Funeral information for a beloved longtime Naples restaurateur has been announced.
Vin DePasquale, 82, died March 19. He founded The Dock at Crayton Cove restaurant in Naples in 1976 and a year later began the Great Dock Canoe Races, a popular end-of-season community event.
Here’s what we know.
Funeral is a month away
An obituary at naplesnews.com said a Mass of Christian burial begins at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 9, at St. Ann Catholic Church 985 Third St. S., Naples.
DePasquale was born in August 1943 in New York City. He graduated from the University of Tampa then opened The Dock after moving from San Francisco, the obituary said.
He also opened The Riverwalk at Tin City (in March 1979) and Marker IV restaurants.
“Vin and then partner, Kenney Schryver transformed a clam-shelling and oyster processing plant into what Tin City is today,” the obit said.
“He started The Great Dock Canoe Race as an end of the season celebration for his employees running 40 years. Philanthropy, community and culture were at the forefront for Vin. He was deeply involved in Drug Free Collier, Boys and Girls Club, Winged Foot Foundation and Leadership Collier. Vin was one of the original Olde Naples entrepreneurs.”
Survivors include his son, Jonathan Depasquale; his stepdaughter, Emily Ford and her husband Harold Ford, Jr and his brother, Phillip DePasquale and his wife Terry and his grandchildren, Hef and Georgia Ford. He was predeceased by his son, Christian Depasquale.
‘He led with heart’
When The Dock announced his death on Facebook, Neapolitans reacted with love and shared memories.
“He led with heart, generosity, and a genuine love for the people around him. Vin’s legacy lives on here, and in the community he cared so deeply about,” said The Dock’s Facebook post.
DePasquale a decade ago discussed why he began the first Great Dock Canoe Races in a Naples Daily News story.
“It was kind of an end of season party,” he said. “That is what it was. It was something to sign off from the season. In 1976, we knew little about the end of season.
“April came and Easter came and there was nothing on the streets, and we weren’t prepared for that so the following year we created a canoe race.”
In 2019 he sold the restaurant after owning it for four decades.
What else to know
Anyone who wants to send notes of sympathy and comfort to his family should visit his tribute page at www.fullernaples.com.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in Vin’s name to Drug Free Collier by visiting www.drugfreecollier.org.
Dave Osborn is the regional features editor of the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. Contact him at dosborn@usatodayco.com and follow him on Instagram @lacrossewriter.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: The Dock founder funeral info announced: What to know
Reporting by Dave Osborn, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Naples Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
