Norfolk City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Galano, Joseph January 5, 1994 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Robert Woolfitt http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00034.html#0008401 July 12, 2022, 8:52 pm Daily Press January 7, 1994 When Joseph Galano immigrated to the United States from Italy in 1913, he could not speak a word of English. He did not let that hinder him, and, by 1918, he owned a barber shop and dry-cleaning business in Portsmouth. Mr. Galano died Wednesday, Jan. 5. He was 97. Before his retirement, Mr. Galano had owned four restaurants, Sorrento Restaurant, Terminal Restaurant, Riverview Restaurant and Grandy Restaurant, in Norfolk. He also owned two barbershops outside the Norfolk Naval Base. His son, Joseph F. Galano of Hampton, said that his father, "only worked for someone else twice in his life." When he first arrived in the United States, Mr. Galano went to work for a railroad in West Virginia, pounding spikes for 13 cents a day. He later told his son that doing this was not what he came to American for, and, as soon as he could save enough money, he headed for New York. Soon after that, he arrived in Norfolk and worked for the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, where he helped build the Number 4 Dry Dock. Mr. Galano was Virginia's only honorary member of the Sons of Italy, an organization he helped to start in 1915. This organization was established by men like Mr. Galano, who had arrived in this country without the benefit of speaking English. The organization helped others entering the United States from Italy by finding them work, providing food and shelter. According to his son, there are now 2,500 members in Virginia. He was also a member of Roma Lodge 254 and Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Norfolk. In the early 1980's there was an earthquake in Italy and Mr. Galano was instrumental in sending relief to his native country. Because of his efforts, the Italian government sent an ambassador to the United States who awarded him with the Cavaliere in the Order of Merit of the Italian Government. After he retired, Mr. Galano became a master gardener. His son remembered that his father, "loved to see things grow. He also knew how to make a good barrel of wine. My father was a real victorian type of man, a true gentleman." He is survived by a son, Joseph F. Galano of Hampton; three grandchildren, Michael A. Galano , Tracy G. Colon and Catherine G. Credle of Norfolk; and five great- grandchildren. A Christian wake service will be held at 7 p.m. today at H.D. Oliver Funeral Apartments, Norfolk. A Chapel service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home by the Rev. Julian B. Goodman. Burial will be in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Norfolk. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/norfolkcity/obits/g/galano3541nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/vafiles/ File size: 3.1 Kb