Decades of guidance shaped athletes
VERMILION — For more than two decades, David Domonkos helped guide Vermilion athletes on the football field and track, leaving lessons that extended beyond sports.
Domonkos, 66, passed away Oct. 4 at his Vermilion home following a lengthy illness. He had lived in Vermilion for more than 37 years.
Vermilion Board of Education President Mark Benson remembered Domonkos during remarks at a recent school board meeting before leading those in attendance in a moment of silence.
Benson, who also has been involved in the Vermilion football program, recalled one of the longtime coach’s familiar messages.
“Many of you can hear him saying it right now: ‘Do your 1/11th,’” Benson said.
The phrase referred to the 11 players on a football field, with each responsible for doing his own job and doing it well.
“It was a lesson about football, but it was really a lesson about life: show up, trust the people beside you, and give your part everything you have,” Benson said. “Athletes in every school he served carry those words with them today.”
Domonkos coached boys track at Vermilion High School for 22 years and football for 26 years, serving as the Sailors’ defensive coordinator.
His coaching career extended beyond Vermilion. According to his obituary, Domonkos also coached at Amherst and Firelands and owned and coached the semi-professional North Coast Rebels for 10 years. His football coaching career spanned 36 years.
Benson described Domonkos as a devoted husband and father who spent more than 20 years coaching football and track athletes in Vermilion and across the region.
“To Coach Domonkos’s family and friends: thank you for sharing him with us,” Benson said.
Domonkos’ influence was felt across generations of athletes in a Vermilion football community where coaches are involved with players from their youth years through the high school program.
Outside athletics, Domonkos worked for Angelica Textiles and Services for 20 years, including as a general manager, before retiring in 2021. He also owned and operated Dave’s Locker Room in Vermilion for three years.
Domonkos and his wife, Karen, were married for 43 years. He is also survived by his daughters, grandchildren, siblings and other family members.
A celebration of life open house will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, at Germans Villa in Vermilion.
The family suggests memorial contributions to the Vermilion Athletic Booster Club.
Benson’s remarks also recognized the recent death of Vermilion graduate Gavin McLaughlin. The board president asked those at the meeting to join him in a moment of silence for both members of the school community.
“On behalf of the Board of Education, I extend our heartfelt condolences to everyone touched by these losses,” Benson said. “We remain committed to supporting our students and staff as we grieve together.”