Edmund J. San Gregori

Edmund San Gregori of Palm Desert, California, passed away December 26, 2014 after a brief illness. Ed was born April 19, 1926 in Cleveland, OH to Donato and Chiara (Paranzino) San Gregorio. He was the youngest of 11 children.
When he was 5 years old, the family moved to Pittsburg, PA. At the age of 18, he was drafted into the United States Navy and served on the troop transport USS, APA Oneida 221 in the South Pacific from 1944 to 1946. His ship traveled over a hundred thousand miles in the pacific transporting Marines, Army and other Military personnel to and from numerous islands. The ship was involved in the landing of Marines on Okinawa and transport of Japanese prisoners of war.
After he was honorably discharged from the Navy, he worked at various jobs to help support his parents. Later, he decided to return to school and studied Interior Design, Art and Photography at the famed Pittsburg Institute of Art.
He went to work for Albert Van Luit and Co. in Detroit as a sales representative. Recognizing his unusual talent, the company opened a new showroom in San Francisco and appointed him manager.
During this time, he started his design business. His projects included clients in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Utah, Hawaii, and California. His work was featured in several trade magazines and newspapers.
He retired from Van Luit in 1988 and moved from San Francisco to Palm Desert, California. He is survived by his partner, Jon Higgins as well as his 14 nieces and nephews and many great nieces and nephews. Interment services will be held at Forest Lawn in Cathedral City on January 5, 2015 at 1:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Jude Research Hospital.