the Snyder Mining Company at the Shenango, Webb, and Whiteside Mines as a master mechanic and shop foreman. When Snyder Mining shut down its operations here in 1972, Dominic worked at Kordel Furniture in Hibbing, until his retirement at age 65.
Dominic was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Chisholm, where he sang in St. Joseph’s Men’s Choir and belonged to the Men’s Club. He was also a member and past secretary of the Knights of Columbus – Chisholm Council #3539, a member and Past Commander of American Legion Post #2478 of Chisholm, as well as a charter board member of the Chisholm Memorial Hospital, where he served as board chairman for 2 years. He also served as chair of the Chisholm Housing Authority Commission and was a director of the Chisholm water and Light Commission. In addition, Dominic was a charter member of the Chisholm Curling Club, Chisholm’s Sportsmen’s Club, a member and past president of the Chisholm Lions Club, Chisholm Senior Citizens, the Chisholm Drum and Bugle Corps, and the Chisholm Italian-American Club.
Survivors include his loving wife – Victoria; daughter and son-in-law – Rita and John Charter of Hibbing; grandson – Mark Dominic Charter; along with many cherished nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers – Nello and Vincent “Jim”; sisters – Agatha Monterotti, Florence Fiorio, Dena Stukel, Rose LaVenture, and Jenny Berg.
