Stephen Francis Gatto
February 24, 1927 - March 11, 2018
Steve was born in New York City, the third of four children, to Italian immigrants Stefano and Pasqua Gatto. From New York City the family moved to Massachusetts, where at age 17 Steve chose to follow in his older brother Ralph’s footsteps. So in 1943 Steve moved west to California and joined the Merchant Marines. From 1944 through 1948 Steve traveled to Europe, Africa, India, Free China and the Philippines before returning home to San Francisco.
Upon his return he went to the International Assoc. of Machinists local #1327 seeking employment. They sent him out to the only job they had available, the Schlage Lock Manufacturing Company in Visitacion Valley. He started work on July 1, 1948 as a materials handler. In 1952 while working at Schlage Lock he met his future wife Ethel Pauline Armstrong of Corpus Christi, TX. They were married on New Year’s Eve December 1954 and welcomed their son Stephen in April of 1957. Both Steve and Ethel were active in the union. Both were elected Dept. Steward’s before Ethel became an Inspector and Steve a Chief Steward, positions they held until leaving Schlage in 1964 and 1966 respectively.
In November of 1966, Steve became a Business Rep. for the International Assoc. of Machinists Lodge #1327. In 1972 he became a Business Rep. for the Bay Area District Lodge #115. He negotiated contracts for Health & Welfare, safe working conditions, seniority provisions, arbitrated grievances and worked tirelessly for his members. He represented union members from more than 100 different machine shops spanning San Francisco to San Jose including the City and County of San Francisco and Moffett Field. In 1988 he began serving as Trustee of the California Metal Trades Assoc./International Assoc. of Machinist Health & Welfare plan.
Sadly, in December of 1988, after a long illness, Steve lost his wife Ethel of 34 years. Steve retired in February 1994 after 28 years as a Business Rep. and 46 years as a member of the trade. He continued to work in a volunteer capacity for the next five years and moved to Vallejo to be closer to his son.
Once in Vallejo, Steve became known as “Mr. Pins” a nickname bestowed upon him by friends and associates of his son Stephen aka: “Pins”. In early 2002 Stephen and his wife Colleen “Ms. Pins” had a daughter Angelina “Lil Pins”. She would be Steve’s only grandchild and quickly became the apple of his eye. Stephen and Colleen would purchase a home that would now become home to all three generations of Gatto’s. They would then spend the next 16 years living together under the same roof.
Steve and Angelina became inseparable. You could often find them about town socializing with the checkers at Raley’s, with the tellers at the bank or at the Moose Lodge for lunch. Nonno was also her personal chauffeur and he would sometimes be seen driving through town with a car full of kids, music turned up listening to the latest songs on the radio and his head would be bobbing to the music.”Nonno” as she called him and Angelina were 75 years apart in age and just this past month celebrated her sweet 16th and his 91st birthdays.
Steve was preceded in death by his parents Anthony and Pasqua, his wife affectionately known as “Honey”, his siblings Ralph, Josephine and Marina. Steve leaves behind his son Stephen Gatto, daughter in law Colleen, granddaughter Angelina of Vallejo, nephew Bud Gatto and wife Vicky of Santa Rosa, niece Kathy Gatto Poole of Petaluma, nephew Phil Ramsey and wife Nurit of San Francisco and nephew Dave Ramsey of Southern California.
Steve passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side. He will be remembered by many as a man that worked hard, a man with a kind heart and a man that was a true friend. He will be truly missed as a loving father, a great dad and the best Nonno ever. ...he lived his dash.