Lorenzetti owned Sal's Italian Market

DOWNEY - Sal Lorenzetti, 89, passed away at 10:43 a.m. on Nov. 21 at his Downey home.Sylvester Joseph Lorenzetti was born Jan. 16, 1921, in Parsons, Pa., to Louis and Josephine (Diliberto) Lorenzetti. He moved to Downey in 1928 and is a 1939 graduate of Downey High School. Lorenzetti served in the U.S. Army Air Forces and was stationed in Africa for three years during World War II. He then married Virginia Mengoni of Jessup, Pa., in 1946 and returned to Downey, where they raised their four children. He was the owner of Sal's Italian Market that opened in 1949, selling the first pizza in Downey. The establishment at the corner of Florence Avenue and Paramount Boulevard specialized in pizza, homemade Italian dishes, sausage, imported meats and cheeses, sub sandwiches, freshly baked bread and desserts and imported groceries. Lorenzetti closed the store and retired in 1991. Lorenzetti was involved in a number of service and charitable organizations, including UNICO, an Italian-American service organization; the Downey Optimist Club; the Knights of Columbus and the Downey Chamber of Commerce. He received the Downey "Man of the Year" award in 1972 and was elected into the Downey High School Hall of Fame in 2002. He has received numerous humanitarian awards including recognition from the City of Downey, UNICO National and the City of Los Angeles Human Relations Commission. He was a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Downey for more than 80 years, where he served as an usher over several decades. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Virginia Lorenzetti; three children, Diane (John) Powell of Diamond Bar, Robert (Trish) Lorenzetti of Newport Beach, and Dan Lorenzetti of Downey; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a brother, Joseph Lorenzetti, of Jessup, Pa.; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son, Steven Lorenzetti. Arrangements are being made by Downey Zrelak Family Mortuary, (562) 927-2644.

********** Published: November 25, 2010 - Volume 9 - Issue 32