Geniale Bifano, well-known Bandon businessman, died suddently at his home on Jan. 1, 1956. Mr. Bifano was born in Italy, living there until the age of 29 years. He sailed for America on March 21, 1921, landing at New York City. From there he went to Washington where he became acquainted with Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Conn, with whom he formed a close friendship. The Conns came to Bandon in 1929 and Mr. Bifano followed in 1930.
Arriving in Bandon, he worked for a time as janitor for the Bank of Bandon, then started a shoeshine business which he operated until burned out in the Bandon fire of 1936. After the fire, he built a small shop which is now a barbershop on Second Street. He operated the shoeshine shop and sold radios during the day, and worked at the Moore Mill at night for a number of years before selling the building and moving to Coquille.
Becoming a naturalized citizen in 1940, Mr. Bifano moved back to Bandon in the spring of 1941. He leased a small store and motel, later buying the business and enlarging it, and was still in the business at the time of his death.
Mr. Bifano was a lover of children, and the first Christmas after he leased the store, located near the Bandon Grade school, he played Santa Claus to the school children of Bandon, giving out treats to each child. This became an annual custom and in later years he extended his generosity to the whole community, giving treats to everyone who visited his store on the day he played Santa Claus.
Bifano's Market and Motel was also a popular place on Halloween night, when hundreds of masked and costumed children visited him to "trick or treat". They were never disappointed.
On June 12, 1953, Mr. Bifano married Mrs. Winnie Steward, who with her children, Arlene and Harold, survive him. Also surviving is a son, Antonio Bifano, of Louis Creek, B.C.
Arriving in Bandon, he worked for a time as janitor for the Bank of Bandon, then started a shoeshine business which he operated until burned out in the Bandon fire of 1936. After the fire, he built a small shop which is now a barbershop on Second Street. He operated the shoeshine shop and sold radios during the day, and worked at the Moore Mill at night for a number of years before selling the building and moving to Coquille.
Becoming a naturalized citizen in 1940, Mr. Bifano moved back to Bandon in the spring of 1941. He leased a small store and motel, later buying the business and enlarging it, and was still in the business at the time of his death.
Mr. Bifano was a lover of children, and the first Christmas after he leased the store, located near the Bandon Grade school, he played Santa Claus to the school children of Bandon, giving out treats to each child. This became an annual custom and in later years he extended his generosity to the whole community, giving treats to everyone who visited his store on the day he played Santa Claus.
Bifano's Market and Motel was also a popular place on Halloween night, when hundreds of masked and costumed children visited him to "trick or treat". They were never disappointed.
On June 12, 1953, Mr. Bifano married Mrs. Winnie Steward, who with her children, Arlene and Harold, survive him. Also surviving is a son, Antonio Bifano, of Louis Creek, B.C.
Geniale Bifano, well-known Bandon businessman, died suddently at his home on Jan. 1, 1956. Mr. Bifano was born in Italy, living there until the age of 29 years. He sailed for America on March 21, 1921, landing at New York City. From there he went to Washington where he became acquainted with Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Conn, with whom he formed a close friendship. The Conns came to Bandon in 1929 and Mr. Bifano followed in 1930.
Arriving in Bandon, he worked for a time as janitor for the Bank of Bandon, then started a shoeshine business which he operated until burned out in the Bandon fire of 1936. After the fire, he built a small shop which is now a barbershop on Second Street. He operated the shoeshine shop and sold radios during the day, and worked at the Moore Mill at night for a number of years before selling the building and moving to Coquille.
Becoming a naturalized citizen in 1940, Mr. Bifano moved back to Bandon in the spring of 1941. He leased a small store and motel, later buying the business and enlarging it, and was still in the business at the time of his death.
Mr. Bifano was a lover of children, and the first Christmas after he leased the store, located near the Bandon Grade school, he played Santa Claus to the school children of Bandon, giving out treats to each child. This became an annual custom and in later years he extended his generosity to the whole community, giving treats to everyone who visited his store on the day he played Santa Claus.
Bifano's Market and Motel was also a popular place on Halloween night, when hundreds of masked and costumed children visited him to "trick or treat". They were never disappointed.
On June 12, 1953, Mr. Bifano married Mrs. Winnie Steward, who with her children, Arlene and Harold, survive him. Also surviving is a son, Antonio Bifano, of Louis Creek, B.C.
Arriving in Bandon, he worked for a time as janitor for the Bank of Bandon, then started a shoeshine business which he operated until burned out in the Bandon fire of 1936. After the fire, he built a small shop which is now a barbershop on Second Street. He operated the shoeshine shop and sold radios during the day, and worked at the Moore Mill at night for a number of years before selling the building and moving to Coquille.
Becoming a naturalized citizen in 1940, Mr. Bifano moved back to Bandon in the spring of 1941. He leased a small store and motel, later buying the business and enlarging it, and was still in the business at the time of his death.
Mr. Bifano was a lover of children, and the first Christmas after he leased the store, located near the Bandon Grade school, he played Santa Claus to the school children of Bandon, giving out treats to each child. This became an annual custom and in later years he extended his generosity to the whole community, giving treats to everyone who visited his store on the day he played Santa Claus.
Bifano's Market and Motel was also a popular place on Halloween night, when hundreds of masked and costumed children visited him to "trick or treat". They were never disappointed.
On June 12, 1953, Mr. Bifano married Mrs. Winnie Steward, who with her children, Arlene and Harold, survive him. Also surviving is a son, Antonio Bifano, of Louis Creek, B.C.
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