Segundo Carretero

Segundo "Segi" was the loving husband of Genoveva (nee Perez) Carretero; cherished father of Joseph (Jackie), Francisco, and Miguel (Jen) Carretero; devoted abuelito of Nicolas, Erik (Kaitlin), Alessandra (Teresa), Sofia (Patrick), and Gabriela (Will); proud great-grandfather of Genevieve "Gigi" and Mateo; dear brother of the late Purificacion "Puri" Carretero and Mari Carmen Carretero; dear uncle, great-uncle, cousin, and a friend to many in his lifetime.

Segundo was born in Cadalso de los Vidrios, a small town north of Madrid, Spain in 1933 to Esteban and Ramona. Due to the Spanish Civil War, which started in 1936, Segundo did not obtain much of a formal education because his family had to frequently move around Spain to escape the tragedy of the war.

Segundo started working in the restaurant business at the young age of twelve. In 1956 while working at the Hotel Conde Duque in Madrid, Segundo met the love of his life and best friend, Genoveva. In 1957 they married and in 1958 welcomed their first of three boys. Life was difficult and Segundo held various jobs in the restaurant business to provide for his family.

In 1964 he was given an opportunity, by the Spanish government, to work at the New York’s World’s Fair Spanish Pavilion. Segundo instantly fell in love with United States and its endless opportunities. After the closing of the New York’s World’s Fair, he returned to Madrid and continued working in the restaurant business. In 1968, he returned to the United States – St. Louis – to help open the Granada Restaurant at The Spanish Pavilion downtown, which was brought here from New York by the then St. Louis Mayor Alfonso Cervantes. Soon, in 1970, he was able to bring the rest of his family over. After the Spanish Pavilion closed, Segundo worked at the Lodge of the Four Seasons, the Chase Park Plaza Hotel, Stouffer's Banquet Center, and for eighteen years for Anthony Bommarito at the award-winning Anthony’s Restaurant downtown, where he was a dining room Captain.

Segundo passed his knowledge and love of the restaurant and hospitality business to his youngest son, Miguel. That, along with Genoveva’s expertise in the kitchen, inspired Miguel to open Guido’s in 1988. In 1999, Guido’s Pizzeria & Tapas moved to the Hill, where it has become a fixture in the community and the closeness of the Italian immigrant community reminded Segundo of the old country. Segundo continued working at the family restaurant until his passing.

He was always very thankful and spoke often of the opportunities that living in the United States had given him and his family. He was especially proud of his three boys, their education, and professional accomplishments. Although not entirely accurate, he would often joke with customers and friends that he has three boys. “One puts people in jail, one gets them out and the other feeds them.”

Segundo embodied the immigrant spirit, tradition, and values. He was a hardworking, kind, and humble man who was loved by all. A man of many passions including fishing, gardening, tinkering with projects and traveling. Specifically, his love for gardening and working with the soil was only surpassed by the joy and love of being surrounded by Genoveva and his family. He loved spending time with his three boys, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A Memorial Visitation will be Monday, February 27 from 8-10am CST at Saint Ambrose Catholic Church, 5130 Wilson Avenue 63110. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10am CST. To view the live streaming of the Mass, see below under Services - Memorial Mass and click "join livestream."

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Segundo's memory to the Sick and Elderly Program of The Hill would be greatly appreciated by his family.

Please leave a fond memory of Segundo for his family to cherish at the "Add a Memory" link below.