A Tecumseh, Ont., man who built intricate dollhouses for sick kids has died after a five-year battle with cancer.
But for Vincent Giannotti, who passed away Jan. 28, even in his final days he prioritized finishing his 50th miniature structure with the assistance of family and friends. He was 74.
“He’s always made us a part of everything he’s done, like right until the final hours that he couldn’t,” said Jackie Amaro, one of his daughters.
“But I will say it was the first time he let me use the tools out of all the times,” she told CBC Radio’s Windsor Morning host Amy Dodge on Thursday with a smile on her face.
Giannotti began building during the pandemic and then started donating the dollhouses to kids facing health challenges after he was diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer, which eventually spread to his bones.
“I love seeing these kids happy,” he previously told CBC News. “It really is better to give than receive, as they say. It’s really gratifying.”
A plumber and project manager by trade, Giannotti always enjoyed working with this hands.
His builds and generosity ended up inspiring elementary school students in LaSalle, who even started a woodworking club.
Meet the man who crafts intricate dollhouses for sick kids
Amaro, along with her sister Natalie Giannotti, shared an audio recording of him not long before he passed last week.
“Enjoy your days, enjoy your time, enjoy everything,” Vincent is heard saying with his oxygen tank humming in the background.
“I always enjoyed being around everyone in my life.”
Natalie says finishing the final dollhouse gave him comfort and purpose.
“There was a moment where he really recognized that his days were limited and he was struggling with the fact that he was not able to get up and do anymore,” she said.
It dawned on him, according to Natalie, he could keep doing what he wanted to do, with help, and he perked right up.
“It was just a brief moment, but … it resonated with him. And the smile came back and the life came back and the drive came back and he was so happy to the end.”
Jackie says her father was always intentional in everything he did.
“Everything was with purpose. That was all the way through even his last day.”
Natalie says her father was a natural born leader who some of her friends considered to be the “most interesting man in the world.”
Vincent was a father of four children and four grandchildren.
“Vince Giannotti is love … pure love,” said Natalie.
Aside from woodworking, his project management jobs and family, Natalie says he loved the casino, swing dancing, music, art, poetry and nature.
“You never would have known he was a boss and that he told you what to do. He inspired you and he valued everybody. Everyone had a job to do. Everyone was valuable.”
