Mario "Brother" Alioto

Updated June 30, 2024

Mario Alioto Sr. was the son of Francesco "Frank" Alioto and Maria Concetta Balestrieri. He was my grandfather. He was known as "Brother" on Fisherman's Wharf. He was born in 1922 in San Francisco and he died in 2003 in San Francisco. This is a photo of Mario Alioto Sr., son of Francesco and Maria Concetta. This photo was taken in 1944 while Mario was serving in the U.S. Coast Guard. 

Mario is shown on a pony from the local petting zoo in San Francisco. Circa 1930 

A PICTURE OF THE SALESIAN GROUP AT CAMP BRINING IN SANTA CRUZ IN 1936, DURING THE HEART OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION. MY GRANDFATHER, MARIO IS STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PHOTO, WEARING A VEST AND HOLDING SOME PAPERS. HE WAS THIRTEEN YEARS OLD AT THE TIME OF THIS PHOTO

A PICTURE OF THE 90 lb J.A.F. CHAMPIONS IN 1936.  

Left to right are: Dom Magliule, Mario Alioto, Joe Cesena, John Tringali, and Joe Passanisi. Kneeling is team captain Sally Costa.

THIS IS AN UNDATED PHOTO WITH MY GRANDFATHER, MARIO AND SEVERAL OF HIS FAMILY MEMBERS.  

BACK ROW (LEFT TO RIGHT): TONY TARANTINO, ANNA ALIOTO, NINU ALIOTO, STEF ALIOTO, MARIO ALIOTO

FRONT ROW (LEFT TO RIGHT): VICTOR D'ACQUISTO, ANNA MARIE BALLARD, TILLIE D'ACQUISTO, PETER TARANTINO (?)

A PHOTO OF MARIO IN HIGH SCHOOL. CIRCA 1939-1940.

Mario's high school graduation photo in 1940. He attended Galileo High School in San Francisco, California.

THIS IS A PICTURE OF MY GRANDMOTHER, NORMA RITA TOGNOLI ALIOTO. I BELIEVE THIS IS HER GRADUATION PICTURE FROM GALILEO HIGH SCHOOL IN SAN FRANCISCO IN 1942. SHE MARRIED MARIO IN 1944.

THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN ON LOMBARD STREET IN SAN FRANCISCO IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE OF MY GREAT-GRANPARENTS. MY GRANDFATHER MARIO IS STANDING WITH HIS FUTURE WIFE, NORMA TOGNOLI. THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN IN EITHER 1943 OR 1944. 

THIS IS THE WEDDING PHOTO OF MARIO ALIOTO AND NORMA TOGNOLI, MY GRANDPARENTS, IN 1944.

My grandmother, Norma Rita (Tognoli) Alioto, in undated photos

The date of this photo is unknown. My grandmother, Norma Alioto, is sitting 4th from the left. Next to her on her right is my grandfather, Mario Alioto. Next to my grandfather is Annetta Lazio and her husband Thomas Lazio. On the right side, starting from the back, my great-aunt, Antoinette Canepa is the 2nd person from the back and her sister, Anna Capurro, is sitting down next to her. The others in the photo are unknown at this time but I am working on getting their names. 

The date of this photo is unknown. This is a photo of Frances (Colla) Alioto, Frank Alioto (son of Nunzio and Rose Passantino Alioto), my grandmother Norma (Tognoli) Alioto and my grandfather Mario Alioto. This photo was taken at Bimbo's 365 Club on Market Street.

The date of this photo is unknown. This is a photo of Norma and Mario together

Norma's mother, Mary (Casazza) Tognoli. Date Unknown

(1891 - 1965)

The date of the photo is unknown. This is another photo of Norma and Mario

THIS IS A PHOTO OF MY GRANDMOTHER, NORMA WITH MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER MARIA CONCETTA, AND MARIO AND NORMA'S SON, FRANK. 

THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN IN 1946. 

ANOTHER PHOTO WITH MARIA CONCETTA AND HER GRANDSON, FRANK. 

This is a photo of Frank Alioto (son of Nunzio and Rose Passantino Alioto), Frances (Colla) Alioto, my grandfather Mario Alioto, and my grandmother Norma (Tognoli) Alioto and. This photo was taken at the Flamingo Las Vegas in 1949

THIS IS A PHOTO OF MARIO's SON, MARIO, AT HIS 1st BIRTHDAY IN JULY OF 1948.  THE BACK ROW CONSISTS OF MARIO'S MOTHER-IN-LAW, MARIA (CASAZZA) TOGNOLI (1891-1965), MARIO'S FIRST WIFE NORMA (TOGNOLI) ALIOTO (1924-1984), AND MARIO'S MOM, MARIA CONCETTA (BALESTRIERI) ALIOTO (1899-1993).  

MARIO'S OLDER SON, FRANK JOSEPH ALIOTO (1945-2019), IS SEATED TO THE RIGHT

THIS IS A PHOTO OF MARIO AND HIS WIFE NORMA WITH THEIR CHILDREN. I BELIEVE THE PHOTO WAS TAKEN IN 1953. 

