Vincent Michael "Vince" DeDomenico, Sr. (September 29, 1915 – October 18, 2007) was an American entrepreneur, one of the inventors of Rice-A-Roni, and a founder of the Napa Valley Wine Train.[1]
Inventor of Rice-A-Roni Founder of Napa Valley Wine Train
Spouse
Mildred DeDomenico
Children
Steven DeDomenico, Michael DeDomenico, Vicki McManus, Marla Bleecher, Vincent DeDomenico Jr.
Biographyedit
DeDomenico was born in San Francisco, California and raised in the city's Mission District.[2] He graduated from Mission High School, and took some business and accounting classes at Golden Gate University (then known as Golden Gate College).[2] Because his family did not have enough money for a full college education, he began working for the family business, the Gragnano Macaroni Factory, immediately after graduating.[2] When his father died in 1933 he and his brothers took over the business, now called Golden Grain Macaroni Company.[2] He and his brothers invented the dried rice mixture Rice-A-Roni in 1958.[1]
The next year, Vincent DeDomenico, at the age of 72,[1] joined two other investors, Jack Hussey and Dr. Lee Block, who had purchased the right of way to an 1864 Southern Pacific rail line in Napa Valley, California.[3] DeDomenico and his wife had ridden the Orient Express, and had a vision of creating a comparable level of wine, food, and luxury for rail passengers in California. He took over the project and won approval to use the line for the new tourism venture, the Napa Valley Wine Train, after years of local opposition.[2] The wine train began operation in 1989. It now carries 100,000 passengers per year and is credited in part with initiating the rise of downtown Napa, California as a tourism destination, despite constant litigation over flood control, increased congestion, and other issues that continues as of 2007.[3] On the 10th anniversary of the train's operation, DeDomenico was honored with the Walter E. Disney Railroader Award by the Carolwood Pacific Historical Society for restoring and preserving the vintage train.
In later years DeDomenico operated a ranch in the Sacramento Valley. He went to work until the day that he died, dying quietly in his sleep after a full day at the wine train office.[2] DeDomenico was married to Mildred DeDomenico for over 60 years, until his death.[2] DeDemenico was described by friends and adversaries as a persistent and tough businessman, but quiet and courteous in private.[2][3] A private family man, DeDomenico enjoyed 1-2 glasses of wine per day.[2]
DeDomenico's wife, Mildred, died on November 26, 2007, five weeks after his death.[4]
Referencesedit
^ abcSaul Hansel (2007-10-23). "Vincent DeDomenico, an Inventor of Rice-A-Roni, Dies at 92". New York Times.
^ abcdefghijJulian Guthrie (October 22, 2007). "Vincent DeDomenico dies - invented Rice-A-Roni, built wine train". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2007-10-22.
^ abcBill Kisliuk (October 20, 2007). "Wine Train founder DeDomenico dies at 92". Napa Valley Register. Retrieved 2007-10-22.
^Kerana Todorov (November 28, 2007). "Mildred DeDomenico passes at 87". Napa Valley Register. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
External linksedit
Ruth Teiser and Lisa Jacobsen (1994). the DeDemenico Family: growth of the Golden Grain Company through innovation and entrepreneurship. University of California, Berkeley.
James Conaway (2002). Napa: The Story of an American Eden. Houghton Mifflin Books. ISBN978-0-618-25798-0. vincent dedomenico.
December 18, 2023
vincent, dedomenico, vincent, michael, vince, dedomenico, september, 1915, october, 2007, american, entrepreneur, inventors, rice, roni, founder, napa, valley, wine, train, vincent, michael, dedomenicobornseptember, 1915san, francisco, california, united, stat. Vincent Michael Vince DeDomenico Sr September 29 1915 October 18 2007 was an American entrepreneur one of the inventors of Rice A Roni and a founder of the Napa Valley Wine Train 1 Vincent Michael DeDomenicoVincent DeDomenicoBornSeptember 29 1915San Francisco California United StatesDiedOctober 18 2007 aged 92 Napa CaliforniaNationalityAmericanEducationGraduate Mission High School San Francisco CaliforniaOccupationBusinessmanEmployerGolden Grain Macaroni CompanyKnown forInventor of Rice A Roni Founder of Napa Valley Wine TrainSpouseMildred DeDomenicoChildrenSteven DeDomenico Michael DeDomenico Vicki McManus Marla Bleecher Vincent DeDomenico Jr Biography editDeDomenico was born in San Francisco California and raised in the city s Mission District 2 He graduated from Mission High School and took some business and accounting classes at Golden Gate University then known as Golden Gate College 2 Because his family did not have enough money for a full college education he began working for the family business the Gragnano Macaroni Factory immediately after graduating 2 When his father died in 1933 he and his brothers took over the business now called Golden Grain Macaroni Company 2 He and his brothers invented the dried rice mixture Rice A Roni in 1958 1 In 1964 DeDomenico bought San Francisco Ghirardelli Chocolate Company and built the company to the status of a world famous chocolatier 2 The DeDomenicos sold both companies to the Quaker Oats Company in 1986 for 300 million The next year Vincent DeDomenico at the age of 72 1 joined two other investors Jack Hussey and Dr Lee Block who had purchased the right of way to an 1864 Southern Pacific rail line in Napa Valley California 3 DeDomenico and his wife had ridden the Orient Express and had a vision of creating a comparable level of wine food and luxury for rail passengers in California He took over the project and won approval to use the line for the new tourism venture the Napa Valley Wine Train after years of local opposition 2 The wine train began operation in 1989 It now carries 100 000 passengers per year and is credited in part with initiating the rise of downtown Napa California as a tourism destination despite constant litigation over flood control increased congestion and other issues that continues as of 2007 3 On the 10th anniversary of the train s operation DeDomenico was honored with the Walter E Disney Railroader Award by the Carolwood Pacific Historical Society for restoring and preserving the vintage train In later years DeDomenico operated a ranch in the Sacramento Valley He went to work until the day that he died dying quietly in his sleep after a full day at the wine train office 2 DeDomenico was married to Mildred DeDomenico for over 60 years until his death 2 DeDemenico was described by friends and adversaries as a persistent and tough businessman but quiet and courteous in private 2 3 A private family man DeDomenico enjoyed 1 2 glasses of wine per day 2 DeDomenico s wife Mildred died on November 26 2007 five weeks after his death 4 References edit a b c Saul Hansel 2007 10 23 Vincent DeDomenico an Inventor of Rice A Roni Dies at 92 New York Times a b c d e f g h i j Julian Guthrie October 22 2007 Vincent DeDomenico dies invented Rice A Roni built wine train San Francisco Chronicle Retrieved 2007 10 22 a b c Bill Kisliuk October 20 2007 Wine Train founder DeDomenico dies at 92 Napa Valley Register Retrieved 2007 10 22 Kerana Todorov November 28 2007 Mildred DeDomenico passes at 87 Napa Valley Register Retrieved 2007 11 30 External links editRuth Teiser and Lisa Jacobsen 1994 the DeDemenico Family growth of the Golden Grain Company through innovation and entrepreneurship University of California Berkeley James Conaway 2002 Napa The Story of an American Eden Houghton Mifflin Books ISBN 978 0 618 25798 0 vincent dedomenico Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vincent DeDomenico amp oldid 1106301867, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
