With profound sadness, the family of John Joseph “Jack” Dominico announces his sudden and unexpected death on January 11, 2022, at St. Joseph’s Health Centre, Toronto. Jack was the owner of The Toronto Maple Leaf Baseball Club for 53 years; the baseball diamond at Christie Pits is called Dominico Field. He was born John Joseph Dominico to Fred and Muriel (nee Widener) Dominico on March 19, 1939, in North Bay, Ontario, at another St. Joseph’s Hospital. Coincidentally, Jack was born on the feast of St. Joseph. He attended St. Joseph’s Separate School in North Bay. (The name Joseph was a large theme in his life.)

Jack was predeceased by his mother Muriel, by his step-mother Evelyn, and by his father Fred. He was also predeceased by his wife Lynne, and by his step-son Peter Hayes. Jack is survived by his brother, Richard (Christine), by his nephew Paul, by his nieces Julie (Richard), and Alysha (Vicky). He leaves behind his grandnephews Gabriel, Grayson, Evan, Bailey, Jasper, and James. He will be dearly missed by his trusted assistant, Hanna.

Jack Dominico received his education in North Bay, Ontario. As well as St. Joseph’s Separate School, he also attended North Bay Collegiate and Vocational School (NBC&VI). He was an accomplished athlete, excelling both in minor hockey and later in the North Bay GFA (fastball) league. He began his advertising career in North Bay before continuing it in Sault Ste. Marie, and in Gravenhurst. He eventually brought that career to Toronto, where he met and married Lynne, at The Etobicoke Guardian. Because of their mutual love of baseball, together they took over The Toronto Maple Leaf Baseball Club in 1969. They won the League Championship eight times, the first time in 1972, but their championship win in the 2002 season saw them go undefeated at home for the entire season, which was a league first.

Over the years Jack became a colourful public figure in Toronto. The Ultimate Promoter, Jack loved the act of selling something to someone. In fact, he was a legend. One newsman wrote that if Jack Dominico decided to sell you something, you had better save your time and buy it, because if you threw him out the door, he would return through a window. Still, many were the players he helped over the years, either by getting jobs for them, or by helping out with a loan. He was well loved and respected by those who played for him; players still talk about his passion and competitiveness. In his love for his team, he often displayed his huge heart, and his desire to help people. He was known for his wit and wisdom when he played the role of father figure for his players, often dispensing good advice.

In the general community, his Christmas turkey giveaways were legendary. His generosity was known across Toronto. The youngsters of the Christie Pits community, especially those who were part of the Toronto Playgrounds House League Baseball Program, appreciated the summer baseball clinics run by Jack and his star Leaf players, who passed on some of their valuable skills. Jack also hosted an annual sports dinner at an airport hotel on each Saturday evening before his Sunday opening home game at Christie Pits. The five Hall of Fame legends he would invite to these dinners took questions from the attendees. It was a much anticipated event in the Toronto baseball scene. Baseball aficionados will miss Jack Dominico and his infectious enthusiasm for the sport he loved so much. The annual trophy given to the winners of the Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) is called the Dominico Cup. This donation to the league was part of his life’s work to keep the IBL afloat. Jack has been inducted as a Member of both the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame, and the North Bay Sports Hall of Fame. Annually, Jack sponsored a Dominico Family Award for the North Bay Sports Hall of Fame. He was recently named as a new Member of the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame but the induction ceremonies have been postponed because of Covid-19.

Memorial celebration of Jack's life will be held at the Turner & Porter, Yorke Chapel, 2357 Bloor St. W, Toronto (Bloor just east of Jane Street) on Saturday, May 14, 2022, from 3-5 pm.

The family of Jack Dominico especially would like to thank his assistant, Hanna, for her loyalty to Jack. The family would also like to thank the staff at St. Joseph’s Health Centre for their caring and professional attention and for making his passing as peaceful as possible.