San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Santo Thomas Giannetto, D.D.S.
July 4, 1929-December 30, 2020
Tom reached the amazing age of 91, although he proclaimed once he hit 90 that he was shooting for 100. His sole sibling, brother Joe, died at age 60.
His father, Dominic, emigrated from Sicily as a young man and his mother Frances’s parents came from Calabria, eventually moving from Tom’s birthplace of Albany, New York to the warmer climes of Modesto, California where Tom grew up.
He received his dental training at UCSF and proudly “fought tooth decay” in Japan in the Air Force during the Korean War.
He married Marjorie McLeod of San Francisco in 1955. They settled in San Jose and then Saratoga, raising four children. Dad practiced dentistry in San Jose, building his own Dental Arts Building on South Monroe Street opposite Valley Fair shopping center in which he leased space to other dental practitioners.
Dad loved golf with his buddies and never worked on Wednesday which was golf day. He was a longtime member of Monterey Peninsula Country Club. Tom retired at age 60 and became a supportive house husband to his wife Marge, a successful real estate agent. He was the ultimate family man. Always asking on phone calls “how are you, how are the kids?” Later in years this phrase would be his mantra.
He leaves behind children Susan, Stephen (spouse Stacy), Lisa (spouse Thomas Vail), and David (spouse Carlene), grandchildren Melissa, Marc, Brennan, Parker, Andrew, and Torina as well as great-grandchildren Elijah, Fiona, and Charlie who will miss him but treasure the times with Dad/Grandpa.
The family sincerely thanks his friends and care providers for the loving support.
A private memorial will be held in the future.