He was born December 26, 1922 in Springfield, MA, the son of Nicola and Concetta (Viviano) DeNucci.
Nick was the pianist for the big band “Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra” from the late 1940’s into the early 1950’s. He met his friend Bobby Hackett, the legendary trumpeter, during his tenure with the band and he and Bobby continued to occasionally play together till Bobby’s passing in 1976. Nick also gave famed jazz drummer Joe Morello (most noted for when he was a member of the Dave Brubeck quartet when they recorded “Take Five”) his first professional job. In addition, several times in the 1950’s and again in 1967, Nick accompanied Judy Garland onstage. For the past almost 40 years Nick played at many Keene establishments and private parties.
Nick will be dearly missed by his children and step-children, all of whom he greatly loved: Susan Buckman and her husband Thom Langlois of Newton, NH, Ingrid Buckman and her husband Chip Girouard of Manchester, NH, Jacquelynn Mosher and her husband Robert of San Diego, CA, and John “Jack” DeNucci and his wife Sharon of Mashpee, MA and Naples, FL; Denise Meadows of Keene, NH who was like a daughter to Nick, and 34 grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and extended family members.
He is predeceased by his wives: Ruth DeNucci, and Doris DeNucci; children: Diane Wallace and Karl Buckman; and siblings: Josephine, Lena, Mildred, and William.
Family and friends are invited to call at Fletcher Funeral Home, 33 Marlboro Street, Keene, NH on Sunday, September 17, 2017 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm. A funeral service will be held at the Trinity Lutheran Church, 100 Maple Ave, Keene, NH on Monday, September 18, 2017 at 10:00 am. Burial will follow at Monadnock View Cemetery, Park Ave, Keene, NH.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Nicholas S. DeNucci’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 (1-800-805-5856 or www.stjude.org).
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18