Silvio Quentin Della Grotta

DELLA GROTTA, Silvio Quentin Silvio Quentin Della Grotta died Tuesday, June 7, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. He was born October 30, 1919. He was a resident of Los Angeles for over fifty years and was a banker and author. Silvio was always there for his family and friends. Mr. Della Grotta was born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island, the middle brother of three boys. His brothers, Gary and Joseph, predeceased him. Mr. Della Grotta matriculated at Pace College, New York City; New York University School of Commerce, Business and Finance; and New York University School of Law. He enlisted in the United States Army, serving five years on active duty and 22 years in the Army Reserves, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. During his service, he studied military tactics at the Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and Personnel Administration at Washington and Lee University. He was especially proud of his service to his country. In 1944, Mr. Della Grotta married the love of his life, Mary, who survives him, as well as by their only son, John, and his wife Jane. Mr. Della Grotta has two grandsons Robert and Fletcher. Robert's wife, Erin, and Silvio's sister-in-law, Clara Grasso, also survive him. He is also survived by his nephews Anthony Grasso and John Grasso and John's wife, Linda, and daughters Stephanie and Jennifer, as well as his nephew, Gary Della Grotta, Gary's wife Sharon and their children Keith and Lynn. Mr. Della Grotta was a senior commercial banking officer with Bank of America in Los Angeles, an executive officer at the Ralph C. Sutro Company, a leading mortgage banking company in Los Angeles and an investment consultant. During this time, he also served as an adjunct professor and lecturer at several universities and national conferences. Mr. Della Grotta was a lifelong Catholic. He was a parishioner at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in the Silverlake area of Los Angeles where he enjoyed many hours of fellowship and reflection. He was a Lector, Eucharistic Minister and Deacon. He served on the Parish Council and was an active supporter of the church and school. Mr. Della Grotta played minor league baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals and passed the love of baseball to his son, his grandsons and countless other young people who he coached in the Hollywood Li-Po Little League. Long after his own son had graduated from Little League, he continued to coach for the love of baseball and the enjoyment he received by working with young ballplayers. He always seemed to teach lessons about life in the context of the game. In his later years, grown men with their families would often come up to him with a big smile, a hug and a "hey coach." He loved to read and write. His first book, "A Circle of Memories," was published in 1996. He had a deep and caring friendship with Father Lawrence Caruso, a Catholic priest, deceased. As a result of that bond, in 1998, Mr. Della Grotta wrote "A Priest Remembered: Father Lawrence Caruso." In lieu of flowers, to honor his memory, donations may be made to Boys Town, 200 Flanagan Blvd., P.O. Box 6000, Boys Town, NE 68010, or to St. Francis of Assisi Church, 1523 Golden Gate Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90026. A rosary will be held at St. Francis of Assisi Church, located at 1523 Golden Gate Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90026 on Sunday, June 12, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. A reception in the St. Francis Parish Hall will follow. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Francis of Assisi Church, on Monday, June 13, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. Entombment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, located at 5835 W. Slauson Avenue, Culver City, CA 90230.