Italian American Club in Kenosha names 2023 Person of the Year

Tirabassi Jr., an entrepreneur, philanthropist, coach, sponsor and family man, was honored as 2023 Person of the year at the club’s Columbus Day banquet.

He was born in 1934 to Amelia and Domenick Tirabassi, Sr., the third of their four children. In 1956, he married Gina Marano, and they raised eight children in Kenosha. Their ever-growing family has grown to include dozens of in-laws, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Tirabassi Jr. served in the U.S. Navy from 1956 to 1958, during which time he and Gina lived in California. After his military service concluded, he returned to Kenosha and joined his father’s business, D. Tirabassi & Sons, a grading, trucking and excavating contractor, where he worked alongside his brother James and eventually succeeded his father as president.

In 1960, Tirabassi Jr. founded Precision Erecting, a machinery moving and steel erecting business that operates today as Prime Industrial Contractors. In addition to building Precision for nearly 50 years, he has pursued several other businesses and interests, which have included farming, real estate development, equipment leasing and software development.

Outside of work, he has been a longtime participant and supporter of the Kenosha community. In 2016, Domenick and Gina were honored by the University of Wisconsin-Parkside with a Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2010, Domenick was presented the Mary D. Bradford Distinguished Alumni Award for Achievement in Business.

A fan of team sports, he has coached, directed athletics, managed and sponsored many sports teams. In 2006, he was named to the Saint Joseph Catholic Academy Athletic Hall of Fame as a supporter.

Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian and County Board Chair Gabe Nudo attended Saturday’s event and had high praise for Domenick and his family and honored him with a proclamation.

“It’s a pleasure to be here to celebrate with Domenick,” Antaramian said. “I’ve known Domenick for most of my life, a long time. He’s a wonderful person. You won’t find a more generous or kind man. … The man is something special in today’s world.”

“This a great honor to be here to honor Domenick,” Nudo said. Nudo, who was born in Italy, read the proclamation for Tirabassi Jr. in Italian.

Club President Ben Gentile, who served as master of ceremonies, said Saturday’s sold-out gathering marked the club’s first big Columbus Day event to honor a member of the community since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The club is 100 years old in November, and this should be the 99th year of the event but with COVID we hadn’t had one (for several years). So this is our 96th Columbus Day banquet,” Gentile said. “We felt it was important to bring it back.”

Gentile said the event was “fantastic” and celebrates a “great institution in the community.”

He said Tirabassi Jr. “passed on this offer in the past to be named” because he is a “very humble person and doesn’t talk about himself.”

“He’s finally getting some of the recognition he deserves,” Gentile said, adding the club’s Board of Directors unanimously voted to bestow the honor.