Obituary: Dominick Besso

Dominick Besso 1915 ~ 2005 PRICE- Dominick Besso, age 89, passed away March 16, 2005, in Salt Lake City. He was born December 15, 1915 in Rock Springs, Wyoming to James and Martina Ferrero Besso. Married Marie Bultman July 5, 1941 in Deer Lodge, Montana; she died July 23, 1966. He was a member of the Catholic Church and a honorary life member of Price Elk's Lodge # 1550. Dom was a treasure to the community, giving to it his skills as a shoemaker and businessman and his knowledge as a storyteller and historian. His father opened Besso Shoe Shop in 1924. Dom began working there at the tender age of nine and kept right on going until he was 87. The shop was the heart and "sole" of downtown Price where you could get your shoes fixed and a history lesson, all in one visit. He was a master craftsman, building many kinds of orthopedic supports, lifts and braces, painstakingly constructing each one layer by layer. He brought new life to thousands and thousands of pairs of mine boots and cowboy boots. Anyone who knew Dom knew about his incredible memory of the history of Price and the surrounding area, and of the people who lived there. For years he entertained generations of Carbon and Emery county residents with stories about their families, detailing facts and events they never knew. He was a valuable historical resource, recording many hours of tapes for the Oral History Archive at the University of Utah. Over the years, Dom's remarkable life was highlighted in three full page stories in the Sun Advocate and two in the Deseret News. He was photographed and profiled in three books, Old Ties/New Attachments, Italian American Folklife in the West, The Other Utahns, and Missing Stories/An Oral History of Ethnic and Minority Groups in Utah. August 16, 1989, was proclaimed Dominick Besso Day by the City of Price in commemoration of his 60th year in business. He was chosen Grand Marshall of the 1995 Price International Days Parade, and in November 2001, he was honored by The Carbon County Chamber of Commerce at its Old Timers Luncheon for his long-standing commitment to the business community of Carbon County. He is survived by his three daughters, Margaret of Salt Lake City; Kate and Jamie both of Burbank, California; and many nieces and nephews. Funeral Mass, Monday, March 21, 2005, 10:00 a.m., Notre Dame de Lourdes Catholic Church. Vigil service Sunday evening 7:00 p.m. Mitchell Funeral Home. Family will be at Mitchell's Sunday and Monday one hour prior to services. Committal service, Price City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Notre Dame Catholic Church or Ronald McDonald House, 1135 East South Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah 84102. The family wishes to thank the staff of Evergreen Health and Rehabilitation Center and LifePath Hospice for their loving care and support. Don't worry, Pop, we won't take any wooden nickels!!