Sirio Del Bianco, first-born son of Italian immigrants Giorgio and Aurelia Del Bianco, was born in Lucca, Italy on March 7, 1920, and at the age of two years, six months, came to America with his mother, departing Trieste, arriving in New York on the SS Argentina on October 10, 1922. They journeyed from New York to Merced County, CA. to reunite with his father, who was already employed by Miller and Lux at their Santa Rita ranch in Los Banos, California.
Sirio and his younger brother Elmo grew up in Madera, and attended Howard School. Sirio graduated from Madera High in 1939 and later attended 4C's Business College in Fresno. It was a natural progression for Sirio and Elmo to become involved with Lucca's Restaurant, which was owned and operated by their parents since it opened in 1935. At age 15, Sirio's career at Lucca's began as a dishwasher, later graduating to bartender, Maitre d'hotel, and eventually manager.
Because of a punctured ear-drum suffered early in life, Sirio was considered 4F for military duty. Except for a five year stint during World War II building Liberty ships at the Richmond shipyards, Sirio remained at Lucca's. He never considered any other line of work. He enjoyed interacting with the restaurant clientele, and received a great deal of personal satisfaction from ensuring that every guest who dined at Lucca's had an enjoyable experience.
Sirio married Victoria Vived on May 22, 1941 in Madera. From this union, which spanned 69 years, they raised three daughters.
Although the elder Del Bianco's remained active in the restaurant, in 1948 Sirio, Elmo and their wives became the driving force that made Lucca's Restaurant one of the San Joaquin Valley's premier dinning spots. Lucca's ravioli were world renowned.
In September 1973, as Lucca's was undergoing some renovations, a fire irrupted in the basement of the restaurant, quickly destroying the business. It was reported to be the worst fire in Madera since 1941. The Del Bianco's were forced into temporary retirement until the restaurant was rebuilt around 1975.
Over the years, Lucca's became a destination spot for social life where generations of valley families gathered to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, fine dining and dancing. For many years Lucca's was the meeting place for all local service organizations. Sirio was an active member of the Madera Chapter of Rotary International, and a founding member the Madera Golf and Country Club. Upon his retirement from Lucca's on March 31, 1985, he became involved with the daily activities at the club as manager of the lounge and restaurant.
Throughout his life, Sirio enjoyed family trips to the beach at Santa Cruz, golfing with friends at the Country Club in Madera, trips to Nevada for a little gambling and golf, dove hunting, cruises with his wife and friends, and visits with his daughters and their families. He also took two trips to Italy, and on one of these occasions, brought back his cousin and family to assist the culinary staff at Lucca's.
Sirio, a quiet, relaxed, good-natured, distinguished gentleman, had a quick wit, an easy-going manner and a great sense of humor.
The family expressed their gratitude to Lila & Carmen for their years of tender loving care and a special thanks to the staff's of Hinds Hospice and Westgate Manor of Madera.
Surrounded by his devoted and loving family, Sirio passed away peacefully at his home on August 19, 2010, at the age of 90.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Elmo and his nephew George Del Bianco, all of Madera.
He is survived by his devoted and loving wife Victoria Vived Del Bianco, sister-in-law Anna Lattanzio Del Bianco, cousin of Nila Francesconi of Madera, three daughters, eight grand-daughters, great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews, as well as many cousins in Lucca, Italy.
Entombment: Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum.
Sirio and his younger brother Elmo grew up in Madera, and attended Howard School. Sirio graduated from Madera High in 1939 and later attended 4C's Business College in Fresno. It was a natural progression for Sirio and Elmo to become involved with Lucca's Restaurant, which was owned and operated by their parents since it opened in 1935. At age 15, Sirio's career at Lucca's began as a dishwasher, later graduating to bartender, Maitre d'hotel, and eventually manager.
Because of a punctured ear-drum suffered early in life, Sirio was considered 4F for military duty. Except for a five year stint during World War II building Liberty ships at the Richmond shipyards, Sirio remained at Lucca's. He never considered any other line of work. He enjoyed interacting with the restaurant clientele, and received a great deal of personal satisfaction from ensuring that every guest who dined at Lucca's had an enjoyable experience.
