It is with heartfelt sadness that we announce the passing of our founding father, Dominic P Toscani Sr. on December 6.

Dominic “Dom” was the youngest of eight children and lost his father at the age of four. At the time of his father’s passing, there were no social programs to help assist the family. He and his brother were sent to Girard College, which at the time was a boarding school for poor, orphaned or fatherless boys.

He went on to earn a scholarship to Bowdoin College and then went to Penn Law School. While doing routine estate and tax work, he developed a reputation for helping entrepreneurs incorporate newly formed businesses. Many of his clients couldn’t afford his modest fees. In return for his work, Dom accepted part ownership in some of the firms he was helping to establish. In 1964, his former Girard College classmate who had become a printer wanted to start his own company and that is when Paris was born.

A Life That Touches Others Goes On Forever

All throughout his career, Dom lived by the golden rule – treat others the way you want to be treated. He infused this into the culture of Paris. Our commitment to our employees, customers and vendors is a direct result of his life’s work and has been the cornerstone of our success.

Dom believed in giving back. He once wrote “Self-preservation is inescapable and we all think of ourselves first, but we have to always think of others and serve others.” Dom instituted several employee benefits – Thanksgiving turkeys, Easter hams, annual employee gatherings – that continue today. In addition, he donated to several charities and Paris continues this tradition through our Make It Better Charitable Giving.

The employees that had the honor of knowing Dom would say that his laughter was infectious, and he was full of life. We will never forget the man who gave us so much to remember.