D.J. "Petro" Petruccelli's Obituary
Domenico J. “Petro” Petruccelli passed away on May 14th, 2010. Petruccelli was born on May 29, 1928 in Davenport, Iowa. He graduated from Davenport High School in 1946 and then joined the U.S. Navy and served as a Sonarman for 2 years. In 1951 he was recalled into the Korean conflict and served for nearly 2 years in Washington, D.C. as a Communication Technician.In January 1955 Petruccelli graduated from St. Ambrose University (Davenport, IA), with a degree in Business Administration & Economics. He started his long Chamber of Commerce career as the Executive Secretary of the Bettendorf, IA Chamber serving from February 1955 to July 1957 when he then assumed the duties of the Rice Lake, WI Chamber. His Chamber duties took him to Sioux City, IA; La Crosse, WI; Fort Wayne, IN; Gadsden, AL and in August 1985 he was hired to head up the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce – serving for 22 consecutive years retiring on February 1st 2008. He holds the record of being the longest-consecutive Chamber Executive in the country – 53 years.He was serving as the Executive Director of the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce Foundation when he died.He married Marianne McGee on June 7, 1952 and, together, they had five children; John (Jane) Petruccelli of St. Petersburg, FL; Karen (Larry) Kasper of Fort Wayne, IN; Laura Petruccelli of Jacksonville, FL; Greg (Rhonda) Petruccelli of Tuscaloosa, AL; and Anthony Petruccelli of Fort Myers, FL. He is survived by nine grandchildren and one great-grandson. He is also survived by his brother Donato of Davenport, IA. He was preceded in death by his father Giovanni, mother Marguerite Tronzo, and his brother Vincenzo.Petruccelli was active in a number of local organizations serving as a Director of the former BBB; organized the Consumer Fraud Awareness organization in 1997 and served on the Lee County Parks & Recreation Advisory Board since December of 1985.Petruccelli was a loving, devoted husband and father; and very highly respected leader of the communities that he served.Visitation will be held at Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home on Monday, May 17th from 5-8pm. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, May 18th at Church of the Resurrection at 11am.In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Fort Myers Beach Chamber Foundation or San Damiano Monastery of St. Clare at 6029 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931.
What’s your fondest memory of D.J.?
What’s a lesson you learned from D.J.?
Share a story where D.J.'s kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with D.J. you’ll never forget.
How did D.J. make you smile?