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Photo Vincent Guadazno
David "Dixie" Federico |
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Photo Vincent Guadazno
Mourners left flowers outside Federico’s home after word of his death broke on Sunday. |
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‘Dixie’ Federico dies in accident
By Pru Sowers
Banner Staff
PROVINCETOWN – Longtime resident David “Dixie” Federico died sometime Saturday night after apparently falling down the stairs at his home and breaking his neck.
Police received a call around 10 a.m. Sunday from a concerned relative who was worried that Federico couldn’t be contacted. Officer Rachel Peters responded to Federico’s home at 95 Bradford St. and found the body. She called the Provincetown Rescue Squad, and the case was turned over to the Massachusetts State Police because it was an unattended death. Brian Glenny, first assistant district attorney in the Barnstable County District Attorney’s Office, said the case is under investigation.
“Pending the autopsy, there is no suggestion of anything of a suspicious nature,” he said.
A close friend of Federico’s, Allan Devine, said Federico became despondent Saturday after hearing that his sister, Elaine, had committed suicide earlier that day. Devine said Michael Santos, a friend of Federico’s, broke the news to him, at which point Federico became hysterical. Worried about their friend’s safety, they called the Provincetown Police and Federico was transported to Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis. Later, unbeknownst to police and his friends, Federico checked himself out of the hospital. At that point, Federico apparently went home.
“How he got out of the hospital, I don’t know,” Devine said.
Federico’s body was later found at the bottom of an interior back staircase.
“I don’t believe Dixie did himself in. I truly believe it was an accident,” Devine said.
Federico lived in Provincetown for 26 years, running twice for selectman. He was the manager of the Post Office Café on Commercial Street for 22 years, leaving there about a year ago to work as a bartender and waiter at the Governor Bradford.
Because of his work in the restaurant industry, Federico knew hundreds of people, both residents and regular visitors to town. Dozens of people worked for him over the years at the Post Office Café, many moving on to make a name for themselves on the local restaurant scene, like Ken Ross, owner and chef at Ross’ Grill. Federico was known for his sardonic wit and his love for Provincetown.
“Everybody knows Dixie,” Devine said. “Everybody has their Dixie stories.”
One such story involved the origin of his nickname, given to him by friends when he lived in San Francisco. They assumed he was a Southerner because his mother was from Texas. He grew up, however, in Vermont. Nevertheless, the name stuck.
Federico ran for selectman in 2005 and 2006. He narrowly lost in 2005 and took up the race again the next year, with a campaign slogan that was indicative of his to-the-point manner: “Stop complaining and vote.” He was particularly worried about Provincetown losing its year-round community. He joined the Local Housing Partnership after losing the 2005 selectman race, vowing to become more involved with town government and working to stem the tide of longtime locals being forced to move because of soaring housing prices. In April 2006, he summed up his basic philosophy of life for the Banner for an article on his candidacy.
“In the long run, you should be happy,” he said. “I enjoy life. I’ve had my ups and downs but the bottom line is that I’m working at a great job. I live in a great town. I love walking down the streets, saying hi to all the little townie ladies and all the guys in the trucks. It’s a special community and I’m part of it, and I love that.”
Federico is survived by two brothers and an aunt. Friends are organizing a celebration of his life to be held from 2 to 6 p.m. on May 20 at Bayside Betsy’s.
psowers@provincetownbanner.com
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May 8th, 2008