A Coquitlam father who has continued the legacy of his cancer crusader son will be receive B.C.'s top honour.
Next month, Domenic Cuccione will be one of 14 British Columbians invested with the Order of British Columbia (OBC), the province’s highest honour, by Lt. Gov. Janet Austin.
Cuccione’s award comes four years after his wife, Gloria, received the same accolade for her work as executive director of the Michael Cuccione Foundation, which raises money for pediatric oncology research.
Michael Cuccione started the foundation after beating cancer; he died five years later from complications of a car accident in Burnaby — eight days after he turned 16. (He was also gained some fame as an actor and singer best known for his television role as “Q.T.” in the fictional boy band 2ge+her.)
Since then, the foundation has collected more than $23 million including, $182,632 from last month’s 11th annual Kick For A Cure at Coquitlam Town Centre Park.
In June, the foundation also hosted its 17th annual Golf For A Cure in Burnaby and, next month, it will have its 23rd annual gala at the Italian Cultural Centre in Vancouver.
Domenic Cuccione will receive his OBC two days before the gala, at Government House in Victoria, on Sept. 20 (it will be webcast live via orderofbc.gov.bc.ca).
Domenic Cuccione’s name was put forward for an OBC award by the owner of Mission Hill Winery, Anthony von Mandl, a longtime foundation supporter.
A general contractor, Cuccione is also a director and treasurer of the foundation, which oversees chapters in Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto and New York.
He said he’s accepting the OBC on behalf of the foundation's board and volunteers, saying of his wife and himself: “We’re the front people but we cannot do this alone.”
Domenic Cuccione said he and Gloria have tried to turn their tragedy into a positive movement. Many parents who have children with cancer or have lost a son or daughter to the disease, “it breaks them, but, for us, we have continued what Michael started. It keeps us busy.”
This year, 203 British Columbians were nominated for OBC; the other 13 recipients are: Deborah Abbey, David Anderson, Brian Fehr, Anne Giardini, Tracey Herbert, Andrew Way Yin Joe, Grand Chief Percy Joe, Mary Kitagawa, Brenda Martens, George Melville, Bill Millerd, Carey Newman and Brian Minter (whose gardening column has appeared in The Tri-City News for more than two decades).
“These exceptional recipients are pillars of our communities who have demonstrated excellence and distinction in their fields,” said Lt. Gov. Austin in a press release. “I wish to extend my thanks to all new members for their commitment to meaningful work that leaves a lasting legacy, which benefits and elevates our province for future generations.”
jcleugh@tricitynews.com
