Domenico Rustici

Domenico Rustici passed away beside his beloved wife of 70 years on August 16, 2025.

Domenico lived a life marked by love, determination, and strength - along with a ceaseless love of learning that enriched every stage of his life. For 93 years, he inspired all those around him: the quiet courage, for example, that carried him through life's challenges; the constant creativity, for another, that meant every problem found a handcrafted solution.

Domenico was born in Settefrati, Italy, on July 31, 1932, and moved to Stamford, Connecticut 20 years later. He served in the American army soon after arriving, navigating the military's drills, discipline and a new language all at the same time. Less than three months after completing his service, Domenico married the love of his life. And at the age of 22, he and Adele DeRubeis Rustici began building their lives, embracing the same love, warmth and respect for one another that would define their next seven decades together.

They had children - Marco, Lilliana and Maria Elena. They worked hard - with Domenico, a natural craftsman, becoming first a carpenter, and later a superintendent across Connecticut and New York. Domenico was a member of Carpenters Local 210 for more than 50 years - and his inventiveness wasn't confined to the workplace.

Throughout his life, Domenico was often in his workshop, creating bookshelves, tables, and several additions to his Stamford home. It was through his woodwork that he also solved problems, creating a device to cut Adele's homemade bread, a contraption to hold his favorite books, and countless other small - yet always practical - inventions. Little by little, Domenico also rebuilt his childhood house in Settefrati, a labor of love that over the years, became a gathering place for Domenico's children, grandchildren, and extended family.

When he wasn't in his workshop, Domenico could be found listening to opera or classical music, another love of his life. Or, even more likely, he could be found with his head in a book - from Dante's Inferno to every single volume of A History of Mankind. He used to tell Adele: there's always more to learn. And throughout his life, he took his own advice to heart.

Domenico had an encyclopedic level of knowledge, always believing that nothing held more lessons than the decades of the past. He could answer any question about world history, and within the last few months of his life, told his disbelieving family that yes, there once was a female pope (it's true!). Domenico was also a writer himself - he penned countless poems for Adele throughout their life together, each one a testament to the love that they shared.

Domenico was a true renaissance man. He was an incredible cook, making the best arancini, risotto and soups that his family had ever tasted. He was quick to crack jokes, with a dry, witty sense of humor always on the tip of his tongue. He was a fighter - never one to complain, and never one to give up. He loved his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, taking pride in each of their accomplishments with each passing year. And he loved - quietly and fiercely - in a way that was uniquely his own.

Domenico - Da, Dad, Grandpa, Minguccio, Uncle Dom - will be missed more than words can describe. But he will be survived by what he left behind: the history he shared, the handiwork he crafted, the importance of prioritizing a glass of red wine with every meal, and the lessons he taught us all.

Domenico leaves behind his wife, Adele DeRubeis Rustici; his children Marco, Lilliana, and Maria Elena Rustici; his grandchildren Suzanne Pickens, Stephanie Witthoeft, and Elissa, Claire, and Cassandra Miolene; his great-grandchildren Ava and Ellie Pickens, and Sadie and Tucker John Witthoeft. He will now be joining his father, Melchiorre Rustici; his mother, Angela Conetta Rustici; his sister, Serafina Di Preta Rustici; and his brother, Marshall Rustici.

The burial will be in Settefrati, Italy. There will be no calling hours.