We regret to advise of the death of Sapper Dominic Joseph Calaiezzi (Ret'd) on 20 February 2002 in Cochrane, ON at the age of 85 years.
Dominic was born in Cochrane and grew up on a nearby farm. He attended trade school and worked as a mechanic in Toronto before enlisting in the Royal Canadian Engineers in Toronto in June 1942. After training in Petawawa and England he was posted to 29th Field Company in the 2nd Canadian Corps and served in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. He was qualified as a Wireless Telegraph Operator, Driver/Mechanic "B", and Driver for Self-Propelled Vehicles.
In February 1945, while on a bridge demolition task, Dominic was badly wounded and not expected to live. He was evacuated to England and by the time he recovered, the war had ended. He was sent back to Canada to be discharged after a long period of rehabilitation in Toronto.
On returning to Cochrane, Dominic worked as a mechanic started his own garage business. He then went on to work for the Ministry of Transportation as a mechanic and attended College in Detroit to learn diesel mechanics. Dominic returned to Cochrane in his later years and was active in many community activities including as a court usher. He was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #89 in Cochrane for many years.
Dominic is buried in the Cochrane Civic Cemetery. [dcMar17gd}[zbd]
