John L. Tarantino Sr.

John Lawrence Tarantino, (Sr.) passed away peacefully after a long, fierce battle with Leukemia on Friday, July 23rd, 2010. He is survived by his wife, Rory Shannon (O’Hearn), his son John Jr., his step-daughter Shannon McClish and step-son Damon Guinan, his brother Peter Tarantino and his sister Rosalie Tarantino, his sisters-in-law Joyce and Madeline Tarantino, and many nephews, nieces, cousins, and hundreds of friends. He is preceded in death by his brothers Vincent and Joseph Tarantino.

John was born in San Diego May 29, 1931, the third child of Carmela and Antonino Tarantino of Porticello, Provincia Palermo, Sicily. He grew up as part of the rich depression-era culture in the Little Italy District of San Diego. He attended Washington Elementary, Roosevelt Junior High, and San Diego High Schools. To assist the family, at a young age he would sell newspapers, sell flowers and shine shoes. At the age of eight, like many others of his kind, he would assist as the bait chummer on his father’s commercial fishing boat, Carmela. As he matured, he became an excellent fisherman, often fishing in the “corner rack,” a position reserved for the most experienced man.

In 1951 he served in the US Coast Guard in Alameda, CA, and then returned to commercial fishing on many other tuna boats in the San Diego Fleet.

He began his career in the restaurant business when he went to San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf, where he trained in at Alioto’s Restaurant. In January of 1957, he entered into partnership with Joe Valenti as co-proprietor of Bella Venezia Restaurant on Broadway in Chula Vista.

He and his family opened the first location of John Tarantino’s Italian and Seafood Restaurant on Prospect Street in La Jolla in 1958. He married his first wife, Faye La Verne (Sublett) in 1964, and they gave birth to John Jr. a year or so later. In the same year, the success of the restaurant led to the opening of the larger location on Harbor Drive in Point Loma, where he entertained people from all over the world.

In the 1970’s, he developed an innovative idea for an all-plastic shellfish trap, and the Fathoms Plus Company sold traps and developed fisheries from local areas to all corners of the world, even as far away as South Africa and Yemen. This allowed him to be a world traveler, visiting many places; but his favorite and most-visited place was always Italy.

After his retirement from the restaurant business in 1997, he became an even better chef, because he had more time to experiment, and his love for entertaining grew. In 2000, he met the love of his life, Rory Shannon (O’Hearn), they were married in 2003, and he celebrated some of the best years with her, travelling, cooking, and entertaining. He brought home recipes he had learned while abroad. John and Rory were known for their amazing dinner parties, impromptu catering, and for creating special cakes for friends. John and Rory were often seen walking their Scottish Terriers along the waterfront.

John was a member of the La Playa Yacht Club, and was known for providing shoes for the orphans of Nazareth House of San Diego.

John’s family extends its gratitude to the doctors and staff of Mercy Hospital and San Diego Hospice, and to all his loyal friends that made his remaining time with us so special, meaningful, and comforting.

Viewing is scheduled from 4:00PM to 7:00PM, Thursday, July 29, 2010 at Merkley-Mitchell Mortuary, 3655 Fifth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92103. Services will be at 9:00AM on Friday, July 30th, 2010 at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, 1668 State Street, San Diego, CA 92101, followed by entombment at Holy Cross Cemetery. A reception will be held at the Our Lady of the Rosary Church Hall.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to San Diego Hospice, The Leukemia Society, Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, or The Beautification Project at the Point Loma Association.

San Diego Hospice, 4311 Third Avenue, San Diego, CA 92103

www.sdhospice.org/

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Donor Services, P.O. Box 4072, Pittsfield, MA 01202

http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/

Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, 1668 State Street, San Diego, CA 92101

http://www.olrsd.org/

Point Loma Association, PO Box 60212, San Diego, CA 92166-0212

http://www.plaweb.org/