Dino A. Queirolo

1928-2017

Dino Queirolo — husband, uncle, family man, garbage man — has died. He passed away in December of 2017, aged 89 years.

Dino was born at home in Petaluma, California on April 28, 1928, the second child of Antonio and Carolina (Callegari) Queirolo. Antonio was a vegetable and fruit farmer, and his untimely death in 1931 caused Carolina to move to San Francisco with Dino and his older sister, Catherine.

Dino was educated in San Francisco public schools and, always industrious, also worked to help supplement his small family’s income by, first, selling newspapers and, later, working in a pharmacy. Hard work and devotion to family were traits that would come to define his life.

As a student at Mission High School he earned extra credits attending summer school which led to his early graduation in 1945. He immediately enlisted in the U.S. Army, and in joint operations with the U.S. Navy he served 2 years onboard the USS Mt. McKinley as a radioman. He ultimately achieved the rank of sergeant and was honorably discharged in 1947. He then returned to San Francisco, to his Scott Street home, and to his pharmacy work.

Also in 1947, at the suggestion of his uncle, he began employment as a worker at the Sunset Scavenger Company. In his early days, he would rise before dawn to work on his garbage route, return home to nap and then proceed to his second job at the pharmacy. Eventually, his dream of becoming a pharmacist gave way to the profession that he grew to love, that of a garbage man, and he became a proud shareholder in the company.

In 1964 there was a shareholder “revolution” at Sunset Scavenger and a new Board of Directors was installed. Dino’s election to the Board meant leaving his work on truck #86 and assuming the role of Vice President of Sunset Scavenger, as well as additional executive positions with affiliated Sunset (and, later, Envirocal) companies. He served in these roles for nearly 20 years, and was very proud of his contributions to the modernization of the solid waste industry, as well as to the excellent and always-improving service provided to the residents of San Francisco and other cities in which Sunset/ Envirocal did business. He was a strong advocate for his fellow scavengers, and until the end of his life was a member in good standing of the Scavengers’ Protective Union.

Were it not for his career change from pharmacist to garbage man Dino might never have met Florence Fontana who was a worker in the old Hampshire Street headquarters of Sunset Scavenger. Theirs was an instant attraction that led to a happy courtship and ultimately a wedding in May of 1952. They shared a long, loving marriage of 62 years, enjoying extensive travel (for business and pleasure), large family gatherings, and the companionship of a number of beloved dogs. They hosted family Christmases at their Twin Peaks home for more than 50 years.

Until the day he died, Dino called Florence “my queen,” and her death in 2014 left him deeply sad. He longed to be reunited with her.

While Dino and Florence were not blessed with children, they loved and were loved by their great extended family, and Dino will be dearly missed by three generations of loving nieces and nephews, including John (and Connie) Curotto, Jo Anne Meroney, Lynne Fontana, Paul (and Diane) Fontana, Joe (and Sandra) Fontana, Julie (and Joe) Collins, Dominic Fontana, Mary (and Steve) Pellegrini, Frank Fontana (and James Millefolie), Joe (and Kathy) Fontana, and Barry (and Jeanine) Leonardini. Dino is also survived by his sister Catherine (and her husband John) De Martini and their sons Steven (and Lu Ann), David, and John (and Jeanette) De Martini.

Dino was predeceased by his parents Antonio and Carolina Queirolo and by Florence’s parents Giuseppe and Giulia Fontana and by his dear brothers- and sisters-in-law John and Margaret Curotto, Pasquale and Elsie Fontana, Domenic and Dorothy and Barbara Fontana, Albert and Inez Leonardini, and Alfred and Emily Fontana, and by great-nephews Michael Fontana and Kevin Curotto.

Dino and Florence were also lovers of animals, especially dogs (and, over the last 3 years, a great rabbit). In lieu of flowers, the family would be grateful for memorial gifts to the San Francisco SPCA or the Peninsula Humane Society.

A memorial Mass in celebration of Dino’s life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 28, 2018, at St. Brendan Catholic Church, 29 Rockaway Avenue in San Francisco, followed immediately by a reception in the Parish Hall. Later that day Dino and Florence will be interred at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Colma. FlorenceandDinoQueirolo.com.