Gloria and Hank Caruso had a romance that began like a scene from a Hollywood movie.

Hank caught his first glimpse of Gloria on a full-sized billboard hovering over Sunset Boulevard. He couldn’t take his eyes off the image of the gorgeous lady gazing down on him.

Fortunately and providentially, one of Hank’s friends also knew Gloria. He arranged for them to meet and they had a blind date.

Gloria and Hank were inseparable from that time on. They were joined in Holy Matrimony at Blessed Sacrament Church in Hollywood on May 1, 1954. Their marriage of over 63 years ended this past summer when Gloria Restagno Caruso, 91, died at home on Sunday, August 27. Almost three months to the day, Henry (Hank) J. Caruso passed away on Sunday, November 26. He was 95.

“Their remarkable story is about two people, born to immigrant parents, who began with nothing, but always had everything,” said Rick Caruso, their eldest son. “Through their belief in themselves, their faith in God, their character and hard work, they built an amazing legacy of family that lives on in their children and grandchildren.”

Gloria Restagno was born on November 9, 1925 in Chicago, one of six children of Anna and Frank Restagno. Frank was born in Italy, while Anna emigrated from Austria. Frank was an elevator operator and delivery man for a bread company.

Hank Caruso also was a first generation American. His parents, Josephine and August Caruso, both came from Italy and settled near Uniontown, Pennsylvania, a mining town just south of Pittsburgh. August worked as a driller in the coal mines, setting dynamite to break through the rock. Shortly after Hank was born on February 22, 1922, the family moved to Los Angeles, eventually settling in the Boyle Heights neighborhood, which was mostly Italians and Jewish immigrants. August went to work as a gardener.

The examples of their parents’ fortitude, resilience, and wherewithal were witnessed and taken up by Gloria and Hank in their own married life. Gloria and Hank Caruso raised three children: daughter Christina, and sons Rick and Marc. Gloria was the “pillar of the family,” supporting her husband and children in everything they did. “Mom was the mom,” remembers Christina. “Every night there was dinner on the table for the children, and then always a new, fresh plate for Dad when he returned home from working late into the night.”

Gloria also actively lived her Catholic faith and shared that faith with her children. She volunteered at her church and Children’s Hospital.

Hank enrolled at USC in 1939 to study pre-med and had to work multiple jobs to pay tuition. As a member of the greatest generation, he enlisted in the Navy and became one of the country’s first Navy pilots stationed in Saipan. He was shot down during an air battle and for three days drifted, stranded at sea. Hank survived and remained in the Navy as a pilot, rose to the rank LTJG and was regarded as a hero. He was recognized by the Secretary of Navy for his heroic service to his country.

After returning from service as a Navy Air Corp pilot in World War II, Hank saw an opportunity in the burgeoning Southern California automobile industry. He began to acquire car dealerships from General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler throughout the area. By the mid 1950s he became the world’s largest car dealer. Hank also was the first person to advertise cars on television. His “singing commercials” on both TV and radio were well-known by a majority of Angelenos at the time.

In 1966, Hank initiated another innovation, this time in the rental car industry. While facing many challenges of the “big three” of the industry (Hertz, Avis, and National), he founded Dollar Rent-A-Car. His motto and method of business operation were simple: offer the best service available at the most competitive prices. In twenty years of his ownership and leadership, Dollar Rent-A-Car grew to be the fourth largest car rental agency in the world with more than 1,400 locations. In 1990, Hank sold Dollar Rent-A-Car to the Chrysler Corporation. He then went back to operating his dealerships with Ford, Lincoln-Mercury, and Mazda. He remained active in his dealership until earlier last year.

With all of his success, Hank Caruso was always aware of the great responsibilities that went hand in hand with good fortune and donated generously. Gloria and Hank taught their children about giving back to the community and helping those who are less fortunate.

The spark of love that began when Hank looked into the eyes of the beautiful billboard model multistories above him on the streets of Los Angeles and that blossomed immediately when the two met in person shortly afterwards, became immeasurable-though always visible in the ongoing presence of their family--in 63 plus years of marriage. Their children and grandchildren were never far away.

As typical of many Italian families, the Carusos gathered for weekly Sunday night dinners where there was plenty of laughter, occasionally a few tears, and once in a while some yelling, too. There was always love. Every Sunday night dinner ended with hugs and the family looking forward to getting together again

in seven days.

Gloria and Hank always enjoyed their lives with family and friends. They had homes in Newport Beach and Palm Springs. Hank kept a boat in Newport and loved being on the ocean. None of the activities in any places where they lived were done in solitude. It was always family time for Gloria and Hank. As their son Marc put it, “My parents travelled with their squad- their legacy is their family.”

Fittingly, Gloria and Hank died in similar circumstances: both at home, both surrounded by all of their children and their 10 grandchildren, both just after celebrating Mass with Monsignor Lloyd Torgerson, pastor of St. Monica’s Catholic Church in Santa Monica.

They both died on Sundays, 90 days apart. Gloria Restagno Caruso is preceded in death by her parents, Anna and Frank Restagno, and her siblings.

Henry J. Caruso is preceded in death by his parents, Josephine and August Caruso, and his two brothers.

Mr. and Mrs. Caruso are survived by their daughter Christina Caruso, sons Rick J. (Tina) Caruso and Marc (Donna) Caruso, and ten grandchildren: Alexandra, Michael, Nicklas, Madison, Alex, Gregory, Justin, Gianna, Dominic, and Rocco.

Their lives will be celebrated in a private Mass at St. Monica’s Church.

Memorial donations may be made to the USC Caruso Catholic Center (http://www.catholictrojan.org/Giving) or the USC Caruso Family Center for Childhood Communications (https://ent.keckmedicine. org/treatments-services/center-for-childhoodcommunication/) or St. Francis High School (https://www.sfhs.com/page.cfm?p=1520).