Henry A. “Hank” Iadonisi, the only night custodian H. Olive Day School has ever had, died unexpectedly Monday, January 18, 2010 at Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro from complications following surgery. He was 56. Iadonisi came to work in Norfolk when H. Olive Day School opened in January 1994. He was hired by Toby Lyons, who had just started as facilities director for Norfolk’s elementary schools a couple of weeks before. The two had worked together at Teledyne in Dedham before the company laid them off during downsizing. “He was easygoing, mellow. Nothing bothered him,” Lyons said in an interview late this week. “… And yet very reliable. … He was hardworking.” Iadonisi worked from afternoons to late evening, and was well-known among students and staff who participated in the after-school program. Linda Balfour, principal of H. Olive Day School, sent an email message to parents earlier this week notifying them of Iadonisi’s death. “As a school community, we are grieving the loss of Mr. Iadonisi who has been a valuable and loved member of the ‘HOD school family’ since our school opened in January 1994. Hank was an easygoing, flexible and affable person who was always willing to help any student or member of our staff in need of his assistance. All of us at the H. Olive Day School are affected by his loss. We will miss Hank,” Balfour wrote. Lyons said Iadonisi’s family, which includes his wife and their five children, are all hardworking. He said Iadonisi started out on a 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. shift, but switched to 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. at one point so he could get home in time for his wife to work an overnight shift at her job.
Iadonisi was originally from Dedham. He lived in Attleboro at the time of his death.
He was an avid fisherman. He was the son of the son of Henry A. Iadonisi of Dedham and the late Elizabeth (Croswell) Iadonisi
He was the beloved husband of Sandra M. (Parker) Iadonisi. He was the devoted father of Henry A. III, Andrew R., Maria C., Elizabeth F., and Denise N. Iadonisi, all of Attleboro.
He was the brother of Sally Morrissey, and her husband James, of Norwood; Robert Iadonisi, and his wife Kathleen, of Norwood; Nancy Kane, and her husband John, of Attleboro; and the late Joseph Iadonisi. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Funeral arrangements were handled by George F. Doherty and Sons Wilson-Cannon Funeral Home in Dedham.
A funeral Mass was celebrated Thursday, January 21 at St. Mary’s Church in Dedham. Burial was at Knollwood Memorial Park in Canton. Expressions of sympathy may be made in Hank’s memory to a family fund, checks payable to Robert Iadonisi, 89 Westview Drive, Norwood, Mass. 02062; or to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen Street, Framingham, Mass. 01701.
