Dominick Molinaro passed away this past weekend on September 28. He just celebrated his birthday earlier in the week and was 92 years old. He was always loved by everyone.
As a proud Korean War Veteran, he was a retired Army man. He and his two brothers were all overseas during the Korean War, but Dominick was sent home because of the Sullivan Law — A U.S. Military regulation known formally as the sole survivor policy — to ensure that as the oldest, he would be able to carry on the family name. In the end, one brother did not make it back alive, while his younger brother made it back alive although wounded. He also lost two older cousins in World War I. Dominick said that he flew the American Flag outside his home “every day, 24/7,” for the honor of his cousins, for his kid brother and for all three of them as the Molinaro brothers.
Molinaro loved music! You could often catch Dominick Molinaro tapping on whatever was in front of him, using his fingers like drumsticks. After more than 40 years, he was happy to have such a long successful run of being a professional musician playing drums and singing. He was part of The Brothers Two Trio band from Long Island during the 1960s and that positive experience had never left his veins. His brother Lou was the lead singer yet they all did vocals and harmonized. Depending on the venue and the crowds, the Brothers Two Trio also performed comedy acts between their music sets. They even started getting invited onto radio shows. The group made the rounds and were able to promote their music by playing live on the radio. Molinaro’s nickname was “Moe.”
In the midst of their prime, their group was contacted by Laurie Records. In 1963, they recorded a single written for them called “Chickee.” The flip side of the vinyl 45 RPM single featured a song called “Can Spring be Far Behind,” an instrumental piece written by Maddox. “The record took off. Molinaro had often said that “It was really good and we were in the top 50!” Soon afterwards, their group’s manager let them know that the makers of the Cinebox Juke Box Company wanted them to star in a video of “Chickee.” The Cinebox would provide up to three minutes of sound film for 25 cents. Up to 40 titles were available at a time. In 1964, Chickee was made into a video and featured in the Cinebox.
Molinaro, soon thereafter married and had two children, a boy and a girl. As time passed, the performance gigs slowed down and in 1976, Molinaro moved his family here to Florida. He worked at a machine shop in Orlando, where he became a foreman and remained a freelance musician for a time until he retired.
Molinaro was always very active in the local community with the Clermont Historic Village, as a proud veteran representative and for many Democratic Party events. He became a regular volunteer and tour guide at the Village. He helped pose as a happy sailor kissing a girl while returning to the USA at the end of the war, for CHV promotions.
When you go by the Historic Village, you will see some of the large wooden Halloween, Christmas and Holiday decorations, which are made by Jim Briggs. Molinaro made the ones for Santa Claus, his sleigh and reindeer for Christmas. CHV President Jim Briggs always keeps them all updated and painted.
Everyone at the Clermont /Historic Village was thinking about him as he became very sick in the recent months. Roxanne Brown notes, “We all loved him and will greatly miss him!” When she spoke with him last week while at his son’s home, Molinaro shared, “I want to tell everyone thanks for everything! I love and miss everyone!” While Molinaro planted a special pine tree in the memory of his daughter Susan at CHV, the Clermont Historic Village team will put an engraved memorial brick in the red brick path right in front of that tree to honor him. He is survived by his son Rick ‘Richie’ Molinaro.
Brown shares, “We hope that everyone will please keep Dominick and his family in your prayers!”
