Dominik's Biography
Dom was a regular kid, with all the great hopes and challenges of young people today. He was “a man for others” and “a man of desire” in spirit, in sports, at table and with his family and friends.
“He brightened everyone’s day and every day I would sit down next to him in 6th period and talk, he made me so happy. …he has changed my life for the better. I now strive to live life like Dom. To make people happy. That was Dom in a nutshell.”
- Gonzaga Classmate
In the fullness of time, Dominik Liam Pettey was born August 5, 1997. Dominik was the middle of three children born to Patrick and Magdalena Pettey. He was 14 months younger than his brother Nicholas and 18 months older than his sister Veronika.
Dominik was always an active, athletic child who loved to move. He was happiest outdoors whether hitting a baseball, kicking a football, shooting hockey pucks, building forts or simulating military exercises with his buddies. He was a vibrant youth with an adventurous spirit and an undeniable passion for ice hockey.
As early as kindergarten, Dominik’s happy and gentle nature gave way to a generous and sensitive spirit that was attentive to the needs of others. He had a big heart and cared for those who felt isolated, marginalized, or were going through a difficult time. One father of Dom’s classmate in kindergarten recalled when his son was sitting anxiously and alone in the corner of a classroom, young Dominik walked over to his fellow classmate, kept him company and comforted him.
In his high school years, Dominik’s spirit of generosity and sensitivity to others continued as he spent time with his friends hanging out, having fun and always lifting their spirits. Dominik was generous with his time, limited allowance and other resources. He would give away gift cards he received to others or put whatever money he had in the collection basket at school for a cause.
One characteristic that defined Dominik was his lightheartedness. With this came a genuine sense of humor that was at times impish. He would act out in the silliest ways and say the most ridiculous things–all for fun. He never took himself too seriously. Dominik’s authenticity was always at the forefront and he did not hide behind any false pretenses, rather he was a regular, ordinary kid with all the great hopes and challenges of youth hidden beneath an ever-present smile.
Dominik’s love and devotion to God was evident from a young age as he often spent time building churches with Legos, serving as an altar boy, and even “playing priest” at pretend Mass at home. Once Dominik entered his teenage years, Dominik’s pastor, Fr. Mark Knestout, recalled that Dominik would go to Mass every Sunday, and “would even drive himself on the occasions when his parents were not in town.”
Dominik’s faith was nurtured as a student at St. Bartholomew Primary School in Bethesda, MD. After graduating from St Bartholomew, he later received the sacrament of Confirmation and took the name St. John Bosco. Dominik then entered Gonzaga College High School in Washington, DC.
While at Gonzaga, Dominik maintained a solid “B” average and worked hard to keep up his grades. When he found a subject intriguing, he applied himself to his studies; when the subject was not to his interest, he caused his teachers much grief and consternation by playfully joking around sometimes to an extreme. (His ever-present smile came in handy at just such moments.)
Dominik rarely experienced illness in his young life, however, in December of his junior year of high school, he was rushed to the hospital in the middle of the night with a ruptured appendix. In the window of time before the emergency appendectomy, he asked his mother to call a priest to come and hear his confession. Fr. Don Worch arrived within thirty minutes.
Dominik’s time at the hospital was prolonged due to many complications in what ordinarily would have been a routine surgical procedure. He endured a week-long stay at the hospital, significant weight loss, and a considerable amount of physical suffering. During the weeks that followed, he was able to recover enough to rejoin the Gonzaga ice hockey team for their historic undefeated season which then culminated in back-to-back regional championships. This event was a tremendous joy for him in the midst of some deeper and quieter sorrows.
The complications from the ruptured appendix and the physical toll placed on Dominik at that time meant that Dominik missed his final exams first semester Junior year. As a result, his grades were noted as incomplete on his report card. Dom entered this period of second semester Junior year with some serious academic challenges, and often found the pressure to catch up and perform well to be overwhelming. Dominik was hoping to be able to use this period of time to work extra hard to improve his grades in anticipation of college applications and selection, but he was still weak, underweight and experiencing occasional abdominal pain.
During this difficult time, Dom attended Kairos, a retreat sponsored by his school. This event had a great impact on him, and would prove to be especially consoling in his struggles in the months ahead. Dominik was absent from school for weeks as he relied on his family, doctors, teachers and others to help him heal and grow stronger.
When Dominik returned to school for his Senior year, he returned with a deeper sense of awareness of the needs of others and often offered encouragement to many people in all walks of life. He routinely helped and encouraged many friends who would confide in him about their doubts and struggles. Students who were timid or may have felt awkward at school experienced a genuine empathy when he reached out to them through a brief conversation or simply raised their spirits with his smile. On one occasion while waiting for hockey practice to start, Dominik tutored a boy he had not previously known. He learned to use each and every moment as an opportunity to reach out in compassion to others.
Dominik’s life was filled with many social activities and enjoyed with many friends with whom he loved to gather and just be himself. It wasn’t until after his passing that his family came to know just how many friends he really had and to how many people he had quietly ministered. The family heard many stories of his compassion and care for others.
Dominik lived out his faith but he did not wear religion on his sleeve. He lived it authentically in person with humor, joy and an engaging smile in everyday, ordinary situations. He faced the struggles and challenges with self and family that all encounter. He experienced doubts, temptations and distractions and through it all Dominik loved his friends, family and his siblings along with the rivalry and teasing that were ever present.
Dominik passed away on All Saints Day, November 1, 2014. His requiem Mass was held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception November 8, 2014, which in the Dominican liturgical calendar commemorates the feast of All Souls. During the funeral Mass, a relic of St. Dominic was placed at the altar and in the forefront of the Basilica sanctuary, was displayed a large painting of the Divine Mercy image. The holy card provided to the congregation bore Dominik’s image and the Divine Mercy chaplet. Dominik is buried at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Silver Spring, MD.
“A MAN IN LOVE UNDERSTANDS WHAT I SAY. A MAN WHO DESIRES, WHO HUNGERS, ONE WHO WALKS IN THIS DESERT AND IS THIRSTY, WHO YEARNS FOR THE FOUNT OF DEFINITIVE LIFE, A MAN LIKE THIS KNOWS OF WHAT I SPEAK. IF I ADDRESS MYSELF, INSTEAD, TO A COLD MAN, HE WILL UNDERSTAND NOTHING OF WHAT I SAY.”
– ST. AUGUSTINE
“MAN IS NOT THE MASTER OF LIFE, NOR IS HE THE MASTER OF DEATH. IN LIFE AND IN DEATH, HE HAS TO ENTRUST HIMSELF COMPLETELY TO THE ‘GOOD PLEASURE OF THE MOST HIGH’, TO HIS LOVING PLAN.”
– ST. JOHN PAUL II