Looks like the cows came home for Joe.
RIP Joe
Posted on 02/22/2007 4:40:49 PM PST by NormsRevenge
Joseph Edward Gallo Jr., who broke from his winemaking family to make cheese and then waged a high-profile spat with his famous brothers over use of the Gallo name, has died. He was 87.
Gallo died Feb. 17 at his home in Livingston of a longtime illness, Donna Bradley, a spokeswoman for Joseph Farms, said Thursday.
Joseph Gallo was born Sept. 11, 1919, in Antioch, the youngest brother in a family of winemakers. His two older brothers, Ernest and Julio Gallo, would later start E&J Gallo Winery, now the world's largest wine producer.
Joseph Gallo graduated from Modesto High School in 1937, and attended junior college before serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II.
He returned to California to work as the ranch manager of his brothers' grape-growing operation in Livingston, also developing his own vineyard and a cattle business.
"He was a very hard worker and he had a lot of foresight," said Richard Witter, a longtime friend.
In 1979, Gallo built his first dairy with 4,000 milking cows. He followed it with four more and began marketing a line of cheeses with his full name - a move that caused a rift with his brothers.
They sued Joseph Gallo in 1986 to stop using the Gallo name and the youngest brother countered with a claim that the brothers owed him a third of their winery because they had used their inheritance to launch the business.
Joseph Gallo lost the legal battle and changed the name of his business to "Joseph Farms," a company that now employs about 500 full-time workers at five dairies and a cheese plant.
His family described him as a kind boss who loved the outdoors and a good laugh.
"He had such a wonderful sense of humor, he didn't care if the joke was on him, he'd laugh anyway," said his wife, Patricia Gallo.
Joseph Gallo is survived by his wife, son Michael Gallo, chief executive of Joseph Farms, daughter Linda Jelacich and a stepson, Sam Gardali. He had six grandchildren.
His funeral was scheduled Saturday at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Hughson.
I like cheese. Do you like cheese?
Oh Yes, I like cheese. I wish I had a fondue pot handy. :-}
"We will sell no cheese before it bit my brothers."
I'm from Brooklyn, I knew that name from somewhere before.
Robert Mondavi seated, Ernest Gallo toasting him.
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