Angelo Sangiacomo

June 10, 1924 – December 8, 2015

Angelo Sangiacomo, one of the last of San Francisco’s major post war builders, passed away December 8, 2015 at the age of 91. Angelo is survived by his wife, Yvonne, and his 7 children and 13 grandchildren: Anna & Barry Kane (Mary Nadine, Bobby), Sandro & Jeannie Sangiacomo (Giancarlo, Mica, Angelo), Jim & Gerry Sangiacomo (Christina, Natalie, Stefano, Isabella), Mark and Joyce Sangiacomo, Maryanne Sangiacomo (Lorenzo & Leonardo), Mia and Marty Gaehwiler (Martina & Marco) and Susan Sangiacomo & Diana Pelliccione. Born and raised in humble surroundings in San Francisco’s Richmond District to newly emigrated parents Alessandro and Caterina, Angelo attended Frank McCoppin Elementary School and George Washington High before working his way through college at USF and serving his country in the U.S. Navy during WWII. Upon returning stateside, Angelo, not blessed with his carpenter father’s mastery of the trade but still wanting to pursue a career in real estate, explored a role first as a residential sales broker at a small firm on Geary Street. Having honed his negotiating skills preparing contracts for his Italian speaking father, and ability to sell by years of door to door newspaper sales coupled with other meaningful childhood jobs, Angelo would soon over achieve in property sales and set a course for a future in real estate development. In his first modest foray into San Francisco investment real estate Angelo teamed with his older sister Rose to acquire and remodel a four unit apartment building in the outer Sunset, marking the beginning of what would become a 50 year working relationship. As his passion and drive grew, over the course of more than half a century Angelo would conceive and build larger and larger projects, all without partners except for his wife, sister, and family, one of many key lessons his father instilled in him early in his career. In 1956 Angelo married wife Yvonne Giuntoli at St. Stephen’s church and promptly started a family, having 7 children in the ensuing 9 years. For 59 years Yvonne would serve as a strong source of support and counsel and one who Angelo would quickly attribute a large part of his success to, both in family and in business. He would say that of all of Yvonne’s wonderful qualities one of the most compelling was her consistent, never ending positive attitude, instilling in him the belief and confidence that he could accomplish anything that he set out to do. Her Tuscan heritage contrasting with Angelo’s Genovese roots also provided a great source of good natured banter over the years. Being a first generation American, Angelo loved San Francisco, so much so that as his portfolio grew he refused to invest in real estate in any other city, believing that no other place could begin to compare to what this area had to offer his future residents. He would always say that what makes San Francisco so great is the fact that people here have the freedom to do much of what they want unlike any other place in the country or world. He refused to buy property unless he could walk to it or sell any property that he had ever built or acquired. In the early 1960’s after attending a retreat at the Abbey of Our Lady of the Holy Trinity Monastery in Utah, Angelo’s business transitioned from ‘Angelo Sangiacomo Builder’ to Trinity Properties, a homage that he paid to his deep Catholic faith. Later complemented by his 7 children now active in the business, Angelo’s hard work and unparalleled drive and passion would propel Trinity to grow by building, acquiring, reimagining, and renovating some of San Francisco’s most iconic residential and commercial buildings. Angelo would draw from his experience of sleeping for 32 years in a pull out sofa bed in the middle of his parents’ living room and revolutionize the design and practicality of a studio apartment some 45 years before the competition would catch on. He would come to be one of the most hands on, innovative, creative, and visionary property developers that this City would ever see. In a never ending quest for perfection he would hire the very best architects and tirelessly mock up full scale apartment units in the basement of a building and tear down and rebuild and critique them incessantly. No one other than he could appreciate the allure of walking an active construction site taking in the aroma of freshly cut wood or recently placed concrete. True to his Genovese heritage, and proud that he spoke the dialect; he loathed bureaucracy, wasn’t one to delegate and felt that if you wanted something done right that you needed to do it yourself. A visionary with the confidence to trust his instincts and at an age when most people would have long since retired, Angelo embarked on an arduous path to entitle a four acre site in the Mid-Market district for 1900 units of housing, a property that he purchased with foresight some 30 years earlier. Known as Trinity Place, this project would not only be a dream come true for him but also serve as the real catalyst in the revitalization of this now heralded part of town. Already well underway and, when completed, it will be a transformative neighborhood center whose football field sized art-filled piazza will dazzle and serve as Angelo’s lasting gift to his beloved San Francisco and for all of its citizens and visitors to enjoy. Known for possessing a great sense of humor that was sometimes self-deprecating, he would smile when telling business colleagues that he flunked kindergarten and wasn’t really all that smart. Ridiculed at school for eating his mother’s Genovese frittata, he enjoyed telling tales of imploring her to make him a peanut butter and jelly sandwich just like the other kids. He would relish the memory of his father’s frustrations with his inability to work with his hands, saying that he would get a splinter just by picking up a piece of lumber. When asked about his penchant for real estate he would tell you that in business as in life it’s all about making the right decisions, and when tasked to do so he would simply ‘go by his gut’, forgoing any quantitative analysis. In this vein he would speak of simplicity often, going so far as to cast 2 + 2 = 4 into the concrete wall of his office as a constant reminder of his approach to business and life. When it came to investing he would operate by the simple mantra of ‘thank God it’s for sale, buy the property, and worry about how to pay for it later.’ He would also advise never to lose the good in search of perfection. Although hard work, determination, and the ensuing success that followed came to characterize Angelo, his lifetime of dedication to his family and friends serves as the real monument to the exemplary man that he was. He liked to be surrounded by familiar things and familiar people. Running a family business, he valued and appreciated his employees and was proud of the fact that many of them were long tenured at the company. He would tell you that despite whatever success he had achieved in business his true devotion was to his family which he loved dearly. Nothing would please him more than to be gathered with his family over a meal, on vacation, or simply in the comfortable surroundings of his home. He was deeply spiritual and loving, incredibly intuitive, and really appreciated people for what they are. He possessed an incredible amount of charisma and an engaging fun personality. No matter if you were taking his ticket at the parking garage or coming to see him to sign a major contract, during that exchange he would make you feel like you were the most important person in the world. For those fortunate to have known him intimately, his message of ‘to know me is to love me’ rang true. Foremost an amazing husband, father, and grandfather he was also a leader, a mentor and a friend to many. Angelo also had a strong devotion to his Catholic faith, particularly to the Blessed Mother and the Madonna Della Guardia. It is not a coincidence that he passed away on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. He would take his family on memorable retreats and pilgrimages to Lourdes, Fatima, and Medjugorje. Together with his wife and family, Angelo was a philanthropist and gave generously to many organizations that were dear to his heart. The family would like to thank Dr. Timothy Davern of CPMC and Dr. Yuman Fong of The City of Hope for their wonderful and compassionate care, together with all of the people who have provided their prayers and support during this time. Family and friends are invited to a celebration of Angelo’s life on Monday, December 14, 2015 at St. Ignatius Church, 650 Parker Avenue, at Fulton, San Francisco. Visitation at 1:00 pm, Rosary at 2:30 pm followed by a Funeral Mass at 3:00 pm. In his honor the family would greatly appreciate donations to Little Sisters of the Poor St. Anne’s Home, 300 Lake Street, San Francisco, CA 94118 or Meals on Wheels of San Francisco, 1375 Fairfax Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94124.