John Alioto

John Ignatius Alioto

John Ignatius Alioto, loving husband, and proud father of 6, died peacefully in the early morning hours of 29 June 2021 at the age of 76. Cancer claimed the man we love. He is survived by the love of his life and wife of 38 years, Linda Marchese Alioto, Esq., and 6 amazing children, Julie Marchese Seiger (Tyson), John Piero (Silvia Aldana), Matt, Nick (Miki), Dan (Denise), and Lovely Laura Alioto (fiancé Dan Galvin). John was one of 8 children (Angela, Joe, Lawrence, Thomas, Michael, Patrick, and Domenica) and the third oldest son of former San Francisco Mayor, Joseph L. Alioto, Esq., and Angelina Genaro Alioto, a Sicilian Southern Bell and daughter of a Texas produce magnate. John was a proud Sicilian-American who spent years collecting information for a fulsome genealogy and connecting with family across the United States and in Sicily. In 2013, John and Linda with their youngest daughter returned to Sant'Elia and Corleone to pay respects to the places and people that came before. John was a passionate intellect whose greatest accomplishment, aside from finding his life partner, his 6 children and 6 grandchildren (Cathrine, Nick, Hana, Adam, Rebecca and Luca), was finishing his book, Before the Gold which has just been published: www.beforethegold.norfolkpress.com. His book explores the history of early San Francisco and California from 1769 to 1848 – before the gold rush. Alioto was also incredibly passionate about politics, civil rights, world history, chess, and football. He has forever left his mark on an annual family tradition fondly known as "The Joe Montana" a football pool and raucous party.

It would be untrue and unfair to say only that John Alioto lived a tremendous and fulfilling life. John was many things and over the course of his 76 years he truly lived many lives. He was CEO of a freight company, a successful lawyer having graduated from St. Mary's and USF magna cum laude and with Linda they had their own law firm, Alioto & Alioto, LLP. John was an inventor with 5 patents to his credit, a scientist, businessman, historian, author, poet, a Charles Krug board member, a coffee shop aficionado, and a playwright. He left an indelible mark on this world and on all those who knew him. John will be terribly missed, but his life will be celebrated, and his memory preserved.

A memorial mass will be held for family and friends on 11 August 2021, 11am at St. Vincent de Paul Church in San Francisco. The family will have a private ceremony in September on the San Francisco Bay to scatter his ashes. The family would like to thank everyone for their deep love and support during this terribly sad time.