Feb 18, 2013

Dominic A. Sacco, 76, of Washington, died Monday, February 18, 2013, in Southmont of Presbyterian SeniorCare, Washington.

He was born December 15, 1936, in Washington, a son of the late Anthony and Rose Spadafore Sacco.

He was a 1954 graduate of Washington High School and went on to graduate from the University of Minnesota.

Mr. Sacco was a standout two-sport athlete for Wash High in football and baseball. He was an offensive end, running back and defensive linebacker-cornerback for three years in football and was named to the 1953 All-Washington County Coaches All-Star Team and to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Pittsburgh Sun Telegraph All-WPIAL Team as an end.

He caught a touchdown pass in the WPIAL championship game in 1952 at Pitt Stadium against Aliquippa. The 1952 Little Prexies’ team was inducted into the Washington-Greene County Hall of Fame in 1998.

Mr. Sacco was one of the original Pony League players in 1951, was the league’s first home run champion and named to the first all-star team.

As a baseball player at Wash High, he was part of two section-championship teams that advanced to the WPIAL semifinals.

He played on the freshman football team at the University of Minnesota before a knee injury ended his career.

Mr. Sacco continued as a baseball player in the U.S. Air Force at Fort Smelling Air Force Base, Minneapolis, Minn. His team became two-time 31st Air Division champions, Central Air Defense Force champions and a third-place winner in NORAD and North American Air Defense Command’s Baseball World Series.

He was the 31st Air Division home run and batting champion in 1957, two-time 31st Air Division All-Star and two-time 31st Air Division Outstanding Player of the Year in 1957 and 1958. He was a two-time Central Air Defense Force All-Star in 1957 and 1958.

In 1957, he became the 31st Air Division first member to be elected to Elite All-U.S. Air Force Status and named the center fielder for the U.S. Air Force Baseball Team.

In addition to his love of sports, he was also devoted to his grandchildren.

He was also a member of Alpine Club and Washington-Greene County Sports Hall of Fame.

On March 19, 1955, in Washington, he married Barbara “Sis” Naser, who survives.

Also surviving are a son, John E. (Marissa) Sacco of Monessen; a daughter, Alice Marie (Mark) Murphy of Washington; a brother, Anthony (Wilma) Sacco of Washington; two sisters, Clara Graham of Washington and Mary Ann Trapuzzano of Beaufort, S.C.; four grandchildren, Milana L. and Jack P. Sacco of Monessen and John D. and Jay D. Murphy of Washington; and several nieces and nephews.

Deceased are three brothers, Frank, Sam and Jimmy Sacco.

Friends will be received from 1 to 3 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in Piatt and Barnhill Funeral Home, 420 Locust Avenue, Washington, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, February 21, with the Rev. Stephen Smythers officiating. Interment will follow in Washington Cemetery, where military honors will be accorded by Edwin Scott Linton Post 175 of the American Legion. Memorial contributions may be directed to First Christian Church Building Fund, 615 East Beau Street, Washington, PA 15301, or to a charity of one’s choice. Please bring any pictures, printed memories or stories to the funeral home to be uploaded in real time for the family to view on www.familyremembers.com. Condolences may be expressed at www.piattandbarnhillfh.com. Piatt and Barnhill Funeral Directors Inc., Charles R. Piatt, owner/supervisor, and Lawrence K. Donovan, funeral director.