Sirio married Victoria Vived on May 22, 1941 in Madera. From this union, which spanned 69 years, they raised three daughters.
Although the elder Del Bianco's remained active in the restaurant, in 1948 Sirio, Elmo and their wives became the driving force that made Lucca's Restaurant one of the San Joaquin Valley's premier dinning spots. Lucca's ravioli were world renowned.
In September 1973, as Lucca's was undergoing some renovations, a fire irrupted in the basement of the restaurant, quickly destroying the business. It was reported to be the worst fire in Madera since 1941. The Del Bianco's were forced into temporary retirement until the restaurant was rebuilt around 1975.
Over the years, Lucca's became a destination spot for social life where generations of valley families gathered to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, fine dining and dancing. For many years Lucca's was the meeting place for all local service organizations. Sirio was an active member of the Madera Chapter of Rotary International, and a founding member the Madera Golf and Country Club. Upon his retirement from Lucca's on March 31, 1985, he became involved with the daily activities at the club as manager of the lounge and restaurant.
Throughout his life, Sirio enjoyed family trips to the beach at Santa Cruz, golfing with friends at the Country Club in Madera, trips to Nevada for a little gambling and golf, dove hunting, cruises with his wife and friends, and visits with his daughters and their families. He also took two trips to Italy, and on one of these occasions, brought back his cousin and family to assist the culinary staff at Lucca's.
Sirio, a quiet, relaxed, good-natured, distinguished gentleman, had a quick wit, an easy-going manner and a great sense of humor.
The family expressed their gratitude to Lila & Carmen for their years of tender loving care and a special thanks to the staff's of Hinds Hospice and Westgate Manor of Madera.
Surrounded by his devoted and loving family, Sirio passed away peacefully at his home on August 19, 2010, at the age of 90.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Elmo and his nephew George Del Bianco, all of Madera.
He is survived by his devoted and loving wife Victoria Vived Del Bianco, sister-in-law Anna Lattanzio Del Bianco, cousin of Nila Francesconi of Madera, three daughters, eight grand-daughters, great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews, as well as many cousins in Lucca, Italy.
Entombment: Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum.
Sirio Del Bianco, first-born son of Italian immigrants Giorgio and Aurelia Del Bianco, was born in Lucca, Italy on March 7, 1920, and at the age of two years, six months, came to America with his mother, departing Trieste, arriving in New York on the SS Argentina on October 10, 1922. They journeyed from New York to Merced County, CA. to reunite with his father, who was already employed by Miller and Lux at their Santa Rita ranch in Los Banos, California.
Sirio and his younger brother Elmo grew up in Madera, and attended Howard School. Sirio graduated from Madera High in 1939 and later attended 4C's Business College in Fresno. It was a natural progression for Sirio and Elmo to become involved with Lucca's Restaurant, which was owned and operated by their parents since it opened in 1935. At age 15, Sirio's career at Lucca's began as a dishwasher, later graduating to bartender, Maitre d'hotel, and eventually manager.
Because of a punctured ear-drum suffered early in life, Sirio was considered 4F for military duty. Except for a five year stint during World War II building Liberty ships at the Richmond shipyards, Sirio remained at Lucca's. He never considered any other line of work. He enjoyed interacting with the restaurant clientele, and received a great deal of personal satisfaction from ensuring that every guest who dined at Lucca's had an enjoyable experience.
Sirio married Victoria Vived on May 22, 1941 in Madera. From this union, which spanned 69 years, they raised three daughters.
Although the elder Del Bianco's remained active in the restaurant, in 1948 Sirio, Elmo and their wives became the driving force that made Lucca's Restaurant one of the San Joaquin Valley's premier dinning spots. Lucca's ravioli were world renowned.
In September 1973, as Lucca's was undergoing some renovations, a fire irrupted in the basement of the restaurant, quickly destroying the business. It was reported to be the worst fire in Madera since 1941. The Del Bianco's were forced into temporary retirement until the restaurant was rebuilt around 1975.
Over the years, Lucca's became a destination spot for social life where generations of valley families gathered to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, fine dining and dancing. For many years Lucca's was the meeting place for all local service organizations. Sirio was an active member of the Madera Chapter of Rotary International, and a founding member the Madera Golf and Country Club. Upon his retirement from Lucca's on March 31, 1985, he became involved with the daily activities at the club as manager of the lounge and restaurant.
