Dominico Joseph Cardillo

Dominico J. Cardillo, age 81, a resident of Albuquerque, NM, since 1991, passed away on Saturday, October 1, 2022. He is survived by his children Mica Cardillo, Rachel Cardillo (Wife), Avelena-Rose Ortega, Ezequiel Ortega (Husband), Joseph Cardillo, and Mica Cardillo; four grandchildren, Doroteo, Julio, Dahlia “Quinn”, and Oliver; sisters Rosery Togni, Fran Brown, and Joyce Farrell; and many nephews, nieces, cousins, family, and friends in Albuquerque, NM, and Syracuse, NY and beyond. Mr. Cardillo was preceded in death by his wife, Tova Cardillo, and sister Pauline Cardillo.

Born November 28, 1940, in Syracuse, New York, Mr. Cardillo was the son of Giuseppe Cardillo and Lena (Gangemi) Cardillo, who emigrated from Reggio Calabria, Italy, to the United States. He graduated from Central Tech High School in Syracuse, NY, and attended Albany College and Onondaga Community College. He served in the 174th Tactical Air Force as an airplane mechanic and was deployed to France and Germany. Mr. Cardillo worked in many roles, including as an Arco service station operator, truck driver for the Syracuse University Bookstore, water plant operator for the Metropolitan water board, mediator for Hawaii small claims court, a truck driver for the Albuquerque Publishing Company, auto mechanic, and later retired while working as a postal employee for the United States Postal Service.

He met Tova Kosziuk, an artist and free spirit, at a macrobiotic potluck dinner while she was attending Syracuse University and fell in love immediately. The two married on June 21, 1981, and lived in Syracuse followed by Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia before moving to Moloka'i, Hawaii. In 1991, the family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he resided until his death. Mr. Cardillo played the accordion and guitar, was an avid teller of jokes with an encyclopedic memory that spanned decades, enjoyed listening to jazz and big band music, watching movies, and dedicated a substantial part of his life to healthy eating and perspectives, including following Macrobiotics and Ayurvedic practices.

A Service will be held on Thursday, November 10, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. MST at FRENCH - Lomas, 10500 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112, officiated by Deacon Pat Sena. Interment will take place at Santa Fe National Cemetery. Friends and family may visit FRENCH - Lomas for the service or view services remotely via French website. Reception to follow (contact family for details).

In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Mr. Cardillo may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation: www.parkinson.org .