Mr. Anthony Dominic "Tony" Giannetta

Anthony Dominic Giannetta passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 30, 2015, to a joyous reunion with his heavenly family. He was born on November 7, 1920, to Vincent and Gorma Giannetta in Fresno, CA. He was raised in Fresno, and graduated from Edison High School. He married Alice Therese Baraldi on November 22, 1942, and almost immediately moved to Marysville, CA, to fulfill his United States Army duties. He and Alice settled in Fresno after the war and raised six sons. Anthony "Tony" Giannetta began his career in the home building industry during the late 1940's. In 1951, he and John Mortillaro formed the Quality Homes Construction Company, and a year later merged with Cetti Brothers Construction Company. With that merger, they went on to develop over 27 subdivisions and built more than 4,500 homes in the Fresno, Clovis, and Madera areas under the Hallmark Homes name, as well as, constructed numerous commercial projects, making Hallmark Homes one of the largest builders in the region over the three-plus decades spanning from 1952 thru the mid 1980's. Thus the name, Tony Giannetta and the home building industry became synonymous in Fresno. Tony was a member of the Building Industry Association of the San Joaquin Valley (BIASJV) since its inception, having served as President in 1967, 1979, and 1980. He was a Life Director of the BIASJV and served as Director to both the California Building Industry Association and the National Association of Home Builders. He was a stalwart on the California Building Industry Association Legislative Committee and served at various times on the California Building Industry Association's Executive Committee, Insurance Committee, Evaluation and Long Range Planning Committee, and the Nominations Committee. He chaired and served on innumerable BIASN committees and task forces during his career. Tony was inducted into the California Homebuilders Foundation Hall of Fame in 1988. He was the first inductee from the Central Valley. A native of Fresno, Tony Giannetta was also involved in the community. Through his work on the high school level with Ken Wall, then head of the Construction Technology Department at Fresno City College, he provided work experience training for students in the building industry. He helped create the National Association of Home Builders-Building Industry Association student chapters at both Fresno City College and California State University, Fresno, both of which are part of the scholarship program funded by the California Building Industry Foundation. Tony was full of life and had a commanding presence. He loved many sports and enjoyed traveling the world with his bride of 72 years. He was a kind and generous father, grandfather, and great-grandfather and was extremely proud of his large family. Tony's favorite times were when his entire family would gather at his home to celebrate a holiday or special occasion. He loved the Sunday pasta lunches Alice would cook for their family. Tony is preceded in death by his parents; his wife Alice; sister Catherine; brother Rocco; and son James. He is survived by his sister, Mamie Mortillaro; sons, Gerald and wife Raylene, Ronald and wife Karen, Anthony Jr. and wife Terea, Michael and wife Christy, John and wife Carrie; daughter-in-law Jeannette; as well as 12 grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren.Visitation will be held at Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns & Blair Funeral Home on Thursday, June 4, 2015, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.

A Recitation of the Holy Rosary and a Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church on Friday, June 5, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. Interment to follow at St. Peter's Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that remembrances be made to the General Scholarship Fund of the BIA of Fresno/Madera Counties, 1530 E. Shaw Ave., Ste 113, Fresno, CA 93710; or to the donor's favorite charity.