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Ybor patriarch Leto diesBy ANGELA MOORE
© St. Petersburg Times, TAMPA -- Sam D. Leto, one of the Italian patriarchs of Ybor City, died Thursday while in surgery at St. Joseph's Hospital to repair a heart valve. He was 76. He had been in declining health for months and in the hospital the past few weeks, said his daughter, Mary Leto Granell. Mr. Leto was born in a house at Ninth Avenue and 20th Street in Ybor City in 1925. His father served on the board of directors of the Italian Club in 1912, and the Letos have continued to be involved ever since. Mr. Leto served in the Marines during World War II, married a hometown girl and worked as a stunt man on locally filmed movies in the '50s. About 30 years ago, Mr. Leto moved his family from Ybor City to Citrus Park, at the time nothing but citrus groves and pastures, and raised palomino horses. "I'm going to remember him as someone who always put his family first," his daughter said Thursday. "He was tremendously proud of his Italian-American heritage and the sacrifices that his immigrant parents made, and his love of country. He was part of that "Greatest Generation.' " In 1994, the Ybor City Round Table created the Sam D. Leto Award for the person who has done the most to promote Ybor City. The first year, Mr. Leto received the award for the effort he put toward bringing a statue honoring immigrants to Centennial Park in Ybor City. Granell said that even though today's Ybor City is a lot different from the one her father knew, Mr. Leto was still proud of it. In addition to his daughter, Leto is survived by his wife of 50 years, Nina; and three grandchildren, Jamie Granell Jr., 19, Sam-Anthony Granell, 15, and Francesca Granell, 11. Visitation is from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Blount, Roel and Curry funeral home at 4730 N Armenia Ave. The funeral service will be 10 a.m. Monday, also at the funeral home. Burial will follow in the Italian Club Cemetery at N 26th Street and E 21st Avenue.
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