Peter Carlino

Peter Domenic Carlino, 92, passed away on Friday, November 29, 2013.

He was born on May 12th, 1921 in Philadelphia, the youngest of nine children, to Vincent and Rosina D'Alphonso Carlino.

He attended Our Lady of Pompeii parish school and North East Catholic High School. He attended classes at the University of Pennsylvania and St. Joseph's University.

He had a wonderful singing voice and as a teenager sang on Sundays on the Children's Radio Hour.

In 1945, he married his wife, Elizabeth Powers. They were together until her death in 1991.

Peter began his business career working as a florist at his brothers', Bill and Gene, shops. He later became a floral designer at the London Flower Shop, then the premier society flower shop in the city. For a time he owned his own shop, the Flower Box in Ardmore.

In the 1950s, with then 5 children at home, he began to sell fire and homeowners insurance door to door in the evenings, forming the Peter D. Carlino agency in Germantown, an agent for the Germantown Fire Insurance company.

Noting that there was a title insurance policy generally present at a real estate closing, he formed the Germantown Title Insurance Company. In 1969 he acquired Penn Title Insurance Company, an underwriting company based in Reading since 1929.

About the same time he became the first president of Keystone Racing Association and, though a minority partner, financed and built Keystone Race Track, now Philadelphia Park. In 1971 he formed Mountainview Thoroughbred Racing Association, which ran a thoroughbred racing meet at Penn National from the time of its opening in 1972. Ten years later he acquired the racetrack property itself that in 1994 became the basis of Penn National Gaming. Penn National Gaming rose from that single property to become the largest parimutuel racing company in the United States. It is also now the largest regional gaming company as well.

Carlino was devoted to the growth of Philadelphia, a fierce advocate for entrepreneurship and commerce. During the Rizzo administration he served two terms as Chairman of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority.

Along the way, he also formed the Centennial Bank and Centennial Mortgage Company, invested in countless real estate projects and was a "quiet" angel investor to numerous small business people that he wanted to help.

He was on the board of Graduate hospital and Guiffre medical center for several years and was an active board member. He was firmly committed to education. His involvement with Gwynedd Mercy University heralded a period of expansion and innovation. He provided college tuitions and support to many young people that he met, creating countless opportunities for others.

He served as president of Cedarbrook Country Club for over 10 years, a steward for growth and modernization. He oversaw its expansion and renovation in the late '80s, and remained a loyal member, mentor and locker room staple for over 40 years.

He was a devoted Catholic and generous supporter of the church helping people and parishes both large and small. Bishop Michael Burbidge, from the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh, remembers him fondly. "Peter demonstrated his love for the church through his great faith and great generosity, an outpouring of support to bring others closer to the church. His faith wasn't just professed, it was shared through his generosity to countless churches, schools, communities and parishes. He was devoted to community, made us proud to be priests and religious sisters. He challenged us in a beautiful way."

But his greatest devotion was to his family. He and his wife, Elizabeth Powers Carlino, had eight children, twenty grandchildren, and twenty-four great-grandchildren.

He is survived by his sons: Peter, Richard, David, Robert and Stephen and by his daughters: Susan, Anne and Rosina.

Peter had never forgotten his humble roots, the love and opportunities he was given on his 92-year journey through life. He quietly and generously shared his success, advice, and love with others, setting him apart from the crowd with understated grace.

A Funeral Mass will be said at 11 a.m. Tuesday Dec. 3, at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul at 1723 Race St. in Philadelphia. A viewing precedes it, beginning at 9 a.m. Interment is private.

The family has asked that contributions be made to the Abbey of Regina Laudis, 237 Flanders Rd., Bethlehem, Conn. 06751.