Dominick “Gushy” Fornabaio

RALEIGH - The man, the myth, the legend Dominick “Gushy” Fornabaio got a Peaceful Easy Feeling, Saw the Light, and joined the party in heaven on December 30, 2022, just in time to ring in the new year with Carmella, his beloved wife of 66 years. He also reunited with his mother Antoinette, father Dominick, sister Marion “Mo” Custer, brothers Joseph “Sonny” and Phillip “Philly” Fornabaio, extended family, and many, many friends.

He is survived by his devoted daughter Camille who took great care of him and fulfilled all his last wishes, his sons Wayne (Maureen) and Dominick “Dee” (Laura), grandchildren “Sweet Melissa,” Dominick “Dom,” Lauren “Minis,” Wayne “Waynie Magoo Jr,” Brandon “Do” (Caline), Brian “The Toad,” Brittany “Scoofie,” Leanna “Keese,” Dominique “Mingooch,” great-grandchildren Lucas “Luca Brasi” and Lorenzo “Enzo,” cats Zinny and Franklin Bur-Bur, and many nieces and nephews, friends and the very helpful Filomena family- who will all carry on the Family Tradition.

He was born in Yonkers, NY, and worked at his father’s tailor shop, as a paperboy, a golf caddy, for a fruit peddler, as “Mr. Ball” a debt collector, and proudly served in the US Navy.

Gushy/Grandpa/Mr. Fornabaio was the life of every party. He loved to take over a dance floor with his famous dance moves, and once the guitar came out- game on! He would lead the party in a singalong. He was the last one to go to bed but always the first one up to go to church in the morning. He loved God and Jesus.

He was a huge fan of music and sports. His favorites were Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Marshall Tucker Band, The Allman Brothers, The Eagles, Frank Sinatra, The Yankees, Kobe Bryant, Larry Bird, Joe DiMaggio, Diana Taurasi, and any athlete whose name ended in a vowel. But out of all the musicians and athletes, his son Wayne and grandson Brian were his favorite guitarists to watch and jam with, and he loved cheering on and celebrating with his son Dee’s basketball and football teams and even won an award from the Hobbits as Best Supporter.

He loved his daddy-daughter dates and also enjoyed watching soccer and football with Camille, traveling to “parts unknown” while listening to his favorite music, eating Laura’s cookies, drinking Dominick’s protein shakes, drinking with his grandsons, and blowing lots of “keeses” to his granddaughters.

He was thankful for his family and the many nurses, aides, and doctors who took great care of him during his final years in Raleigh.

Gushy will be remembered as someone who made everyone feel special, brought a smile to everyone’s faces, and wanted everyone to treat each other with kindness.

“Take it Easy” Grandpa. We love you.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Ronald McDonald House New York.

The funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, January 16, 2023, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, located at 70 Park Hill Avenue in Yonkers, New York.

A service of Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, Raleigh.