The Fraschina-Galli Family 1930-1980

 Keeno, circa 1931, the year he graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Engineering with a major in Chemical Engineering.  His first professional job was with the San Francisco Water Department, which was housed in the Spring Valley Water Company building.  This had been the private monopoly for San Francisco municipal water before the city took it over and was the employer of Elizabetta's husband, Francis Blanchard.  In another coincidence, the building was designed by Angelo's former employer, Willis Polk (notice the falling water motif on the facade):

In 1938 Fifi married native San Franciscan, Harry "Hank" Cohen.  Hank was a college friend of Keeno's from the School of Engineering, who became a civil engineer with the Army Corps of

Engineers:

1931 University of California at Berkeley Yearbook Photo




On the opening day of the Golden Gate Bridge, May 27, 1937, Keeno met Dora Schiro as both of them were walking back from crossing the Bridge by foot.  They married three years later.

Keeno and Dora Schiro Fraschina's wedding day, July 20, 1940.

 With them are Nelina, Dora's mother, in the foreground, and Dora's grandmother Anna Civiletti. behind her.  Keeno and Dora were married at San Francisco City Hall and drove up the West Coast to Canada and then east to Lake Louise in Banff National Park for their honeymoon

 Angelo sitting in front of his home at 1666 Lombard with his first grandchild, Fifi's daughter, Lois Cohen, born in 1940.

Angelo with his daughter-in-law, Dora Schiro Fraschina and her brother Bruno Schiro in Yosemite in 1940. 

Angelo and Ida rarely took vacations, but were able to go to Yosemite once, which was a memorable occasion for Angelo because it reminded him of his childhood home in the Swiss Alps.

Below are Ida and Dora's mother Nelina Schiro at Yosemite:

Ida, on the left, with Nelina Schiro

Daughter Fifi Blanchard Cohen, with her daughter, Lois , 1941

Angelo with Lois, wearing his apron--obviously he'd been cooking, one of his favorite hobbies.

                               Fifi's second child, David, was born in 1945. He's sitting on the right of Lois,            who is holding her baby cousin, Claire Fraschina, Keeno's first child, born in 1949.   

Angelo in the 1940s 

Angelo in the late 1950s, looking like the artist that he was. 

Angelo with Keeno's daughters, baby Jean and Claire, in 1953 when Claire was four

Angelo with baby Elise Fraschina, born in December, 1953

Ida and Angelo at the wedding of eldest granddaughter Lois and Noel Lieberman in 1969. Carrying on the seamstress tradition, Lois made her wedding gown and Ida made her grandmother-of-the-bride dress.

Lois and Noel's sons, Bennett and his daughter Lauren, on the left; and Scott and his daughters, Madeline and Sydney, on the right.



The wedding of grandson Dave Cohen and Shirley Cohen in 1971.

Angelo and Ida at Dave and Shirley's wedding reception.

Dave and his daughter Amelia

Dave is a luthier who makes custom mandolins and guitars, after retiring from teaching college physics.  Here are some of his beautiful instruments:

Ida's niece, Irene Galli Biggio and her husband owned and operated a popular cafe on Minna Street in San Francisco for many years.   Ida's nephew Stanley Galli became a renowned artist and illustrator,  designing covers for books and prestigious popular magazines, especially the Saturday Evening Post; US Postal stamps and a variety of advertising ads and poster.  In 1981, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the American Society of Illustrators, their highest honor.

Here is a selection of his work:

Stan Galli

Stan's younger son, Tom, became a landscape architect and is famous for having designed the Transamerica Redwood Park, one of California's most beloved landscapes, according to the blog, the Landscape Voice.  "Redwood Park is a unique feature of Transamerica Pyramid Center: An intimate, half-acre redwood grove nestled between the skyscrapers of San Francisco’s Financial District.

Transplanted from the Santa Cruz Mountains 60 miles to the south, magnificent redwoods dominate the park designed by Tom Galli. A fountain designed by Anthony Guzzardo — its pond complete with jumping frog sculptures, in a fond remembrance of Mark Twain, who for a time lived and wrote on this site — lends the sound of running water to those who seek peaceful moments here. Ferns, boulders and a winding walkway add to the tranquility."

In the late 1950s, Angelo and his friends petitioned the San Francisco Parks and Recreation Department to build a Senior Center in the Marina District in what was then Funston Park and is now named in honor of former Mayor Moscone.  Angelo designed the plans for the building and submitted them to the City.  The result, finished in 1959, was this building which contained a sofa, chairs and card tables, and a piano.  Angelo spent many hours there playing canasta and pinochle with his friends.  The door was always open to the fresh air, and the interior was flooded with natural light from the many windows:

Ida and Angelo in their aprons--both of them loved to cook. Angelo's specialties were a superb Risotto alla Milanese, [Veal] Cottoletto alla Milanese, and Polenta with Rabbit, a classic Italian dish, served with sweet, fresh shelled peas.

March 13th, 1964, Angelo's 86th birthday!  

In his retirement, Angelo loved to paint watercolors of flowers and other nature subjects. He so prized being a father and grandfather that he signed his paintings "Pop Fraschina."

Angelo lived to be 93 years old and died in 1971.  Ida lived to be 94 and died in 1980.  They are remembered with much love and affection by their grandchildren who contributed their photographs and memories to create this blog.