Dominic "Dom" Mallary

Dominic "Dom" Mallary of Worcester and formerly of Berlin passed away Friday, December 5th at Boston Medical Center, surrounded by family and the friends who loved him so much. Dom, 24, died unexpectedly, after inadvertently being injured during a performance of his band, Last Lights, at Boston University.

Dom was born September 22, 1984. He grew up in Berlin, MA and later in Worcester. He graduated Tahanto Regional High School in 2003, and just last month enjoyed seeing old friends at an informal five year reunion. Dom attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and graduated from Emerson College with honors with a degree in Writing, Literature and Publishing in 2007. Prior to graduation he completed a summer internship for the Telegram and Gazette. For five years, while in school, Dom worked at the Berlin Center Store, a job he loved because it kept him connected to Berlin, a place so close to his heart. He was working, currently, as a residential counselor at The Green House, a program for homeless mentally ill and substance abusing men in Worcester.

Dom was a poet, musician, and artist. He was the lead singer, lyricist and composer, for the band, Last Lights. Dom had been offered a record contract this week and at the end of the month had planned a tour of the Eastern US with his band. He was very happy and hopeful on the evening that he fell ill. Dom had dreamed of being a musician since he was a young teenager. He worked hard and consistently towards this goal, spending hours, practicing, writing songs, and attending to the administrative work of booking shows and tours. He was admired by his peers for his passionate approach to his music. He was a serious person with a passion for the things in which he believed. At the same time he was an example for all who knew him, demonstrating a joyful openness to new ideas, experiences, and people throughout his life. He cared about music not fame. He was a role model to many.

Besides music Dom was passionate about philosophy and writing. He leaves a bedroom in his mother's house crammed with books like a graduate school library. His favorite author was Guy Debord, the French situationalist.

Dom was planning on concentrating on his band for the next several years. His long term goals included going back to school, either graduate or medical school. He was a brilliant student.

All who knew Dom will miss seeing the wonderful things he would have done in the future. He gave so much to the world in his short 24 years and had so much more to give. Dom is survived by his parents, Helen and Pasquale Turano and Michael and Cindy Mallary. Also by his sisters, Elaine, Caroline, and Joanna, his step-brother Pasquale Turano, and his girlfriend of 3 years, Angela Fallavollita, whom he very much loved.

Mercadante Funeral Home and Chapel, 370 Plantation St. Worcester MA 01605, (508) 754-0486, is directing arrangements.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in memory of Dominic Mallary to Community Healthlink - The Green House, 19 King Street Worcester, MA 01610.