Obituary
Henry was born July 24, 1939 to Henry and Claire Vaughan Dinenno in NY, NY. The son of an Italian father and an Irish mother, Henry’s early life played out as leader of the Marble Hill Jaguars gang on the streets of the Bronx. He was protected from the law by his maternal grandfather, a clerk of court. When his grandfather’s influence was no longer enough Henry was saved by his father’s courage to move his family to West Haven, CT. There Henry put himself through Notre Dame High School and flourished under the heavy-handed Brothers of the Holy Cross, their influence was so great that he actually contemplated a life in the priesthood.
After graduating from University of Connecticut in 1961 with a BS in Electrical Engineering, Henry and his wife, Patricia Cunningham Dinenno, relocated to Southern California. Henry went on to graduate from University of Southern California in 1964 with a MS in Electrical Engineering. Henry launched a 36 year career at Rockwell International beginning with Project Apollo then Space Shuttle.
Henry remarried in 1987 to Sue Roby-Dinenno. Henry was part of the Challenger Accident Investigation and was Associate Program Director of the team that built Endeavor, the Challenger's replacement. Henry culminated his career as Vice President of Advanced Systems and Program Development, a position which took him all over the world.
Henry would often reflect on how the experiences of his delinquent youth, his transitional phase, and his renewed relationship with God, helped him grow and use his career success to help others. He authored his biography “From the Streets to the Stars” to show at-risk youth that there is a path to success.
Henry led many programs throughout his life. He instituted Rockwell’s Kids and Us Christmas gift program; the GRAPEVINE program which served as a means for employees to make management aware of other employees in need of assistance, counseling, etc. He sat on the Board of Directors of Downey Community Hospital in Downey, CA; the Town Council of Bloomington, UT and headed its Architectural Review Board. He chaired the Board of Directors of Dixie Care and Share, a nonprofit providing meals, food pantry and transitional housing for homeless and low-income families.
Henry and Sue moved to Vero Beach in 1999 where he joined Chapter 59 of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. He also volunteered at the Sebastian Inlet State Park. Henry served for several years as a judge for the Science and Engineering Fair in Indian River County.
In his final years he found comfort in St. John of the Cross Catholic Church and then EWTN (Catholic TV) when he could no longer attend church services. He enjoyed sunsets from his lanai on Orchid Island and sunrises from his den in Oak Chase.
Henry passed away knowing that his wife; Sue, his children; Henry III, Angela Mendoza, Christina Maxwell, Francis Dinenno, and his stepson; Ryan King, as well as his grandchildren, siblings, their families, and his many friends, all loved him.
A celebration of life will be planned for after hurricane season.