Obituary for Michael C. Roseto
Michael C. Roseto, 90, a resident of Sarah Reed Senior Living, passed away Saturday, December 29th at St. Vincent’s Hospital from complications of Alzheimer's Disease. He was born February 28th, 1928 in Ridgway, Pa, the 6th son, and 12th child of the late Luciano and Concetta D. Roseto.
After serving in the U.S. Army, Michael graduated from Georgetown University in 1951 with his friend and fellow classmate, William Peter Blatty, author of the Exorcist. He began working for Sylvania in 1951 having spent the next three years living in Williamsport, Pa. and Greensboro and Charlotte, N.C. In 1954 Sylvania transferred him to San Francisco. Shortly after arriving in San Francisco, he and 2 other business partners started Hotels-Motels Reservation Services.
This new business was in direct competition with Hilton Hotel Reservations, the Glen Fawcett Co., and Hall Wilson Hotel Representatives. Those companies did not take kindly to the new competition. At this point, Michael took it upon himself to meet with Barron Hilton to explain Hotels-Motels’ new form of hotel reservation services. Barron Hilton approved of this new service. Furthermore, Michael negotiated with Barron Hilton the agreement that reservation agencies would receive commissions for services. As the Hotels-Motels business grew, it’s headquarters was relocated to Los Angeles. This office was managed by Michael’s sister, Bette Jane Roseto, from 1958 until 1975.
Michael purchased LaSalleTravel in San Francisco in 1959. Using the successes of LaSalle Travel, Michael founded Wide World of Golf and Tours. California’s early oil pioneer, Hartwell "Harley" Bradford, told Michael of his adventures in the South Pacific and Asian countries. This created a desire for Michael to travel the world and develop golf tourism to exotic places. Over the next 40 years he developed and escorted deluxe golf tours to Japan, Australia, New Zealand, India, Singapore, Thailand and Scotland. During this time, Michael moved his business interests to Carmel, CA.
While traveling the world, he acquired a vast amount of Golf paraphernalia and antiques, which led him to open Golf Arts and Imports in Carmel, Ca. in 1980. He continued with Wide World of Golf, added Golf About Hawaii and opened Pebble Beach Travel. Michael was a lifelong member of the Olympic Club in San Francisco, as well as, several golf clubs around the world, including Spyglass in Pebble Beach and several in Scotland and the South Pacific.
During his lifetime, nothing meant more to him than his family. He was a kind, generous and loving brother, uncle and friend and will always be remembered for his easy disposition. He was viewed by his family and friends from around the world as a true gentleman.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Mary Tegano, Amelia Ehrensberger, Joanne Johnson, Nardy Weiss, Emily Gardner and brothers Ben, James, Perry, Louis and Joseph and several nieces and nephews.
He is survived in Erie by his sister Bette Jane Roseto, nephews Thomas Ehrensberger (Barb), Michael Weiss, niece Kim Matha (Gregg) and a special cousin Sr. Lucille DeStefano SSJ. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews.
Friends may call at the Russell C. Schmidt & Son Funeral Home Inc., 5000 Wattsburg Rd., on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. and are invited to services there on Saturday morning at 10 a.m.. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery.
The family would like to thank his Home Instead Care Givers who lovingly cared for him over the past few years, as well as, the staff of Sarah Reed Senior Living.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Make-a-Wish Foundation,1001 State Street, Erie, 16501 or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105
After serving in the U.S. Army, Michael graduated from Georgetown University in 1951 with his friend and fellow classmate, William Peter Blatty, author of the Exorcist. He began working for Sylvania in 1951 having spent the next three years living in Williamsport, Pa. and Greensboro and Charlotte, N.C. In 1954 Sylvania transferred him to San Francisco. Shortly after arriving in San Francisco, he and 2 other business partners started Hotels-Motels Reservation Services.
This new business was in direct competition with Hilton Hotel Reservations, the Glen Fawcett Co., and Hall Wilson Hotel Representatives. Those companies did not take kindly to the new competition. At this point, Michael took it upon himself to meet with Barron Hilton to explain Hotels-Motels’ new form of hotel reservation services. Barron Hilton approved of this new service. Furthermore, Michael negotiated with Barron Hilton the agreement that reservation agencies would receive commissions for services. As the Hotels-Motels business grew, it’s headquarters was relocated to Los Angeles. This office was managed by Michael’s sister, Bette Jane Roseto, from 1958 until 1975.
Michael purchased LaSalleTravel in San Francisco in 1959. Using the successes of LaSalle Travel, Michael founded Wide World of Golf and Tours. California’s early oil pioneer, Hartwell "Harley" Bradford, told Michael of his adventures in the South Pacific and Asian countries. This created a desire for Michael to travel the world and develop golf tourism to exotic places. Over the next 40 years he developed and escorted deluxe golf tours to Japan, Australia, New Zealand, India, Singapore, Thailand and Scotland. During this time, Michael moved his business interests to Carmel, CA.
While traveling the world, he acquired a vast amount of Golf paraphernalia and antiques, which led him to open Golf Arts and Imports in Carmel, Ca. in 1980. He continued with Wide World of Golf, added Golf About Hawaii and opened Pebble Beach Travel. Michael was a lifelong member of the Olympic Club in San Francisco, as well as, several golf clubs around the world, including Spyglass in Pebble Beach and several in Scotland and the South Pacific.
During his lifetime, nothing meant more to him than his family. He was a kind, generous and loving brother, uncle and friend and will always be remembered for his easy disposition. He was viewed by his family and friends from around the world as a true gentleman.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Mary Tegano, Amelia Ehrensberger, Joanne Johnson, Nardy Weiss, Emily Gardner and brothers Ben, James, Perry, Louis and Joseph and several nieces and nephews.
He is survived in Erie by his sister Bette Jane Roseto, nephews Thomas Ehrensberger (Barb), Michael Weiss, niece Kim Matha (Gregg) and a special cousin Sr. Lucille DeStefano SSJ. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews.
Friends may call at the Russell C. Schmidt & Son Funeral Home Inc., 5000 Wattsburg Rd., on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. and are invited to services there on Saturday morning at 10 a.m.. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery.
The family would like to thank his Home Instead Care Givers who lovingly cared for him over the past few years, as well as, the staff of Sarah Reed Senior Living.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Make-a-Wish Foundation,1001 State Street, Erie, 16501 or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105