Dominico (Nick) T. Venetucci

Dominico (Nick) T. Venetucci. July 23, 1911 - September 7, 2004. , Born in Papetown, a northern Colorado Springs community, Nick worked in the family orchard and caddied at Patty Jewett and the Broadmoor. His first full-time job was at Blattman Nursery., At age 22 he began a baseball career in the New York Yankee Organization. As a catcher he was moved from Class D to Class A in the minor league system. It was then that the Venetucci family bought the ranch in Security. He left baseball at this point to assist the family farm., Nick won many awards at the State Fair for his farm products. In 1950 he became known as "The Pumpkin Man". He received national recognition for this achievement as he served 30,000 young people a year in the great pumpkin giveaway. Many of these youngsters came back to work on the farm and were frequent visitors at the Venetucci's., Notoriety of "The Pumpkin Man" has been given through Reader's Digest, and Charles Kuralt's book and television series On The Road., As Nick's wife Bambi has said, "Often Nick has been heard to say. I make my everyday work my pleasure." Yes, in truth, his love of life was in his work. He sowed the seeds with tenderness and reaped the harvest with joy. It is in tilling the soil, and his labor done with love that bound him to his fellow man and to his God." Nick gave of himself and his heart to everyone he met. "He lived in a constant season of giving."