Dominic Joseph Simonetti

Dominic Joseph Simonetti, age 96, died Sunday, December 10, 2023, at HopeWest Hospice Care in Grand Junction, CO.

Dominic graduated from Grand Junction High School, where he excelled in academics, wrestling and football. After graduating early from high school, Dominic enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in the Alaskan Territory before it became the 49th state. After his service, Dominic returned home to attend Mesa Junior College for two years before transferring to Woodbury College in Los Angeles where he received his B.A. in fine arts. He did post graduate study at the American Academy of Art in Chicago.

After working various jobs as an art director in Los Angeles and Chicago, he was recruited by the Central Intelligence Agency in Washington, D.C., where he spent 29 years as a commercial and graphic artist.

Before moving to Washington, Dominic was introduced to the love of his life by Dr. Geno Saccomano. The doctor introduced them so that his lung cancer research nurse wouldn’t have to go skiing alone. Virginia Campobello and Dominic were married in 1962.

After retiring in 1992, Dominic and Virginia moved back to Grand Junction. He was a member of the Elks Club of Grand Junction and a life-long member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. Some of his hobbies included skiing, drawing and gardening.

To know Dominic was to have a friend immediately and forever. A humble and hard-working man, he taught those who knew him about faith, kindness, living with integrity, being a friend, being civic minded, and being charitable – all by his demonstrated example.

Dominic was a husband, son, father, gifted artist and devout Catholic who always put family and others before himself.

In 2008, he received Holy Family Catholic School Distinguished Alumnus Hall of Fame award.

Dominic joins his mother and father, Teresa Paonessa Simonetti and Dominic Joseph Simonetti; and four siblings who as children succumbed to various illnesses in Italy.

He is survived by his loving wife and life partner of 61 years – Virginia Campobello Simonetti; daughter Teresa of Grand Junction, sons Dominic Leo (Nan) St. Louis Park, MN, and Paul, Grand Junction; three grandsons – Nick Simonetti (Jessie) Grand Junction, Murphy Simonetti (Annika) Hermantown, MN, Riley Simonetti of Golden Valley, MN; and great grandchildren Tayven Simonetti and Ivory Simonetti of Grand Junction.

Memorial Services will be held in April of 2024 at a date and time to be determined.

Please consider making a memorial contribution in Dominic’s name to:

HopeWest Hospice, 3090 N. 12th Street, Grand Junction, CO 81506; or St. Joseph Catholic Church Building Fund, 330 White Avenue, Grand Junction, CO, 81501.

Services have been entrusted to Brown’s Cremation and Funeral Services.