L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, JULY 3, 2014 L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, JULY 3, 2014 www.italoamericano.com 6 With a growing influx of new- comers these divisions became more obvious, and seemingly intractable. Since then many good people have dramatically narrowed that divide, but no family played a more important part in that endeavor than the Granatos. The founder of that local dynasty of bridge builders was Frank Granato. Born in 1914, and raised as a goat herder, he shepherded back and forth across the Salt Lake valley as if his destiny was to sew this beau- tiful place together. Though a Catholic, he joined his boyhood friends when they attended seminary (much like a Mormon Sunday school.) And when he married, he chose Edith, a person equally devout, but Mormon. Together they raised two children, one of whom, Sam, became a believing Mormon, and the other, Glenda, The Granatos of Salt Lake City are bridge builders. Not the bridges that cross rivers, but the bridges that bring people of var- ious religions, races and cultures together. During the first century of Utah's existence its population was both culturally and reli- giously homogenous. It owed its founding and development to Mormon settlers of primarily English and Scandinavian ancestry. They arrived here because this was the frontier, and they were seeking refuge from religious persecution. Here they found safety, but their history complicated their relationship with outsiders. The mormons are a wonderfully Christian people, but suspicions based on a lack of understanding festered among peoples both inside and outside the faith. Sam's father, Frank Granato, was born on October 2, 1914, in Tooele, Utah, from Salvatore and Maria Spatafore Granato. Frank was reared and educated in Bountiful, Utah. On October 4, 1945, he married Edith Singleton. He owned and oper- ated Frank Granato Importing Company, which he established in 1947 with the aim of provid- ing Italian and Greek immi- grants in Utah — along with the rest of us — with high-quality meats, cheeses, imported foods, breads, and first-class customer service. Today, Frank's son, The Granatos: building bridges that bring people together R. lAGuARdIA PeRsINGeR Aug. 10, Sun.-Italian day at Lagoon, 11:00 am. Sponsored by, The Italian-American Civic League. This event began in 1934 and is still going strong! You will find traditional Italian foods, drink, pastries, entertainment, the state's largest pasta eating con- test, silent auction and the Intermountain West's largest bocce tournament. For information visit http://italianamericanciviclea- gue.com/events/all-state-italian-day-2014/ Aug. 15 & 16, Fri. & Sat.- St. Ambrose "Ferragosto", St Ambrose Parish Italian Festival (1929 South 2300 East, Salt Lake City, UT). "Utah's Favorite Free Italian Festival", Salt Lake City Annual Italian Street Fair 2003 - till now. 3rd weekend in August, Free Family Oriented Event. For informa- tion visit: https://www.facebook.com/Ferragosto SaltLakeCity became an active Catholic. In time, Frank's boyhood spent as a shepherd grew into a thriving food business. He and Edith worked together and expanded their home based enterprise into a regional food service business that today owns a chain of four local delis. That success was put to good use. Frank became a leader in scores of community causes, but nothing was more emblematic of his spirit than a tradition of Saturday lunches. Every week these lunches were held in his warehouse, and in these less than glamorous circumstances the movers and shakers, both Mormon and not, would gather to design the future of a commu- nity that could be generous, car- ing and inclusive. Those attending were local business leaders like Roy Simmons of Zions Bank, or Izzy Wagner, a local Jewish entrepre- neur famously successful and immensely generous. Seated at those same folding tables would be religious leaders like Tom Monson, then an LDS Apostle and now president of his church, or Bishop Federal of the Catholic diocese of Salt Lake City. Also in attendance could be Governor Rampton or any of a score of mayors, senators or congressmen. Today that same tradition con- tinues under the leadership of Sam Granato. Sam has served in a variety of important communi- ty positions including the Salt Lake County Board of Health and the Governor's Economic Development Board. He was commission chair of the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, and is cur- rently a Salt Lake County Councilman. Sam continues holding those lunches that bring good hearted leaders together from all walks of life. They may no longer be held in the back room, or on folding tables, but Sam has taken that tradition one better. At the back of his large and busy deli on 1632 South Redwood Road is a warren of variously sized dining rooms, some informally named for the great leaders of Salt Lake County. There on Saturdays, and every other day of the week, you're likely to find important men and women intent on build- ing a greater future for their community. In those rooms a lot of knitting gets done. It's the kind of knit- ting the Granatos are famous for, the kind of knitting that brings diverse threads together in a glorious pattern of common good. Sam Granato Sam Granato in front of Granato Importing Co. The Granato family: two generations of patrons of the Italian culinary heritage Sam, carries on the tradition as one of Utah's leading and most dependable food purveyors. The daily panini special at Granato's is always good, and the muf- faletta and fresh mozzarella sandwiches are incredible. But, the big daddy of them all is the il grande: mortadella, ham, pep- peroni, Genoa salami, banana peppers, artichoke, onion, toma- to, lettuce, provolone, oil and vinegar. Besides his passion for authentic Italian food, Mr. Frank Granato was also deeply involved in many organizations and charities, such as the Italian American Civic League and the International Foot Printers Association. He served on the boards of Cottonwood Hospital, Salvation Army, Multiple Sclerosis Society, Camp Kostopulos, and Catholic Community Services. All of these were very dear to Frank. For two generations, the Granato family has supported the local community and con- tributed to preserve the Italian culinary heritage over time thanks to their social commit- ment, professional service, and tasty products.

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