It was in 1977 that I flew down to Los Angeles from San Francisco with a group of Italian-Americans, including former mayor Joseph Alioto and his daughter Angela Alioto Veronese. Born in San Francisco in 1916, Alioto rose to prominence as an attorney and politician, becoming the 36th mayor of San Francisco, serving from 1968 to 1976.

He was known for his efforts to modernize the city, and under his leadership, San Francisco became a hub of innovation and progress. For the Italian-American community, Alioto was especially a symbol of the immigrant success story—a man who never forgot his roots and who worked tirelessly to promote and preserve Italian culture and values in his city. His daughter, Angela Alioto Veronese, followed in his footsteps, continuing the family’s legacy of public service and cultural advocacy.