SEATED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ARE FRANK, MARIO SR., MARIA, NORMA AND MARIO JR.

My dad, Mario Jr (1947-2023), his sister Maria, and his brother Frank (1945-2019). Circa 1956

A photo of me (Mario Alioto III), my dad's mom, Norma (Tognoli) Alioto (1924-1984) and my sister, Stefana Marie. Photo was taken in 1976

This photo was taken at Andy Wong's Chinese Skyroom on Grant Avenue and Pine Street in San Francisco on November 1st, 1960. From left to right: Fred Lum, Norma Alioto, Rosie Lum and Mario Alioto

THIS IS A PHOTO OF MARIO (ON THE LEFT) WITH A MAN WHO IS NOT IDENTIFIED

MARIO IN AN UNDATED PHOTO

MARIO AT HIS 50TH BIRTHDAY PARTY IN 1972

THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN AT MARIO'S 50TH BIRTHDAY PARTY IN 1972. BACK ROW (LEFT TO RIGHT): FRANK ALIOTO (MARIO'S SON), JOAN (TOTARO) ALIOTO, MARIA ALIOTO (MARIO'S DAUGHTER), JOHN CANEPA, ANTOINETTE (ALIOTO) CANEPA, LOU CAPURRO, ANNA (ALIOTO) CAPURRO), EDMUND SUACCI, STEPH (ALIOTO) SUACCI, MARGARET (GRAF) ALIOTO, MARIO ALIOTO JR. (MARIO'S SON). FRONT ROW: MARIO ALIOTO, MARIA CONCETTA (BALESTRIERI) ALIOTO (MARIO'S MOM), AND NORMA (TOGNOLI) ALIOTO (MARIO'S WIFE).

MARIO DANCING WITH HIS WIFE, NORMA (TOGNOLI) ALIOTO

MARIO, HIS CHILDREN AND HIS MOTHER IN 1972. FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: MARIO SR., MARIO JR. MARIA CONCETTA, MARIA, AND FRANK

MARIO, IN FRONT, WITH HIS CHILDREN IN 1972. FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: MARIO JR., FRANK, AND MARIA CONCETTA.

MARIO, IN FRONT, WITH HIS CHILDREN AND SPOUSES IN 1972. FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: JOAN (TOTARO) ALIOTO, FRANK, MARIO JR, MARGARET (GRAF) ALIOTO, AND MARIA

MARIO, HIS SISTERS AND HIS MOTHER IN 1972. LEFT TO RIGHT: ANNA (ALIOTO) CAPURRO,  MARIO, MARIA CONCETTA (BALESTRIERI) ALIOTO, ANTOINETTE (ALIOTO) CANEPA, AND STEPHANIE (ALIOTO) SUACCI

MARIO'S SISTER'S FAMILY: STANDING LEFT TO RIGHT ARE FRANK CAPURRO, DENISE CAPURRO, JANET CAPURRO, JANICE (REGE) CAPURRO, AND PAUL CAPURRO. SITTING ARE LOUIS CAPURRO AND MARIO'S SISTER, ANNA (ALIOTO) CAPURRO

I believe this is a photo of the F. Alioto Fish Company staff at Mario's 50th birthday celebration. I will be trying to get the names of all people in the photo.

Back row: Wayman Lum, Gaeton "Tommy" Gumina,  Mario Alioto Jr, John Battista Canepa

Second row: Frank Alioto, Salvatore Gumina, Mario Balestrieri (Mario's uncle), Unidentified Man, Mike Mularoit, Unidentified Man

Third row: Peter Paul Tarantino, Virginia De Grande, Mario Alioto Sr., Rosalie Lum, Bill Scott

Fourth row: Unidentied man, Stephanie Suacci (Mario's sister), Frank "Frankie Cap" Capizano, Unidentified Woman, Unidentified Man

THIS IS MARIO WITH HIS DAUGHTER MARIA CONCETTA 

ON HER WEDDING DAY IN 1973

THESE ARE MARIO'S CHILDREN WITH SPOUSES ON MARIA'S WEDDING DAY IN 1973

LEFT TO RIGHT: MARGARET (GRAF) ALIOTO, MARIO ALIOTO JR., MARIA (ALIOTO) GOUNARIDES, ANGELO GOUNARIDES, 

JOAN (TOTARO) ALIOTO AND FRANK ALIOTO

Christmas 1982 with Mario and Norman and their grandchildren. This photo was taken at Capurro's Restaurant 

(It's former site at 300 Jefferson Street on Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco). Grandchildren from left to rigth:

Back row: Mario III, Anthony, Stefana, Christina and Francesca

Front row: Frank G, John, Joseph, and Frank A.

