Dominick Lacerenza

Dominick Lacerenza, a lifelong Stamford resident, passed away unexpectedly on November 16 while traveling back to his favorite place, his home in Delray Beach, FL. He was 84 years old. Dom was the only son of the late Angelo and Antoinette (Cocco) Lacerenza.

Born October 17, 1938, he graduated from Stamford High School where he met the love of his life, Geraldine Zoppino, after spotting her on a bus in her Amiga sorority sweater. They were married in September 1960 and were inseparable until his passing.

He is also survived by his beloved children, Dawn (Bob Ehlers), Jill (Donald Angotta), and Matt (Kelly Northrop). He also leaves behind the lights of his life, his grandchildren, Anthony Angotta, Samantha and Mallory Ehlers. He will be fondly remembered by his Northrop step-grandchildren, Courtney (Matt Bertelli), Spencer, Riley (Dylan Rapoport) and Griffin, great-grandchildren, Luke and Nora Bertelli, as well as many extended family and friends. He will forever be one of the “boys of 56”, a group of men who have been friends since high school and have seen each other through both joyful and difficult times.

From a young age, Dom was an accomplished athlete. He was a member of the Stamford team who won the Little League World Series in 1951. Dom was recruited to play football at the University of Connecticut, but after a severe injury ended his playing, he followed Geri to the University of Bridgeport. After graduating, he continued his pursuit of football and a variety of sports as a coach and physical education teacher. He also founded Stamford Marketing Field Research, a consumer product research company, in the early 1970’s which, through persistence and determination, he built from a small start-up into a thriving business for more than 40 years.

Dom was dedicated to using sports as a way to better children’s lives. He was a volunteer coach for Little League, Babe Ruth and Pop Warner, to name a few, and in later years, helped many young adults obtain college entrance and scholarships through sports. He was honored to be inducted into the Stamford Old Timers Athletic Association. Above all else, he loved spending time with his friends and family, hosting the annual Frank Robotti Memorial Foundation cookout, supporting his son’s entrepreneurial adventures, or cheering on his grandkids at their various activities.

Family and friends may call at the Lacerenza Funeral Home, 8 Schuyler Avenue, Stamford, CT on Tuesday, November 22 from 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM, followed by a mass of Christian burial at 1:00 PM at St. Leo’s Church, 24 Roxbury Road, Stamford, CT, where Dom was a lifelong parishioner since its founding. A private interment will follow at Queen of Peace Cemetery, Stamford, CT.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dom’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org/donate), to which Dom and Geri have been long-time supporters. To leave an online condolence please visit www.lacerenzafh.com