Michael Pietro

1931 - 2025

Michael Pietro
10/02/1931 - 11/17/2025
Michael Pietro, age 94, of Hillsborough California, died on November 17, 2025 at his home with his loving wife of 69 years, Mary Ann & Family, at his side.
He was born in San Francisco in 1931 to Charles and Angela Pietrantuoni, who both immigrated from Italy. Born into modest circumstances, our dad was determined not to be poor. He grew up without examples of how to be a successful businessman, a good husband, or a good father, but he became all those things.
Mike met the love of his life, Mary Ann Keller, in New Jersey while stationed there with the Army. After three dates in three days, he asked her to marry him. They married in 1956 then drove across the country to San Francisco where they first lived in his parents' garage. They quickly started a family.
He began working for his father doing home remodeling. He soon took over the business and created a construction company that became successful beyond his wildest dreams. He built many hotels, apartments and office buildings, mostly in San Francisco. He continued working well into his 80s. Mike loved "the building game", as he often called it.
Mike and Mary Ann created a large family with the births of Michael, Lisa, Matthew, Angela, and Charles. He loved his family more than anything else. When we were teenagers, he announced that we were all going to learn to ski so that we would have a family activity we could share when we were grown and had children of our own. While he never became an expert skier, he was always an enthusiastic and often a hilarious one. He liked to tell us that he was our fearless leader. He would coax and tease us to keep skiing until the lifts closed, even in blizzards long after more sensible people had headed to the lodge. Family ski trips became a tradition and his ski breakfasts for the grandchildren were famous, including pancakes in any shape they wanted, like octopus and giraffe. He skied with us until he was 79, when getting his boots on and off became a group project.
Mike took up tennis in his 40s and became an avid and competitive player. He and his often younger opponents would place friendly bets on the games, and he kept a wad of his winnings in his tennis bag that he would display when he felt mischievous, which was most of the time. He played until he was 85.
After retirement Mike and Mary Ann traveled the world for many years by foot, scooter, and cruise ship.
Mike and Mary Ann were longtime, actively involved parishioners of Saint Bartholomew's Catholic Church. Mike served as president of the parish board. He was also the head usher at the 9:30 AM. Mass, a much-coveted position. Mike and Mary Ann participated in all parish activities, including the Chinese New Year dinner and St. Patrick's Day dinner. Special thanks to Father Michael Healy, their long-time pastor and dear friend, who faithfully visited and prayed with them.
Mike will always be remembered for how much he loved his children and his now 18 grandchildren. He was always happiest when we were home visiting, or as he would say, when "all his chickies were in the nest".
Michael was preceded in death by his parents, his brother John and his sister Flora, and his grandson Dominic. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann, and his children and grandchildren.
There will be a funeral Mass Friday, February 13, 2026 at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church in San Mateo, at 11:00 AM. A reception will follow.
"At my funeral, I don't want any long faces because I don't know anyone who's had a better life than me".