Antonio Amato

Antonio Amato passed away peacefully on March 20, 2023 after a months long battle with heart and kidney issues. He is survived by his wife, Maria Cristina (maiden Mestice), daughter, Lucia (Emmanuele) Spera, son, Michael (Bianca) Amato, and four granddaughters: Celine (9), Francesca (7), Stella (6), and Chiara (4). He is also survived by two sisters living in Italy. Antonio was born on May 21, 1935 in Tricarico, a small town in the Basilicata region in Italy, to parents Michele Amato and Lucia Chieco. At the age of 13, he left school to work as a tailor with his father in his shop. He also served in the Italian military in Bari, Puglia in 1953. He eventually moved to Frankfurt, Germany to continue his profession, while also picking up masonry skills along the way. In 1968 he immigrated to San Jose, California to live with his uncle, and eventually made the Santa Clara Valley his permanent home and became a proud American citizen. On trips back home to Tricarico to visit family, he fostered a friendship with Maria, and they eventually married in Tricarico on June 6, 1981, with Maria moving to San Jose after the wedding so they could begin a new life together. Antonio was a master tailor, working for local fine clothing establishments such as Bert Schroeder and Wiedeman’s, and later, Neiman Marcus, Ralph Lauren, and Barcelino. Clients traveled from all over California to have suits tailored and custom-made by Antonio. He was well respected for his attention to detail and incredible skill with the needle. Antonio was a proud member and former president of the Tricarico Social Club where he could often be seen cooking polenta at the local Italian festivals and gatherings. He was also a member of the Italian Catholic Federation and past member of the Italian American Heritage Foundation. Antonio was a skilled gardener and loved to share his bountiful harvest of eggplants, peppers, and tomatoes with his family and friends. He also enjoyed the occasional hunting trip to catch rabbits and quail. At home, he loved listening to Italian operas and watching Spaghetti Western films. Most importantly, Antonio was a devoted family man. He loved Sunday dinners surrounded by family, and he loved his granddaughters deeply. Antonio was a gentle soul and will be greatly missed.