Gloria Giannini "GG" Anello was born January 21, 1922, and died peacefully following a short illness on October 9, 2014, at age 92 in Pacific Grove surrounded by family. Born in Santa Clara to Palmira Pasquinelli and Ralph Giannini, Gloria was the youngest of six children, and was predeceased by her husband, Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Peter L. Anello, Sr. ’40, J.D. ’48; her son Ralph Giannini Anello; her brothers Peter Giannini ’44 (Florence), Dante (Lee), and Albert (Jean); her sisters Claire Stagnaro (Joseph) and Louise Vasconcellos (Bill).
Gloria attended Santa Clara High School and Stanford University, graduating in 1944 with an AB degree in Economics, certainly not a common course of study for women in those days. Gloria loved to joke that the only reason she went to Stanford was because Santa Clara University did not accept women! Truth be told, she had a lifelong love of Stanford and the wonderful friends she made there. Gloria spent her early adult years and college vacations serving as a hostess at her mother’s Italian restaurant, the Lucca Cafe on The Alameda in Santa Clara, a popular gathering place for SCU students. Many longtime happy marriages had their beginnings at Lucca’s, including Gloria’s 54 year marriage to Peter, then a student at SCU Law School. After the war years, Gloria devoted herself to her growing family of four children, especially to her developmentally disabled daughter, Antoinette. Gloria enjoyed community service, in particular her multiple terms as president of Santa Clara University’s Catala Club.
Like her own mother, Gloria was a fabulous cook. An invitation to dine at the Anello home was coveted by all. She was famous for her excellent marinara sauce, minestrone soup, Roman-style artichokes, apple pies, homemade apricot jam, basil pesto, and the best eggplant Parmigiana this side of Italy. Gloria was passionate about lifelong learning, taking continuing education classes in such varied topics as transistor radio construction, mathematics, Italian language and literature and in later years many Elder-hostel trips on European art and history. Gloria’s other passion was Carmel-by-the-Sea, and dreamed for years of owning a home there. That dream came true when she purchased the perfect beach cottage in 1971. She was an active member of the altar societies of San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo (the Carmel Mission) and St. Angela’s Parrish in Pacific Grove. Gloria was also a member of the Carmel Foundation, and enjoyed many trips and cultural outings.
Following husband Peter’s passing in 1996, Gloria retired to Canterbury Woods in Pacific Grove where she met many new friends and renewed her friendships with Stanford chums and alums. Her choice of Canterbury Woods was a blessing for her family because she was so well cared for in her later years. We will be forever grateful to the amazing staff in assisted living and in the medical center for the love and dedication shown to our mother. Never complaining, always gracious, gentle, elegantly dressed, beautifully coiffed, and genuinely pleasant to all, Gloria practiced what she preached: "If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all." With a quiet and generous spirit, Gloria’s expressions of love for her family and friends were in actions, not words. Gloria’ spirit is carried on by her son Peter Louis Anello, Jr. (Margaret Alayne) of Gilroy; her daughters Antoinette of San Anselmo, and Anna-Louise Anello Rosen J.D. ’81 (Mark), her grandsons Jordan and Spencer Rosen, all of San Francisco; many Giannini and Anello nieces and nephews; and her devoted and cherished friends George Rommel of Pacific Grove, Nathan Louie and Dale Picone of San Jose.