John F. Darmanin Sr.

John F. Darmanin Sr. March 12, 1930 - July 9, 2008 After a brief illness, John died at the age of 78. He is survived by his beloved wife Doris; his daughter Rita (Lloyd) Goldberg; son, John Jr. (Linda) Darmanin; grandsons, Christopher and Brian Darmanin and Matthew Goldberg; brothers, Remigio and Joseph and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents Lorenza and Emmanuel; his brothers Oscar and Carmenu; and his sister Salvina. John was born on the island of Malta and like many Maltese people of his generation; John emigrated to the U.S. to make a better life for his family. He first arrived in the U.S. in 1952 when he began working for Ford Motor Company in Detroit, MI. He later moved his family to San Francisco in the late 50s and soon afterward became a U.S. citizen. He opened his first restaurant, "The Little Isle" in the Bayview District and later "The Valletta Restaurant" in the Portola District. He was invited by the Maltese Consulate to participate in the San Francisco Gourmet Gala and other international food events in SF preparing many food specialties of Malta. John worked for the SF Chronicle as a transport driver and retired from the Newspaper and Periodical Drivers and Helpers Union Local 921. Some knew him as "Johnny Valletta" and others in the Maltese community called him "tal-pastizzi" referring to the Maltese specialty pastry "pastizzi" that were second to none. Pastizzi were truly his claim to fame and enjoyed by the Maltese community as well as many others. He will be missed by his family and friends for his charming personality and generous heart and he will be remembered for his love of the horse races, his pastizzi, and most of all for his love for his three grandsons, his two children, and Doris, his beloved wife of 55 years. Friends may visit Sunday, July 13 after 1pm and are invited to attend the Rosary Service at 4pm at DUGGAN'S SERRA MORTUARY, 500 Westlake Ave., Daly City. Reception to follow at 5:30pm. A private family service will be held on Monday at Holy Cross Cemetery. Donations can be made to the Maltese Cross Foundation, P.O. Box 698, San Carlos, CA 94070. Please log in at www.duggansserra.com to sign obituary guestbook.