Dominic I. Lannutti

Dominic I. Lannutti, age 56, passed away on Friday, April 24, 2020. He was born September 21, 1964 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois to James Michael Lannutti and Norma Gil. Dominic is survived by his wife, Adela Lannutti, his mother Norma Gil, his sisters Michelle Lannutti, Anne Balderrama, Alexandria Gil and Margo Lannutti, his children, Kay Lannutti, Christopher Lannutti, Oddessa Dow, and Alec Lannutti and step-children Aaron Arreola, Alyssa Arreola, 5 grandchildren, daughters/sons in-law, aunts, cousins and many nieces and nephews. Dr. Lannutti’s path to higher education is quite interesting and also very non-traditional. He was proud to tell his students that they could succeed no matter their background and that he was a prime example for them. Dr. Lannutti was a high-school drop-out who had his first daughter while still in high school. He was a proud Army veteran who returned from service to work as a farmer for many years in Fabens, Texas, and didn’t start his path through higher education until the age of 27 when he decided to attend El Paso Community College. It was at EPCC that Dr. Lannutti found his calling in the life sciences. Dr. Lannutti realized his love of research after he was recruited into the first class of the Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program. Bridges to the Baccalaureate is an NIH grant-funded program in partnership with UTEP that serves to provide access to research careers to underserved students by providing summer research opportunities in biomedical research laboratories at the university. Dr. Lannutti graduated from EPCC in 1993 and continued his undergraduate education at the University of Texas at El Paso, where he completed his Bachelor of Science in Biology in 1997. Dr. Lannutti never lost his connection to EPCC during this time, and he continued to work as a Biology tutor and then lab assistant at the Valle Verde Campus of EPCC. Following his graduation, Dr. Lannutti continued to work at EPCC while he pursued his Master’s degree in Biology. Once he completed the degree, he began teaching part-time at the Valle Verde Campus and then eventually landed a tenure-track position where he remained for over 20 years. Dr. Lannutti continued his education and earned his Ph.D. at UTEP, all while working full-time as a faculty member. Dr. Lannutti made a significant impact on his students in many aspects. He was an excellent professor, and his classes were always in demand. He routinely taught the specialized course offerings such as Vertebrate Zoology, Invertebrate Zoology, and Botany. In addition, his office was the focal point for the Biology Department, and you could usually see a colleague or a student standing in the doorway. It was a wonder that he ever accomplished any work! He also served as Valle Verde Biology Faculty Coordinator, the Biology Discipline District-Wide Coordinator, and chaired innumerable discipline committees. Dr. Lannutti also served on the Faculty Senate and was a strong advocate for faculty issues. If he believed in the cause, there was no stopping him! At the heart of Dr. Lannutti’s service was his desire to help underserved students. Because of this, his most impactful service came through his willingness to mentor and support students. He did this in a variety of ways. First off, Dr. Lannutti realized the impact that the Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program had on his pathway, and he continued to serve in the program. First, as project director, and then added the position of Co-Principal Investigator. It was through this program that Dr. Lannutti affected hundreds of student’s lives. Most Bridges alumni graduated with a four-year degree, and many went on to earn graduate and professional degrees. Dr. Lannutti lead the program with a conviction and dedication that is hugely admirable. At the time of his passing, the grant was up for renewal and had just completed its 27th year of funding! Dr. Lannutti also served as the Co-Principal Investigator of the STEMGROW grant, which is a partnership grant with UTEP that serves students in Biology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Finally, Dr. Lannutti served his students as one of the faculty leads for the Tejano Empowerment Network (TEN), a program at EPCC designed to assist and mentor young men of color. In this program, Dr. Lannutti not only served as a faculty leader but as a mentor to many of the young men in the program. He also made significant contributions to state-wide efforts to address issues surrounding our young men and boys of color. Dr. Lannutti’s impacts on the College, his students, and colleagues are immeasurable, and this short write up is in no way inclusive of his accomplishments over a career at EPCC that spanned over 30 years. To better understand his impact, talk to one of his colleagues or students, and they’ll undoubtedly share a story where Dr. Lannutti made a positive and lasting impact on their lives. His long-lasting impacts are evidenced in the hundreds of email messages, texts, and social media postings celebrating his life. Finally, on a more personal note, Nic Lannutti was an amazing friend and colleague to so many of us, and I am blessed to have known him and called him a friend. Words cannot express how much he will be missed. - by Dr. Carlos Amaya Dean of Architecture Math and Science No funeral services are scheduled at this time. Celebration of His Life Service will be schedule at a later date.