Dominick Joseph Scandurro Jr.

Dominick Joseph Scandurro, Jr.

Dominick Joseph Scandurro, Jr., a resident of Nairn, Louisiana in Plaquemines Parish, died peacefully surrounded by his family on September 14, 2023 after a brief illness.

Dominick was born in New Orleans in 1942, lived in Gretna as a young boy, and moved to Boothville, La. in 1954.  He grew up in a small clapboard house with no heating or air conditioning, a cistern for water, and slept in the same bed with his two brothers.  His toys as a boy were an assortment of Japanese-made Arisaka rifles, officer swords, and other treasures that his father “liberated” during his service with the Fifth Marine Division in the Pacific in World War II, which stoked a lifelong fascination with history in general and military history in particular.

He attended Buras High School in the 1950s, where he excelled at football and  track.   In between those seasons, Dominick was on the basketball team long enough to surrender his jersey to a better player for the good of the team, in exchange for continued use of the locker room’s hot showers, a luxury not available at home.  In 1954 he met his classmate, Alice Cognevich, and was instantly smitten.   They married at the end of 1961, raised three children, celebrated their sixty-first anniversary last December, and enjoyed a beautiful, close, lifelong marriage built around family, faith, food, and shared adventures in the faraway places they visited. 

Dominick’s life was a classic American story.  His grandparents came to this country over a hundred years ago as peasant farmers who were unable to speak English, read or write. He became the first member of his family to attend college.  He graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University and was awarded a scholarship to Tulane Law School, where he served on the Tulane Law Review and drove a cab at night and on weekends to support his wife and young sons.  He began practicing law in Buras in 1966 and enjoyed a long, distinguished career. He served as President of the Plaquemines Bar Association and chaired the Civil Service Commission, the Indigent Defender Board, various attorney disciplinary boards with the State Bar Association, and many other state and local bar association committees.  Dominick frequently volunteered his services and always trusted that good deeds produced their own light. 

Dominick’s generous spirit and zest for life always left a lasting impression on everyone he encountered.  He read voraciously, and often delivered withering three-sentence book reports that were better than the published work.  Dominick was an active member and supporter of St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Empire, where he and Alice received the Order of St. Louis from the Archdiocese for their dedicated support of the church community.  They traveled all over the world but always returned to south Plaquemines Parish and remained proud “down the road” residents of Nairn throughout their lives.

Dominick was preceded in death by his parents Dominick and Gladys, and his brothers C.J. and Mike.  He is survived by his devoted sister Penny Gasquet (J.F.); his beloved wife Alice; his sons Tim (Sara), Steve (Rebecca) and Dewey (Michelle); and his grandchildren Nick (Natalie), Annie, Sophia, Audrey and Camille. 

A funeral Mass will be held at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Port Sulphur, La. on Thursday, September 21 at 1 P.M., with visitation that morning beginning at 10 A.M.  Interment at the Nairn Cemetery will follow the Mass.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider a donation in Dominick’s memory to St Patrick Catholic Church, 28698 Hwy. 23, Port Sulphur, La. 70083, or to a charity of your choice.

Mothe Funeral Home is assisting the family during this difficult time. Family and friends are encouraged to share their condolences, stories and memories by visiting: www.mothefunerals.com.