Anthony ‘Tony’ Donald Saso died June 10, 2004, at the age of
92.
Anthony ‘Tony’ Donald Saso died June 10, 2004, at the age of 92.
Born in Portland, Oregon, to the late Joseph and Mary Saso, Tony moved to Campbell with his family in 1922, eventually settling in the Coyote Valley in 1927. Tony was a man of many loves, none more than his wife, Rose, and his family.
In the early years of their marriage, Tony and Rose created Caldo Oil Co., delivering fuel and supplies to farmers throughout Santa Clara County. Later he was one of the original owners of the Gilroy Motor Co. A Realtor with Fortune Realty in San Jose, Tony also farmed potatoes in Washington state and in San Jose on Taylor and Market Street. All the while he continued to farm throughout Santa Clara County.
In Coyote Valley, his true love, Tony and his father Joseph were the first farmers to sell fruit on Monterey Highway. As his commercial farming business declined, Tony continued to farm his yard – everything you could imagine.
He raised fava beans, avocados, olives, oregano, oranges, lemons, various vegetables, roses and other flowers. He canned Sicilian olives, hot peppers and harvested oregano, sharing his labor of love with everyone.
Somewhere in his life he fell in love with coupons and shopping. He could have won any “Price is Right” game ever held. He had a stockpile room equal to Costco.
In his last years, his primary love was to care and nurture his wife, Rose, back to health after a series of small stroke’s left her handicapped.
He helped restore her vision, handwriting, walking and her strength to its current level, until his personal health deteriorated.
He was a strong, determined, tough person yet a loving always-smiling friend, so proud of all the friends he made throughout his lifetime.
The development of Coyote Valley was always on his mind. He believed a man’s word and a signed contract, which he entered into with the city of San Jose in 1958, that annexed his property into the city of San Jose.
He realized agriculture was no longer profitable and a new horizon was being formed in Coyote Valley. He loved to see the Bailey Avenue interchange and the Calpine power plant taking shape. He looked forward to someday developing his own property.
The love of this country was very central in his life. The love of his church and his devotion to Jesus Christ was overwhelming.
He said nightly prayers for all his family and friends.
Mr. Saso was able to accomplish all of these great things in his life because, in his words, when people asked where he graduated from, he answered, “The School of Hard Work.”
He Is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 72 years, Rose E. Lima Saso; children, Marie Saso of Campbell, Joanne (Dennis) McConnell of Saratoga, Yvonne (Dale) Bullock of Vallejo, Joseph of Boulder Creek, Kenneth (Anna) of Coyote Valley, Vincent (LaRita) of Gilroy; 18 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.
A vigil service and funeral mass were held Tuesday and Wednesday. Interment followed at Santa Clara Mission Cemetery.
