DOMINICK MANGINO WEIRSDALE, FL

Dominick "Dom" Mangino, 87, of Weirsdale, FL, joined his be loved wife, Anne, in Heaven on Tuesday, December 30, 2008. Born in NY to Joseph and Mary, he worked to help support his mother and seven siblings after his father passed away at an early age.

Dom lived a full life. He was a decorated soldier in World War II, arriving on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, protecting the Remaggen Bridge and participating in the Battle of The Bulge as gunner in the 109th AAA Gunnery Battalion, Battery C. He and his wife enjoyed traveling and returned to Normandy on the 50th anniversary of the invasion. His family always said of him that the party did not begin until Dom arrived.

He loved to make people laugh and cared greatly about the concerns of others. His greatest joy was spending time with all of his family. Mr. Mangino was a retired supervisor for Rockwell Collins in Melbourne, and was a manufacturer of electronic instruments in aviation. Later in life he attended Post University on Long Island, furthering his area of expertise. Dominick made the electronic relays which were used to launch the first rocket into space in America. He received a letter of thanks from Dr. Werner von Braun, whom Dom worked with on the project. He is also credited with manufacturing the first teleprompter used on television. Dom moved his family to Florida in 1972.

He is survived by his three daughters, Linda, Dorene and Donna; his adopted British son, Geoffrey Wilson, whom he met while stationed in Blackpool, England during the war; sib lings, Penny, Mike, John, Julie, Marie, and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his wife of 65 years, the late Anne F. Mangino, on March 2, 2007. He will be greatly missed.

Graveside services were held Friday, January 2nd at Florida National Cemetary, Bushnell. Arrangements by Forest Lawn Funeral Home, Ocala. Please view /sign guestbook at floridatoday.com