Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.

Mayor Dominic Vincent Patrick "Dom" Cardillo

Male 1930 - 2013  (82 years)


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  • Name Dominic Vincent Patrick "Dom" Cardillo 
    Prefix Mayor 
    Born 26 Oct 1930  Guelph City, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Gender Male 
    Elected Office 1963  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Mayor of Kitchener 
    • Years Served: 1963-1982, 1983-1994 (Mayor)
    Name Dom Cardillo 
    Occupation Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    school teacher 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-28886 
    Died 14 Apr 2013  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Buried Woodland Cem., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Person ID I28886  Generations
    Last Modified 7 Nov 2024 

    Family Mary F. Wunder 
    Last Modified 12 Nov 2024 
    Family ID F60945  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Photos
    Dominic Vincent Patrick Cardillo
    Dominic Vincent Patrick Cardillo
    Kitchener Post

  • Notes 
    • Born in Guelph, Ontario, Dominic Cardillo - teacher, politician and man of the people - became a household name long before the City of Kitchener named a major ice hockey arena in his honour.

      Cardillo worked as a secondary school teacher and coach from 1956 to 1965 at Kitchener Collegiate Institute, at Forest Heights Secondary School in 1964, and Laurel Vocational in 1968.

      Cardillo ran successfully for Kitchener City Council in 1963, sponsored in part by a collection taken by his grade twelve students. He remained in office until his retirement in 1994. The longest-serving Mayor in Kitchener's history, Cardillo had many tributes awarded to him, including the naming of the Dom Cardillo Arena.

      His service to the community was remarkable and included: director of the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs; president of Big Brothers; secretary of the Kitchener Minor Hockey Association; member of two hospital boards; and eighteen years as a Hydro Commissioner. He helped raise funds for many local civic projects and charitable causes.

      Known to attend all functions to which he was invited, Cardillo had the ability to remember names of everyone he met. He tirelessly promoted his city and its reputation, taking a fastidious interest in the cleanliness of its streets. Also known for passing out pens and lapel pins promoting the City, he was once photographed giving out pens in a rice paddy in Japan.

      Waterloo Region Hall of Fame

      ______________

      Cardillo, Dominic V. P. 'Dom'
      Beloved husband of Mary Wunder for 54 years. Died peacefully at Sunnyside Home in Kitchener with his family at his side on Sunday April 14, 2013.

      Dear father of Patrick and Nancy, Michael and Karen, Maureen and John Doran, Lisa, Maria and Alan Diemert, Paul and Tamara.
      Loving grandfather of Matthew, Andrew and Kristin, Erin; Amy and Jeff O'Gorman, Tracy; Vanessa, Rebecca and Ryan Diemert; Hannah and Lauren.

      Proud great-grandfather of Daniel Cardillo; Nathan and Lucas O'Gorman. Fondly remembered by many nieces and nephews.
      Dear brother of Dr. Peter and Dale Cardillo, Tony and Noreen Cardillo and Luigi and Ralph Cardillo.

      Dom will also be missed and remembered by his in-laws Tom and Gloria Wunder, Carol Wunder and June and Herb Fleiger.
      Predeceased by his parents Antonio and Maria, grandson Daniel Cardillo, sister Josephine, sister-in-law Susan McKillop, father and mother-in-law George and Doris Wunder, brothers-in-law Robert and James Wunder.

      Dom came to Kitchener in 1954 and taught for 25 years with the Waterloo District School Board at KCI, Forest Heights and Laurel/University Heights. His political life spanned 32 years for the City of Kitchener, starting as a councillor, sat on Regional Council and was elected Mayor of the City of Kitchener, holding office from 1982-1994. He served on numerous municipal boards, committees, commissions and associations including the Police Services Board, St. Mary's and K-W Hospital Boards, K-W Big Brothers, Kitchener Minor Hockey Association, Parks and Recreation Committee and Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro.

      He was a honourary member of the Canadian Fire Chiefs Association and was the first to be honoured at what is now the Annual Mayors' Dinner for the Working Centre. Dom was made a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow and was an avid supporter of the Kitchener Rangers. Dom is forever remembered for the commitment he made to his community and was proud to let everyone know Kitchener was his home. Dom distributed 'City of Kitchener' pins and pens from coast to coast, even as far as the rice fields of Japan. He lived his philosophy, 'People are what it is all about'.

      Dom's family will receive relatives and friends on Tuesday, April 16 from 7-9 pm and on Wednesday April 17 from 2-4 and 7-9 pm at the Henry Walser Funeral Home, 507 Frederick St., Kitchener 519-749-8467. Parish prayers 8:30 pm Wednesday evening. Prayers will be offered in the funeral home chapel at 10:10 am on Thursday April 18, 2013 followed by procession to St. Anthony Daniel RC Church, 29 Midland Dr., Kitchener for a Funeral Mass at 11:00 am.
      Fr. Earl Talbot officiating.

      A reception will take place in the Parish Life Centre of St. Anthony Daniel Church following the Funeral Mass.
      A private family interment will take place at Woodland Cemetery.

      Family expresses sincere thanks to Pioneer Tower staff at Sunnyside Home for their compassionate care given to Dom over the last 2 1/2 years.
      As expressions of sympathy, donations to the Sunnyside Home Foundation, Parish Life Centre of St. Anthony Daniel and Juvenile Diabetes Association would be appreciated by the family (cards available at the funeral home).
      Visit www.henrywalser.com for Dom's memorial.

      "Dominic Cardillo - Sunday, April 14Th, 2013". 2022. Memorials.Henrywalser.Com. https://memorials.henrywalser.com/Cardillo-Dominic/1548641/obituary.php.

  • Sources 
    1. [S3231] Find A Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/108472414/dominic-vincent_patrick-cardillo.

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 26 Oct 1930 - Guelph City, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsElected Office - Mayor of Kitchener - 1963 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - school teacher - - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 14 Apr 2013 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Woodland Cem., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth