- Date Of Birth: March 29, 1932
- Date Of Death: June 29, 2014
- State: Michigan
Al Garritano, age 82 years of Dowagiac, Michigan died at 5:50 p.m. on Sunday, June 29, 2014 at his home following a brief illness.
He was born on March 29, 1932 in Chicago, Illinois to Antonio and Carmela (Malito) Garritano. He was graduated from Dowagiac High School, and has lived in Dowagiac most of his life. He was a veteran of the Korean Conflict serving in the United States Army. He had a long and respected career representing the Golden Harvest Seed Company. He also was associated with O’s Gold Seed Company.
Al was a member of the Holy Maternity of Mary Catholic Church in Dowagiac. He was also a member of the Loyal Order of Moose #933 and the B.P.O.of Dowagiac Elks #889. He served on the Wayne Township Review Board, and participated with the Cass County Council on Aging. He enjoyed caring for his yard, especially mowing the lawn to golf course standards.
On November 2, 1957 in Dowagiac he married the former Lorna F. Gordon with whom he celebrated the fifty-fifth anniversary of their wedding prior to her death on February 19, 2013. He was also preceded in death by his parents, and by a brother, Joe Garritano who died on January 18, 2009, and a sister-in-law, Carol (Mrs. Arnie) Garritano who died on April 6, 2010.
Surviving family includes his children, John (& Stacey) Garritano of Cassopolis, Michigan, Carmela (& Bartlomiej Plichta) Garritano of Saint Paul, Minnesota, and Jason (& Dawn) Garritano of Stevensville, Michigan; grandchildren Sara and Ashley, Kiana, Devin, Tayah, Raven, and Isabella, and Mikolaj; and Al’s sisters and brothers, Esther Pilot and Mary (& Richard) Chappel, both of Berrien Springs, Michigan, Victor (& Joan) Garritano of Niles, Michigan, and Arnie Garritano of Dowagiac; and Al’s companion, Betty Phillips of Dowagiac.
