In Honor of Nick D’Amico

1917 – 2000

By Kathy DeSantis,  

Nick D’Amico passed away at his home on December 12 following a long hospital stay.  His wife, Santina, two sons and four grandchildren survive him.  He was 83 years of age.  A retired restaurateur, Nick was the owner of the former “D’Amico’s Italian Restaurant” on Chapman Avenue in Orange for many years.  Memorial services were held at Fairhaven Chapel in Santa Ana on Sunday, December 18.

Through a mutual interest in music, Nick D’Amico met and married his beloved wife Santina (Sandy) after joining The Florestine Opera Chorus in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1943.  Both of Sicilian heritage, they were a perfect match.  The director of the chorus was John David Anello, a successful musician and a consummate teacher from whom Nick learned much about music and life.  He sang many leading opera roles and was elected president of the chorus for three years. Nick would later apply his lessons learned and love of music to formulate his own life.

In 1966 Nick and Sandy decided to move to California to fulfill a lifelong dream.  They were in the trucking business at the time so he loaded all his furniture on his semi and two cars on another and left Milwaukee for Orange, California.  He was employed soon after to construct the Dana Point Harbor with the use of his trucks.

In 1968 they opened an Italian restaurant at 2610 E. Chapman Ave. in Orange called D’Amico’s, the Home of the Singing Chef and the Musical Busboys.  With music and good Sicilian food, Nick and Sandy packed them in.  Nick often said he spent the happiest years of their lives at the restaurant.

            Much of the formation of the Italian American community in Orange County can be traced directly back to Nick.  In 1972 he read a news article by Vincent Licata about the Order Sons of Italy forming in Tustin.  Nick contacted Vincent and offered the use of his banquet room for the meetings.  It was this initial contact between Nick and Vincent that was the genesis of other local Italian-American organizations such as the American Italian Renaissance Foundation.   Nick became involved in the Tustin-Orange Lodge, now known as the Renaissance Lodge and held many meetings and events at the restaurant.  The Lodge prospered and grew.  He served as a trustee, an orator and treasurer for several years.  Nick especially remembers sponsoring a dinner dance in memory of their son David who was a Hospital Corpsman in the Marines.  They donated the proceeds to the Lodge to start the Scholarship Fund.  He served as the scholarship chairman until 1994.  

 Nick was honored by the American Italian Renaissance Foundation who named a scholarship after him to benefit students of Italian language classes taught at El Modena High School in Orange and also bestowed the annual Columbus Award in 1996 upon him at a large gathering at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana. 

          Nick’s participation in the annual International Street Fair is also legendary.    Because of his involvement with the restaurant business and Sons of Italy, Orange Mayor Jess Perez recruited Nick’s efforts to help formulate the Italian Street food booth in 1972 for the International Street Fair.  Although a large task, Nick solicited the Lodge’s support and later the Renaissance Foundation assisted by volunteering to make and sell pizza, grilled sausage sandwiches and other Italian delicacies.  Nick served as “Italian Street” booth chairman until 1994 and worked every year on Labor Day weekend to develop the booth’s profits.  Through “Italian Street”, the community has become aware of the Italian presence in Orange County.    Twenty-eight years later, “Italian Street” continues to be one of the most successful booths at the Fair, winning awards and being featured on local televised news.                                                                

         Even as a retired restaurateur,  Nick also donated much of his time and money to favorite charities - Hi Hopes Handicapped Singing Group, the Lestonnac Clinic, Meals on Wheels, Cooley’s Anemia Foundation, Toys for Tots, UCI Birth Defects library program and the Orange Senior Center.   He was a goodwill ambassador through his support of the various programs, involving his family and friends.  The Volunteer Center of Greater Orange County gave him the “Spirit of Volunteerism” award in 1994.

Nick and Sandy are proud parents of two sons, Nick and Richard, as well as four grandchildren, Nick, Tiana, Gina, Shanelle and two great - grandchildren.  Family and friends from the Sons of Italy recall how   Nick enlivened Lodge meetings and family get togethers with traditional Sicilian songs he learned as a child and his own “musings” of the simple, good life that was a part of his Italian heritage.   He loved traveling to Costa Rica to visit Nick Jr., the family and other activities.

 Nick will be remembered with appreciation for his accomplishments and success as a family man and businessman, also for his many charitable deeds.  Love of his Italian heritage led him to a full, rich life.  He leaves a legacy of inspiration and philanthropic knowledge in working with community agencies that enabled the Italian community in Orange County to progress as it has.   Thank you, Brother Nick.  – Order Sons of Italy, Renaissance Lodge #2259

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Kathy DeSantis © 2005