Vincent DeDomenico facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vincent Michael DeDomenico
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Vincent DeDomenico
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| Born | September 29, 1915 San Francisco, California, United States
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| Died | October 18, 2007 (aged 92) |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Graduate, Mission High School, San Francisco, California |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Employer | Golden Grain Macaroni Company |
| Known for | Inventor of Rice-A-Roni Founder of Napa Valley Wine Train |
| Spouse(s) | Mildred DeDomenico |
| Children | Steven DeDomenico, Michael DeDomenico, Vicki McManus, Marla Bleecher, Vincent DeDomenico Jr. |
Vincent Michael "Vince" DeDomenico (born September 29, 1915 – died October 18, 2007) was a clever American businessman. He helped create the famous food product, Rice-A-Roni. He also started the fun Napa Valley Wine Train.
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Early Life and Family Business
Vince DeDomenico was born in San Francisco, California. He grew up in the city's Mission District. He finished Mission High School. He also took some classes about business and money.
His family did not have enough money for him to go to college full-time. So, after high school, he started working. He joined his family's business, the Gragnano Macaroni Factory. In 1933, his father passed away. Vince and his brothers then took over the company. They changed its name to Golden Grain Macaroni Company.
Inventing Rice-A-Roni
Vince and his brothers were very creative. In 1958, they came up with a new idea. They invented a dried rice mixture called Rice-A-Roni. This product became very popular. It was a big success for their company.
Building Ghirardelli Chocolate
In 1964, Vince DeDomenico bought another famous company. This was the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company in San Francisco. He worked hard to make Ghirardelli even better. Under his leadership, it became a world-famous chocolate maker.
In 1986, the DeDomenico family sold both companies. They sold Golden Grain Macaroni Company and Ghirardelli Chocolate Company. The Quaker Oats Company bought them for a lot of money.
The Napa Valley Wine Train
After selling his companies, Vince DeDomenico was 72 years old. But he wasn't ready to stop working. In 1987, he joined two other investors. They had bought an old train track in Napa Valley, California. This track was built in 1864 by the Southern Pacific Transportation Company.
Vince and his wife had once ridden the famous Orient Express train. They dreamed of creating a similar luxury experience in California. They wanted to offer great wine, food, and comfort on a train ride. Vince took charge of the project. It took years to get approval from local people. But he finally succeeded.
The Napa Valley Wine Train started running in 1989. Today, it carries about 100,000 passengers each year. The train helped make downtown Napa, California a popular place for tourists.
A Special Award
On the 10th anniversary of the train's operation, Vince DeDomenico received an award. He was given the Walter E. Disney Railroader Award. This award recognized him for bringing the old train back to life. It also honored him for preserving its classic style.
Later Life and Legacy
In his later years, Vince DeDomenico also ran a ranch. He worked right up until the day he passed away. He died peacefully in his sleep after a full day at the wine train office.
Vince DeDomenico was married to Mildred DeDomenico for over 60 years. Friends and people who worked with him described him as a strong and determined businessman. But in private, he was quiet and polite. He was a private family man who enjoyed a glass or two of wine each day.
Mildred, his wife, passed away on November 26, 2007. This was five weeks after Vince's death.
