Dominic Joseph Cunetto, 78, passed away on June 19, 2010 at Oktibbeha County Hospital.  He was born and reared in St. Louis, Missouri and graduated from Washington University with a degree in theatre.   He later received his M.A. and PhD. in theatre from the University of Florida, Gainesville.  While in Florida he taught at Terry Parker High School, Cardinal Mooney High School, and St. Petersburg Junior College. In 1963 he accepted a position at Mississippi State University where he initiated the theatre program, and over the next three decades taught thousands of students, many of whom he maintained relationships with until his death. He was named Professor Emeritus of Communication in 1993.  Cunetto was a long time member of the Southeastern Theatre Conference and the Mississippi Theatre Association where he held several offices including president. He was one of the founders of Starkville Community Theatre where he, in later years, directed plays, taught workshops and served as an officer. He was one of the founders and the first president of the Starkville Area Arts Council.  Cunetto received awards for his work in theatre from Washington University, University of Florida, Mississippi State University and Mississippi Theatre Association.  In 1985-86 he was awarded the Burlington Northern Foundations Faculty Achievement Award and in 1988 Cunetto received the Cowboy Maloney Award for his outstanding contributions to the Mississippi Theatre Association.  After many years as an advocate for theatre arts, he retired from MSU in 1991, having seen the completion of the theatre in McComas Hall on the MSU campus, developed and taught courses in theatre, directed over 80 plays, and founded the first statewide High School Drama Festival.  In that same year MTA  announced the creation of the Dominic Cunetto Award for Best Production to be awarded annually at the State High School Drama Festival.  He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Starkville, Mississippi.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years Ida Loving Cunetto of Starkville; son, Dominic Joseph Cunetto, Jr., daughter-in-law Trisha Ashmore Cunetto; son, Stephen Hearn Cunetto, all of Starkville; daughter, Marla Cunetto Dennis and son-in-law Rev. David Dennis and two grandsons Jacob Asim Dennis and Matthew Josiah Dennis all of Pulaski, Virginia. He is also survived by his sister Rosalie “Lil” Hubacek of St. Louis, Missouri, and brother Joseph Richard Cunetto of Herrin, Illinois as well as numerous nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his mother Josephine Grana Cunetto and father Carmelo Cunetto of St. Louis, Missouri, and a brother Vincent Cunetto of Riverside, California.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Dominic J. Cunetto Theatre Scholarship, Mississippi State University Foundation, P. O. Box 6149, Miss State, MS 39762; St. Joseph Catholic Church, Starkville, MS, or the charitable organization of your choosing.