M. ALIOTO SEAFOODS IS LOCATED DIRECTLY BEHIND THE BOAT ON THE BOTTOM LEFT IN THE PHOTO. IT WAS THE WHITE BUILDING WITH THE RED OUTLINE AT THE TOP WITH THE BABY BLUE TRUCK ON ITS NORTHERN CORNER (THE NORTHERN PART OF THE PHOTO IS TO THE BOTTOM) AS WELL AS ACROSS THE STREET (THE LARGE BLUISH-WHITE WHEREHOUSE). THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN IN THE LATE 1960S

A PHOTO OF JOHN CANEPA, MARIO'S BROTHER-IN-LAW, TAKEN AT M. ALIOTO SEAFOODS AT THE FOOT OF HYDE STREET IN SAN FRANCISCO

A PHOTO OF THE BOAT, MARIA, NAMED AFTER MARIO'S MOTHER. THIS BOAT WAS OWNED BY M. ALIOTO SEAFOODS, WHICH WAS OWNED BY MARIO, HIS SONS FRANK AND MARIO, AND BY JOSEPH BALESTRERI AND HIS SON, FRANK "DEE" BALESTRERI. THE BLUE BUILDING ON THE FAR RIGHT WAS THE BACK SIDE OF M. ALIOTO SEAFOODS

THIS IS AN UNDATED PHOTO OF MARIO AT HIS RESTAURANT, FRANCESCHI'S, ON FISHERMAN'S WHARF

PHOTOS OF FRANCESCHI'S RESTAURANT ON JEFFERSON STREET IN SAN FRANCISCO

THIS IS ONE OF THE FAMOUS PLACEMATS FROM FRANCESCHI'S RESTAURANT THAT MY GRANDFATHER OWNED ON SAN FRANCISCO'S FISHERMAN"S WHARF.  A VINTAGE MATCHBOOK IS SHOWN AS WELL!

THIS PICTURE OF MY GRANDFATHER, MARIO,  WAS TAKEN FOR HIS 70TH BIRTHDAY IN 1992.

GLORIA BRINGS MARIO TO THE SURPRISE PARTY AT THE CANNERY IN SAN FRANCISCO IN OCTOBER OF 1997 

MY GRANDFATHER, MARIO, WITH HIS SON SALVATORE, HIS DAUGHTER ANNA, AND HIS WIFE, GLORIA AT HIS 75TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION IN 1997.

MARIO IS SHOWN HERE IN 1997 WITH HIS THREE SISTERS. STANDING NEXT TO MARIO IS HIS SISTER, ANNA CAPURRO. 

SITTING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ARE ANTOINETTE "NINU" CANEPA AND STEF SUACCI.

MARIO IS SHOWN HERE WITH HIS GRANDSON, JOHN, AND HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW, JOHN CANEPA. ALL THREE HAVE THE SAME BIRTHDAY. 

MARIO WAS BORN ON OCTOBER 29, 1922, HIS GRANDSON WAS BORN ON THE SAME DAY IN 1978, AND HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW WAS BORN IN 1917. 

ON THE LEFT, MARIO IS DANCING WITH HIS SISTER, ANTOINETTE "NINU" CANEPA. ON THE RIGHT, HE IS DANCING WITH HIS SISTER, ANNA CAPURRO. 

OF COURSE, HE IS HAPPILY SINGING AWAY! 

MY DAD, MARIO, AND MY GRANDFATHER, MARIO, SIT AT A TABLE AND TALK. 

A PICTURE FROM MY COLLEGE GRADUATION FROM SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY IN 1996. MY FATHER, MARIO ALIOTO JR., IS STANDING TO MY LEFT. 

MY WEDDING DAY ON JUNE 30, 2001. i WAS MARRIED TO AMEE BELIVEAU IN OUR LADY OF FATIMA CHAPEL AT HANNA BOYS CENTER.

THREE GENERATIONS OF MARIO ALIOTOs: MY DAD, MARIO JR., MYSELF (MARIO III), AND MY GRANDFATHER, MARIO SR.  

THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN AT MY WEDDING IN 2001. MY GRANDFATHER WAS 78 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME.

MARIO IS SITTING HERE AT MY SISTER'S WEDDING IN THE FRONT ROW WITH MY MOM, MARGARET (GRAF) ALIOTO, MY WIFE, AMEE ALIOTO, 

HIS WIFE, GLORIA ALIOTO, AND HIS SON, FRANK ALIOTO. 

IN THIS PHOTO, MARIO DANCES WITH HIS GRANDDAUGHTER (AND MY SISTER), STEFANA ALIOTO-ANDERSEN, ON HER WEDDING DAY, SEPTEMBER, 8, 2001.

This is the obituary for my grandfather, printed in the San Francisco Chronicle (April 2003)

MY COUSIN PAUL CAPURRO'S RESTAURANT ON THE SITE WHERE MY GRANDFATHER'S RESTAURANT, FRANCESCHI'S, ONCE STOOD ON SAN FRANCISCO'S FISHERMAN'S WHARF

http://capurros.com/ 

498 JEFFERSON ST., SAN FRANCISCO, (415) 771-9371

https://www.sfgate.com/restaurants/article/Capurro-s-on-the-wharf-67-years-of-food-and-4888976.php