Gary Michael D’Amico, 12/30/49—2/23/16. Loving father, veteran, master artisan and craftsman in concrete masonry; paramedic, photographer, and writer of poems, musings, and essays.
The son of Peter and Eleanor D’Amico, Gary leaves behind his fiancé, Linda Bosovich; the mother of his children, Kathleen D’Amico Colley; and his four adult children: Sara (Mark) Orlando, Amy D’Amico, Karen (Ric) Jones, and David (Julie) D’Amico, as well as his father Peter and his two brothers, Gene (Mary Ann) D'Amico and Dennis (Joyce) D’Amico, and many cousins, nephews, nieces, and grandchildren. He was predeceased by his mother, Eleanor (née Gould) D’Amico. Gary was also predeceased by his faithful dogs, Golda, Brandy, and Sally. He was born and raised in Albion, New York and lived for most of his life in Orleans County in a well-known cut stone house. A concrete mason for over thirty years, he continued his father’s family business, D’Amico Concrete. He was a volunteer EMT, Paramedic, and Instructor at Central Orleans Volunteer Ambulance in Albion, and also worked in Rochester, New York as a Paramedic. He also taught courses in emergency response skills to a variety of fire departments. Gary recently retired to Melbourne, Florida where he lived near a peaceful lake. A veteran of the Vietnam War, he applied his tenacity, valiant spirit, and heart to a fight with cancer, which he beat, but which returned and finally overcame him. Gary made the world better. He had a deeply spiritual connection to his God. He was full of curiosity and had a constantly seeking way about him. He wrote and published multiple books of poetry which he donated to his local library. He was known for his love of water, trees, words, and music. He shared with his children the things that shaped them: the church Peace and Jesus at the Santa Claus School house, C.S. Lewis, short stories, Airplane, clambakes, camping, the Grateful Dead, and Bob Dylan. He sent all of his children to college. He will be remembered for his property restoration, his masonry skills, and his gruff but wise guidance to his children, workers, and fire department volunteers in three counties. He was a man known for his generosity, his sarcasm, and his intelligent observations.
Calling hours will be held at Cooper Funeral Home, 215 W. Center St., Medina on Friday, March 4th from 3-5 PM with a service to immediately follow at 5PM.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to St Jude’s Children’s Hospital, a nonprofit he recently expressed the desire to support.