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Dominic Thomas DiVenere, born in 1931 in Bristol to Vita Carmella (Pedone) DiVenere and Thomas DiVenere, passed away peacefully with his wife Rae by his side on March 28 in Naples, Florida.

Dominic graduated in 1949 from Bristol High School, where he was voted “class heartbreaker” and served as a member of the Student Council and vice president of his senior class. An accomplished athlete, he excelled in baseball, basketball, and soccer. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served from 1950-’53.

Upon returning to Bristol, Dom married and began a long career as a mason with his father-in-law Peter D’Aprile at D’Aprile and Sons Construction Company. Upon Peter’s death, Dominic and his brother-in-law Jerold D’Aprile continued to run the business. Dominic eventually started numerous construction companies. Up before dawn and home for dinner, Dom took pride in his work and served as a mentor to many aspiring builders. He often said, “It’s not work if you love what you do,” and Dom loved building. An accomplished contractor, he built homes in Bristol, Southington, and Cheshire before moving onto the shoreline and along the Connecticut River. He was renowned for his masonry skills and would stop to appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship of a meandering dry-stone wall. He was admired for his work ethic, which led to his successful career.

In his earlier days, Dominic was an active member of both the Italian Social and the West End Athletic clubs and served as a Bristol Fire Department commissioner for many years.

In 1966 he had a vision to start a secretarial school, Briarwood, in Southington, constructing each building and laying each brick himself. Briarwood began granting two-year degrees in 1979 and eventually four-year degrees. He was particularly proud of the fact that the school became accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Briarwood was well known for its mortuary science program, which was the only one in Connecticut. Dominic, along with two partners, remained the owner of Briarwood College until 2008, at which time Lincoln Educational Services purchased the school.

An enthusiastic golfer, Dom was happiest when he was on the course with his friends and his family. He was a longstanding member of both Tunxis Plantation in Farmington and the Farms Country Club in Wallingford, a charter member at Fox Hopyard in East Haddam, and a member of Countryside Country Club in Naples, Florida. Dom especially enjoyed teaching his wife Rae the sport that brought him such joy. From the driving range to the putting green, Dom would kindly dispense advice. Bringing his two passions together, Dom was instrumental in constructing a community center in Bermuda for the Bermuda Police Department. What began as a golf outing with his friends ultimately became a special building project.

When not golfing, Dom could be found at Saratoga Racecourse watching his racehorse Giloju (named after his three daughters), cheering on UConn’s basketball teams, playing cards, solving the daily Sudoku puzzle, flipping political channels, or reading a news magazine. He was famous for recounting his pet peeves with anyone who would listen and often teased that he might one day write a book Things That Get My Butt Out (and if a bestseller, its sequel Things that REALLY Get My Butt Out.) Dom was a kind and generous man who welcomed others into his home and exemplified what it means to be a true friend.

Dominic was predeceased by his first wife Judith (D’Aprile) DiVenere, their daughter Lori DiVenere LaFrance, and his siblings, Elizabeth DiVenere, Grace DiVenere Kovalski, Lillian DiVenere Thomas, Matthew DiVenere, and Peter DiVenere. He is survived by his wife of 26 years Rae DiVenere of Naples, Florida; his two daughters, Gina Swenton (Russell) of Bristol, and Judith Beecher (Steve Cooke) of Boston, Massachusetts; his stepdaughter Teresa Sullivan (Paul) of Madison; his son-in-law Peter LaFrance of Bristol; and his grandchildren, David Swenton (Ho-Mui Wong) of Brooklyn, New York, Elizabeth Hosman (Albert) of Plaistow, New Hampshire, Julia and Jocelyn Beecher of Boston, Massachusetts, Kelly Kant (Byran) of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Charles, Lila, and Meryl Sullivan of Madison, as well as his great-grandson Zachary Hosman of Plaistow, New Hampshire.

A memorial Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, June 20, at St. Teresa of Calcutta Church in Essex. A reception will follow at The Griswold Inn. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Avow Hospice, 1095 Whippoorwill Lane, Naples, Florida 34105.