Man arrived to burning home
By K.j. Williams
The Daily Reflector
Friday, September 30, 2011
http://www.reflector.com/crimerescue/smoke-killed-business-owner-707607
A man killed in a house fire on Thursday had come home to discover his residence filled with smoke, Greenville Fire-Rescue officials said.
Derek Oliverio, 27, of 209-B Wyndham Circle, owner of Sup Dogs restaurant, died from smoke inhalation, according to preliminary results from the state Medical Examiners Office released Friday.
Another significant condition listed in the report was acute alcohol intoxication, a spokeswoman said. The manner of death was accidental.
Also Friday, the cause of the fire was ruled accidental, said Shannon Terry, Battalion Chief of Life Safety Services at Greenville Fire-Rescue.
The fire started due to a faulty electrical outlet in the kitchen that was used to power the microwave.
Terry said Oliverio wasn’t at home when the fire started. “He came home and found a house full of smoke.”
Oliverio was pronounced dead at 4:18 a.m. on Thursday at Pitt County Memorial Hospital. His two dogs also died in the fire, a neighbor said.
On Thursday, Oliverio was mourned by friends and family outside the duplex and Sup Dogs.
His contributions to the business community were lauded by Denise Walsh, executive director of Uptown Greenville, a private nonprofit that works to support and improve that area of the city.
“He’s been a fantastic asset and we’re shocked and sorry to lose him,” she said Friday.
Walsh said Sup Dogs contributed to the vitality of the area.
“He took a property that needed a lot of attention and he created a wonderful space that appealed to all ages, which is something we love to see,” she said.
“Derrick was a strong supporter of uptown Greenville and very involved, and we will greatly miss him and his contribution will not be forgotten.”
Walsh said Friday night that she had just made an announcement honoring Oliverio’s memory from the stage at Freeboot Friday at Five Points Plaza, an event sponsored by Uptown Greenville.
She said she spoke of his support for the revitalization of the downtown area.
A member of Oliverio’s family told Walsh the family plans to keep the business open, honoring his dream.