Professor Dominic Anthony Valentino

Professor Dominic Anthony Valentino (77) of West Kingston, RI, died at home on September 22, 2018. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on December 30, 1940. A renowned professor of psychology at the University of Rhode Island for 33 years and chair of his department for several, Dom touched the lives of thousands of students. In 1992 he accepted with pride The URI Foundation Teaching Excellence Award. He officially retired from the university in 2006. He was known to his students and colleagues for his intelligence, curiosity, and love of learning. His specialty was neuropsychology. Studying the art and architecture of the human brain, surrounded in the lab by his students, was the job he never thought of as work. In the lab and in the world, Dom was defined by his modesty, kindness, and steadiness in times of stress and challenge. His love of good food, puns and his infectious laughter were a reminder of his optimistic outlook on the world. His smile will be remembered. Most of all he loved Catherine (Slough) Valentino, his devoted wife, who was also his best friend and colleague for well over 50 years. It was plain to his friends and family that any day with her was a good day. His academic legacy is carried on with pride by his two sons, Professor Nicholas Valentino of Ann Arbor, MI, and Professor Benjamin Valentino of Hanover, NH, and his daughters-in-law Bebe Zuniga Valentino and Laura Hercod. He adored his six grandchildren--Dominic, Tobias, Estella, Kate, Alexander and Andrew--with his whole heart. Throughout his life he was devoted to his sister Rosemary Shea of Lake Oswego, OR, and brother David Valentino of Palm Springs, CA. In lieu of flowers, Dom would wish that donations in his memory to go to the Valentino Grebstein Fund (GV19) to benefit student research in psychology at the URI Foundation (urifoundation.org). Scroll down to "Other Funds" when you select the list of funding opportunities and enter the above fund. A celebration of Dom's life will take place in the Great Room (on the first floor) in Roosevelt Hall on URI's campus from 10am-12 on Saturday, September 29. All are welcome to come share stories and fellowship in his memory.