Plating Industry Figure Dominick Nole Passes Away at 91

Dominick Nole, a longtime supporter and past president of Metal Finishing Association of Southern California Inc. (MFANC), passed away peacefully on May 5, 2024, at his Cameron Park, California, home.

Dominick, graduating from UC Berkeley and UC Davis with chemistry and mathematics degrees, first began his career at AeroJet, testing rocket engines and developing lithium-ion batteries. Soon after, he opened Alta Plating Chemical Corp. in Sacramento in 1969, running the metal plating shop for 40-plus years up until his retirement. He was known for beginning his employees out in the lab, teaching them how to analyze processes correctly, which they use to this day. He was also instrumental for things like “Permit by Rule” and his interactions with regulatory agencies often aided finishers when it came to getting sensible rules.

In addition, Dominick was a well-known figure in metal finishing associations across the country. He served time on the NAMF National Board, which was a precursor to NASF, and was president of the Northern California Metal Finishers. He contributed to MFANC in many capacities and was always ready to help platers when they came to him for answers, which he always had. He was even a Registered Environmental Assessor with the state of California, and he often lobbied at the state and federal level; his efforts helped local plating shops stay alive through their trials and tribulations.

Outside of his career accomplishments, Dominick was known for his quick wit, warm smile, reliability and his passion for golf. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served during the Korean War and married his high school sweetheart and loving wife of 71 years, Sandra Howard; together they raised three children.

His life was honored on May 10 in Green Valley Mortuary & Cemetery.