Mollie Santoro

Mollie SANTORO 1909 -2004 Mali Oletta Skotheim was born in Norway to Kristian and Inga Skotheim on September 21, 1909. She and her brother Sivert emigrated to the United States with their mother in 1913, joining their father who had preceded them to prepare for a new life in Seattle. The family lived in the old Cascade neighborhood near the present Seattle Times building. Inga raised Mollie and Sivert as a single parent after Kristian drowned in an Alaskan storm while fishing with his brother Jon in 1921. Kristian and Jon Skotheim are memorialized at Fishermen's Terminal. Mollie attended Cascade School and Broadway High School. Mollie was the owner-operator of the Marvola Beauty Shop during the 1930's and for the next several decades, until the Orpheum Theatre building was demolished to construct the Westin Hotel Towers. Her fabled energy allowed her to open early in the morning for women on their way to work at The Bon and Frederick's, and to remain open late for women on their way home after work. She humorously recalled that she practiced for so many years that she had offered beautician services to some women from their adolescence to their deaths. During her last half-century, Mollie's life was intertwined with that of Vito Santoro, the famed Seattle restaurateur, co-founder with brother Jimmy of Vito's on First Hill. Mollie and Vito were married for 43 years until Vito's death in 2000. Throughout the four decades that Vito managed the restaurant, Mollie was a fixture at his side almost every evening at Vito's, even during the years when her days were spent at the beauty shop. Her own beauty, radiant throughout her long life, was as legendary to their customers and friends as was Vito's hospitality. Their Norwegian- Italian marriage was happily successful. Mollie was much beloved by her many Santoro and Rinaldi nephews and nieces and by the Skotheim extended family. Mollie died October 26, 2004 at her home in Seattle. Visitation will be Friday, October 29, 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Butterworth- Arthur Wright Funeral Home, 520 West Raye Street, on Queen Anne Hill, followed by a Graveside Burial Service at 2:00 p.m. in the adjacent Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, 700 Raye Street. A Memorial Service will be held at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1215 Thomas Street, near the Seattle Times building, on Saturday, October 30, at 1:00 p.m. A Reception will follow. Remembrances may be made to the Seattle Fishermen's Memorial Committee, P.O. Box 17356, Seattle 98107, and to Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1215 Thomas Street, Seattle 98111.