Throughout his life, Sirio enjoyed family trips to the beach at Santa Cruz, golfing with friends at the Country Club in Madera, trips to Nevada for a little gambling and golf, dove hunting, cruises with his wife and friends, and visits with his daughters and their families. He also took two trips to Italy, and on one of these occasions, brought back his cousin and family to assist the culinary staff at Lucca's.
Sirio, a quiet, relaxed, good-natured, distinguished gentleman, had a quick wit, an easy-going manner and a great sense of humor.
The family expressed their gratitude to Lila & Carmen for their years of tender loving care and a special thanks to the staff's of Hinds Hospice and Westgate Manor of Madera.
Surrounded by his devoted and loving family, Sirio passed away peacefully at his home on August 19, 2010, at the age of 90.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Elmo and his nephew George Del Bianco, all of Madera.
He is survived by his devoted and loving wife Victoria Vived Del Bianco, sister-in-law Anna Lattanzio Del Bianco, cousin of Nila Francesconi of Madera, three daughters, eight grand-daughters, great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews, as well as many cousins in Lucca, Italy.
Entombment: Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum.
Sirio and his younger brother Elmo grew up in Madera, and attended Howard School. Sirio graduated from Madera High in 1939 and later attended 4C's Business College in Fresno. It was a natural progression for Sirio and Elmo to become involved with Lucca's Restaurant, which was owned and operated by their parents since it opened in 1935. At age 15, Sirio's career at Lucca's began as a dishwasher, later graduating to bartender, Maitre d'hotel, and eventually manager.
Because of a punctured ear-drum suffered early in life, Sirio was considered 4F for military duty. Except for a five year stint during World War II building Liberty ships at the Richmond shipyards, Sirio remained at Lucca's. He never considered any other line of work. He enjoyed interacting with the restaurant clientele, and received a great deal of personal satisfaction from ensuring that every guest who dined at Lucca's had an enjoyable experience.
Sirio married Victoria Vived on May 22, 1941 in Madera. From this union, which spanned 69 years, they raised three daughters.
Although the elder Del Bianco's remained active in the restaurant, in 1948 Sirio, Elmo and their wives became the driving force that made Lucca's Restaurant one of the San Joaquin Valley's premier dinning spots. Lucca's ravioli were world renowned.
In September 1973, as Lucca's was undergoing some renovations, a fire irrupted in the basement of the restaurant, quickly destroying the business. It was reported to be the worst fire in Madera since 1941. The Del Bianco's were forced into temporary retirement until the restaurant was rebuilt around 1975.
Over the years, Lucca's became a destination spot for social life where generations of valley families gathered to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, fine dining and dancing. For many years Lucca's was the meeting place for all local service organizations. Sirio was an active member of the Madera Chapter of Rotary International, and a founding member the Madera Golf and Country Club. Upon his retirement from Lucca's on March 31, 1985, he became involved with the daily activities at the club as manager of the lounge and restaurant.
Throughout his life, Sirio enjoyed family trips to the beach at Santa Cruz, golfing with friends at the Country Club in Madera, trips to Nevada for a little gambling and golf, dove hunting, cruises with his wife and friends, and visits with his daughters and their families. He also took two trips to Italy, and on one of these occasions, brought back his cousin and family to assist the culinary staff at Lucca's.
Sirio, a quiet, relaxed, good-natured, distinguished gentleman, had a quick wit, an easy-going manner and a great sense of humor.
The family expressed their gratitude to Lila & Carmen for their years of tender loving care and a special thanks to the staff's of Hinds Hospice and Westgate Manor of Madera.
Surrounded by his devoted and loving family, Sirio passed away peacefully at his home on August 19, 2010, at the age of 90.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Elmo and his nephew George Del Bianco, all of Madera.
He is survived by his devoted and loving wife Victoria Vived Del Bianco, sister-in-law Anna Lattanzio Del Bianco, cousin of Nila Francesconi of Madera, three daughters, eight grand-daughters, great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews, as well as many cousins in Lucca, Italy.
Entombment: Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum.
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