Thomas Alan Valenti

An extraordinary man who lived an extraordinary life, Thomas Alan Valenti was born on March 31, 1936 to Tony Valenti and Mary Scolaro Valenti. He attended Hillsborough High School and The University of Florida.

Of all life’s pleasures, Tom adored being with his family the most. For example, he was quite the fan of the 1 o’clock “Mangiata” every Sunday at his parents’ home, eating his favorite pasta and telling stories surrounded by family. Spending time with his siblings, children, and grandchildren was always his dream day. These “Mangiatas” led to his appreciation of fine dining and red wine. He also loved the beach and the salty waters of the Gulf of Mexico and spent summers of his childhood watching the sunsets on Pass-a-Grille beach. The times he spent with aunts, uncles, and cousins at the beach were always special.

Tom traveled to six continents with his wife, Jean (he had no desire to make it to the seventh). His favorite vacations were in Positano, Italy and in northern France, where friends would always welcome him anytime he visited.

Tom also had a fabulous reputation in the community. He owned and managed his family business, United Produce, in St. Petersburg, Florida for many years before obtaining his Series 7 license and working in a partnership with his brother Joe. He cherished their daily lunches, which continued throughout the rest of his life. Tom loved the arts, from opera to drama, and enjoyed visiting art galleries and museums. He was also an avid reader and had the opportunity to meet and break bread with his all-time favorite author, James A. Michener. Tom could always be found supporting the Rays, Bucs, and Gators.

If you never saw his Christmas cards, videos for Toffee to Go, or heard his pork chop cheer, you really missed out. Tom will be missed dearly by all who knew him.

Tom is survived by his wife, Jean Valenti (who was his best audience-what a sense of humor he had); his children, Kim Grandoff, Lisa Schalk (Jim), Debi Rivera (Alex), his bonus son Troy Atlas (Anne), and his grandchildren, Thomas Grandoff (Casey), Michael Grandoff, Taylor Schalk, Courtney Schalk, Kendall Rivera, Ricky Rivera, Lexie Atlas, Zeph Atlas, Nathalie Witts, and Caleb Witts. He is also survived by his brother Joseph D. Valenti and his sister Linda Christian, as well as his nephews, Russell Valenti, Trey House, Andy Garcia, and nieces, Mary Lou Ewing, and Micah Mathews.

A service is scheduled for 10am on Friday, February 11, 2022 at Christ the King Catholic Church located at 821 S Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, FL 33609. The service will be live streamed at https://ctk-tampa.org/news/livespecial/ In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Tom’s name to Christ the King Catholic Church, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Tampa Museum of Art, or LifePath Hospice.