REMEMBERING ADEO SANTORI

Members of MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA, INC., were saddened when they received the news that Adeo Santori, had died on Saturday, July 30, 2022 at age 95.  Although he had been ailing for the past 2 years, and had to slow down as per his doctor's orders,  Adeo still attended the MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA PAGEANTS, and enjoyed numerous other events.  He and his wife Johanne took ownership of of the PAGEANT in 2008, and together, the dynamic duo brought in an era of energy, enthusiasm and change.  He had an eye for beauty, and took an active role in seeking, and canvassing eligible contestants, whether it be by phone or in person.  

Adeo lived a long life and was an excellent example of an American of Italian descent who did well.  At age 11, he worked in his parents' Italian-American grocery store in Atlantic City, and as delivery boy for the Atlantic City Press.  In 1945, he joined the Navy, but luckily did not see any action, because WWII came to an end.  He sought to further his education and went to Pennsylvania Military Academy, and graduated in 1953 with a degree in business.  Within a few years, Adeo returned to his home State, and to Margate, and began to build his real estate empire.  He owned and operated the Pennsylvania Hotel in Atlantic City, and ran it for 20 years.  He and his friend Andy Patroni, owned and operated the Ventnor Roller Rink, until they sold the property to Resorts International in the 1970's.  During the 1980's, he leased the Seashore Motel in Margate, and ran it for a time.  He was very proud to see his son Andre's grocery business prosper, so in 1991 and the age of 64, Adeo came out of retirement and joined Santori's Produce Outlet, in Atlantic City.  Over the years, he saw Santori's grow to 4 stores, and there he did what he enjoyed most; interacting and talking to people.  He remained with the business in the capacity of advisor and mentor until he died.

He met Johanne Lawler, the love of his life, while in Miami Beach, at the Aztec Hotel.  Adeo loved to tell the story when asked.  "It was love at first sight, and I fell for her hook, line and sinker", he would always say.  Coming from Quebec, Johanne didn't speak a word of English.  But true love made up for the language barrier, and he brought the young Quebecoise to America to live happily ever after, which they did.  They were married for 63 years, had four sons and nine grandchildren.

Adeo enjoyed his life to the fullest as husband, father, grandfather, businessman, citizen, and entrepreneur.  He and Johanne were active travellers and vacationers, and that enabled him to keep strong ties with his French Canadian in-laws in Quebec, and his cousins in Italy.  As father and grandfather, he got the kids interested in crabbing along the shores of the Chesapeake, when they visited them at their summer home in Maryland.  As a businessman he made his fortune in real estate in Atlantic City and environs.  As citizen, Adeo was a long time member of UNICO, an Italian-American service organization, a long standing member of the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority, a member of the Margate City Zoning Board, and served as president of the Margate Little League.  As entreprenuer, he worked hard with Johanne, to build a more stable future for MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA, INC.

Adeo's family will remember him as a father who loved having his family around, a role model, patriarch, advisor and mentor.  But I will remember him as a dear friend, a Frank Sinatra music afficiando, and a man who loved my singing.  Even though I no longer will see the tears in his eyes when I sing "Un bel di", I know he will shed them for me from heaven!