Biography of Giovani Patroni, 1928
From “History of San Mateo County” by Roy Cloud
Giovanni Patroni
“Italy has sent some of her best citizens to this country and they have been important factors in the development and business prosperity of their respective communities. Among them is numbered Giovanni Patroni, of Princeton, San Mateo county, where for many years he has been successfully engaged in the hotel business. He also has extensive farming interests, is recognized as a man of sound business judgment and is held in high regard throughout his community. Mr. Patroni was born in Genoa, Italy, on the 11th of January, 1878, and is a son of Giovanni and Catherine Patroni, the former a farmer by occupation.
“There the son was reared and secured his education in the public schools. In 1901 he came to the United States, landing at New York, whence he went across the continent to San Francisco, where he lived about two years. In 1903 he came to Princeton and conducted a hotel for a number of years, meeting with encouraging success, so that in 1911 he bought land and erected a hotel building, continuing in the business to the present time. A good manager, courteous and accommodating, he has long enjoyed marked popularity with the traveling public and has met with well deserved success in this enterprise. As he has prospered he has wisely invested his money and owns several cottages in Princeton, as well as a gas and oil service station, in the operation of which he has met with substantial profits. In partnership with Mr. [Dante]Dianda, Mr Patroni owns four hundred acres of good farm land, on which they are raising artichokes, which are rapidly growing in public favor.
Mr. Patroni was united in marriage to Miss Adele Garibaldi, who was born in Italy and came to the United States with a brother. They now have a daughter. Olivia, who is a student in the College of Notre Dame at Belmont, California. Cordial and affable in manner, and showing a fine spirit of loyalty to the community, Mr. Patroni commands the confidence and respect of all who know him.
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April 24, 1947
“Giovanni Patroni Dies on Coastside
“Giovanni Patroni, 69, prominent Coastside civic leader, died in his home in Princeton yesterday after a long illness. For many years he conducted the Patroni House at Princeton and played a major part in development of that area.
“Mr. Patroni leaves his widow, Adele of Princeton, a daughter, Mrs. Olivia Brennan and grandaughter —–of San Jose.,,,,”