Pietro G. Denevi Sr.

1926 - 2016

Pietro G. Denevi, Sr.
July 22, 1926 - Sept. 5, 2016
Resident of Los Gatos
Pietro G. "Pete" Denevi, Sr. was born in San Mateo, California, but lived in the Town of Los Gatos. He graduated from LG High School in 1944 as a student athlete lettering on football, basketball, baseball and boxing teams. In 2005, he was inducted into the LG High School Hall of Fame.
Pete joined the Navy Air Corps to become an aviator in WWII. After completing technical training in Memphis and gunnery school in Jacksonville, Florida, he was sent to Murray State in Kentucky for additional training where he learned most of his previous battalion had been decimated in the Pacific War. In May 1945, he was sent to St. Mary's pre-flight school in Moraga, Ca. During his Naval training, he continued to find himself on the diamond playing baseball with other cadets or Naval officers and, later on, the gridiron. Before he could earn his wings, the war was over. He was given the chance to continue or go home. Home it was. Within days he was designated quarterback of the San Jose State College football team. While at San Jose State College Pete participated in four years of football and baseball, three years of basketball and became the 190-pound novice boxing champion. His love of fitness and sports embraced him his entire life.
After injury ended his short career with the Pittsburg Pirates Minor League team, in Modesto, Pete returned to Los Gatos raise a family and become the high school football coach.
In 1958, Pete volunteered to help a disgruntled group of tennis players who needed a completed facility. Inadvertently, becoming an authority on developing some of the first and largest health clubs and tennis facilities. Pete's career spanned 5 decades as a developer in three states including his flagship LG Swim & Racquet Club and Courtside in Los Gatos. Because of his expertise, many developers including Del Webb and Howard Hughes consulted him. Other famous friends who took Pete's advice included Joe DiMaggio who took Marilyn Monroe to Garden Inn Hotel in LG. Other stories, including how he met and married Wendy Toomey, DC in 1993 are in his autobiography "Pietro: Snapshots From My Life." Pete's life was filled with encounters with famous people as written in his book. Frank Crosetti, his cousin was the one who introduced Joe DiMaggio and the tip to the Garden Inn garnered Pete a kiss on the cheek from Ms. Monroe. Another famous kiss was from Lucille Ball when he helped her sell property in Palm Springs. He had the opportunity enjoy the company of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Paul Newman, and Billy Jean King among others.
Pete received a Presidential Commendation from President Nixon accompanied by a video conference call from the President for raising over $3M by selling school bonds in 1969-1970 for the LG School District. In 2009 he was honored as a "Senior of Distinction" by the Town of Los Gatos.
The loss of Pete Denevi will be felt deeply by those who admired his positive attitude, generosity, and willingness to help others. The LG Weekly Times headline says it all: "A Los Gatos Legend dies at 90." Pete won't be forgotten!


View the online memorial for Pietro G.  Denevi, Sr.