Dominic Bedini, D-day paratrooper

Dominic J. Bedini died on Monday evening, June 7, a day after the 60th anniversary of his parachuting into Normandy on D-day. He was 84 years old and had lived at Laurel Ridge Nursing & Skilled Care Center, Ridgefield.
Mr. Bedini, who was known as “Poni,” was wounded three times in World War II. He was a member of “The Screaming Eagles,” the 101st Airborne Division that dropped behind German lines on June 6, 1944.
He fought in Holland, was taken prisoner by the Germans, but was soon released as part of a prisoner trade for a German officer. He went on to fight in the Battle of the Bulge. There he was seriously wounded by machine gun fire, and spent more than a year recuperating in military hospitals.
His extraordinary service and survival from nearly mortal wounds came despite the fact that, as a child, he has contracted polio and had required regular treatment from Dr. Francis B. Woodford.
“For him to have been a paratrooper was almost unbelievable,” said his sister, Mary F. Braun of Wilton. “He was a strong man.”
Although he was awarded at least one Purple Heart and many other commendations, Mr. Bedini rarely talked about his war service. In the late 1990s, however, friends and community leaders convinced him to be grand marshal of the Memorial Day Parade.
Mr. Bedini was born in Ridgefield, April 9, 1920, son of Louis and Antonia Zandri Bedini. He attended local schools and was a Ridgefield High School graduate. He did not officially graduate until the year 2000 under a special program that awarded diplomas to veterans whose educations were interrupted by war. He was 80 years old when Dr. Ralph Wallace, Ridgefield’s superintendent, presented the diploma to him at Laurel Ridge.
A mason, Mr. Bedini had worked for Morganti Inc. for many years and later for Ippoliti Construction Company. He retired in 1985.
For many years Mr. Bedini lived in the family homestead on Prospect Street, and later moved to Ballard Green. He had been at Laurel Ridge for the past four years.
Mr. Bedini’s interests included horses — he once owned one named Lattimer — and golf. In later years “golf was his passion,” Mrs. Braun said.
Mr. Bedini also enjoyed gardening. While he was “not a joiner,” “he was very active in his quiet way” at Laurel Ridge. There, for instance, he grew tomatoes each year, sharing the harvest with fellow residents. He had started this year’s crop from seed and the plants are growing there now for residents to enjoy this season.
“He was a very quiet man, but a generous, good man,” his sister said. “He really was a good friend to everyone.”
Besides his sister, Mr. Bedini is survived by several nieces and nephews including Carolyn Fahey of Norwalk and her children, Michael and Rob; and Bob and Ed Braun, both of Ohio.
Three sisters, Tecla Keeler, Nana Servadio, and Elda Bedini, and a brother, Mario Bedini, died before him.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday at 10:15 a.m. in St. Mary’s Church.
Mr. Bedini will be buried in Fairmount Cemetery, Sutton, Province of Quebec, Canada., beside his longtime friend, Leona Kennison Morganti, a native of Quebec who died in 1996.
Contributions in Mr. Bedini’s memory may be made to the Laurel Ridge Resident Council Fund, 642 Danbury Road, Ridgefield, CT 06877.
The Kane Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.