Vince Dantona, long time professional vent and regarded by all who knew him as one of the nicest human beings on God's earth, died peacefully in his sleep last night. Vince, a Vietnam vet, was a Long Island legend beloved by audiences, bookers, and fellow vents alike. Wherever I've performed, people have always asked, "Do you know Vince and George?"

Sadly, I didn't. He and I had a date for lunch in March, which I was really looking forward to. Alas, Vince' s Maker had different plans for him. It is a great loss to the Long Island comedy community, our little vent community, and to all his family, friends, and fans.

I was just watching one of his videos on youtube this evening. I love the way George would constantly change the direction & tempo of the conversation. Sorry to hear the news.
R.I.P. Vince

Troy

How sad, another talent has left this world. R.I.P Vince Dantona

Watched some videos on youtube and he was very talented. Sad news. R.I.P. Vince.

Jorge

R.I.P.

A tribute from Chris Roach, a Long Island comic who knew him very well:

At 2:45 a.m. Vince Dantona and I were driving home over the Throgs Neck Bridge, singing along to the 50's channel, and feeling high on life. Six hours earlier I had watched this man rip the roof off of a small theatre in Elmira, NY like I've never seen before. Now, I've seen Vince and George make an audience wipe away tears of laughter over a hundred times before, but not like this. After the show I stood nearby and watched in awe as a mob of people flocked to Vince and George as I was occasionally distracted by audience members who stopped by to offer me a few "you were good too's." On this trip Vince shared stories with me from his over 40 years in show business as well as some incredible stories from his time as a U.S. Marine in Vietnam. At one point he even turned on the reading light to show me the damage that "agent orange" had done to his hands. He was without a doubt the kindest person I have ever known and I can honestly say, like most of you reading this, that I loved this man. We said goodnight and 8 hours later my wife gently woke me to tell me that Vince had passed. What I wouldn't give for one more hour on the road with Vince. He was a hero to his country and a hero to all of us in comedy. As I write this with tear filled eyes I keep hearing George in my head, over and over offering what is probably some words of comfort on this dark day in Long Island Comedy and the Comedy world, "gray skies are gonna clear up, sit on a happy face."

We had seen Vince several times and saw what was one of his last shows Saturday night at Wisecrackes Comedy Club in Scranton PA, a few days before he died. He killed as always. We thanked him and told him how great he was. We were going to buy his DVD, but things were rushed so it did not happen. We truly regret that. We also feel bad we did not have the time to stop and talk longer to him.

In the middle of the show he gave a slight cough, got distracted and commented to the audience, "That was strange. What was that?" It clearly was not part of the act, and then he continued on to kill the crowd.

Another great has passed.

We wish his family our best.

Dick Brookz & Dorothy Dietrich