Dominic Louis Vitale

Dominic Louis Vitale, 80, a cherished husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family in Hopewell, New Jersey, on January 20, 2025. Born on April 21, 1944, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Dominic lived a vibrant life filled with love, laughter, and an unwavering passion for the things he enjoyed.
Dominic was predeceased by his mother, Rita Pompeano (Russo), his father, Vincent Charles Vitale, his siblings, Thomas P. Vitale, Virginia Grace Vitale, Charles V. Vitale, and Anthony Vitale, his dear niece and nephew Virginia Lynn (Bennett) and Gary O'Donnell, his dear mother-in-law and father-in-law Catherine and Peter J. White, Sr., and his brothers-in-law, Peter J. White Jr. and Don Bennett.
Dominic leaves behind a legacy of love and memories for his devoted wife of 47 years, Diane Vitale (White), his daughter Maureen Dileo and her husband Domenick Dileo, his son and best friend, Michael Vitale, and his adored grandchildren, Declan and Emilia Dileo. He will be fondly remembered by his dear sister-in-law, Mona Vitale, his dear nieces, Deborah Petracci (Bennett), Colleen Kieran (Bennett), and Monique Bruno (Vitale), and his dear nephew, Roderic Bennett. Dominic's warm presence will also be greatly missed by his dear cousins, Michelle and Tony Checchia, Joseph Steele, Angelo DiSipio, Joe Vitale, Fran Leake, and Jimmy Leake, along with many other cousins, nieces, and nephews that were dear to his heart.
Dominic loved his childhood in Atlantic City in Ducktown. Growing up, he attended St. Michael Church and he worked at the Steel Pier where he mingled with the likes of Brenda Lee and Ricky Nelson. Dominic often told stories about his siblings and cousins and the fun they shared at the Jersey shore.
Dominic was a proud graduate of Temple University and furthered his education by earning a Masters in Public Administration from Rider University. His commitment to serving his country was evident through his active duty in the U.S. Navy from 1961 to 1964, where he served on the U.S.S. Rushmore and the U.S.S. Krishna. Following his military service in which he was deployed in Panama and Hoboken, NJ, Dominic dedicated 37 years to the Division of Taxation in Trenton, New Jersey, where his professionalism and work ethic were greatly respected by his colleagues. It was during this time when he met the love of his, Diane. Every day without fail, Dominic and Diane drove into work together and had lunch with one another. After 8 months of dating, Dominic and Diane were engaged, and were married the following year in 1977 at the Church of the Incarnation.
Dominic served on many committees within Mercer County, NJ. He was Vice President, Scholarship Chairman, and Trustee for the Italian American National Hall of Fame. He was also Trustee for American Legion Post 414 for many years, and a member of the Trenton Elks Lodge 105 in Ewing, NJ. Dominic also served his community by coaching various Little League teams and soccer teams within Ewing Township.
A man of many interests, Dominic was a lover of music, history, and travel, with a special fondness for Ireland. He was an avid reader, often found with a history book or an autobiography in hand. His love for classic movies and Old Hollywood was only matched by his passion for Philadelphia sports. Dominic lived and breathed for his teams, with the Philadelphia Phillies holding a special place in his heart, particularly the 1980 team. He also enjoyed horse racing, tennis, and spent many happy years bowling in leagues with friends.
Dominic's loving nature, kindness, and sense of humor were the pillars of his character. He had the remarkable ability to light up a room with his wit and to make everyone feel welcome and appreciated. We take comfort in knowing that Dominic's legacy will live on through the countless stories, shared laughter, and the profound impact he had on so many. His spirit will continue to guide and inspire us, just as the memories we hold dear will ensure that he is never truly gone. As we say goodbye to Dominic, we celebrate the man who brought so much happiness to our lives. We will miss his presence, his voice, his jokes, and his laughter, but we will hold him in our hearts forever.
The family would like to acknowledge the doctors, nurses, and staff of Capital Health in Hopewell, NJ, particularly, Ravinder Dhillon, MD for his ten years of compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Dominic's name to either The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research or to the Church of St. Ann in Lawrenceville, NJ.
A viewing will be held on Monday, January 27, 2025 from 6:00-8:00PM at Murphy Funeral Home (935 Parkway Ave., Ewing, NJ 08618). On Tuesday, January 28, 2025, a Catholic funeral mass will be held at 9:00AM at The Church of Saint Ann (1253 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648). This will be followed by burial at 11:00AM at Washington Crossing National Cemetery (830 Highland Ave., Newtown, PA 18940).