April '12 Luncheon -- Tony Magnano '01

Tony Magnano '01 of The Napoleon Company

This family company has a rich history reaching back more than 100 years ago, when Antonio Magnano made a promise to offer the finest ingredients available.  Antonio Magnano had come to America when he was a youthful 24 years old.  Following the death of his father, Stefano, Antonio emigrated from Italy in order to support his mother (Maddalena) and brothers and sisters. His family lived in Pra, a small town outside of Genoa. Antonio came to Seattle in 1903 and opened A. Magnano & Sons, a wholesale food business, on First Avenue. Subsequently he moved to Western Avenue, and then expanded again in 1923 when he relocated onto two floors in the Pacific Marine Supply Building.

In 1960, Antonio’s three sons (Angelo, Marco, and Antonio) sold 51% of A. Magnano & Sons and started "The Napoleon Co." -- a food brokerage/import company. The name "Napoleon" comes from their private label, Napoleon.  The company expanded it its operations and began selling its own private-label products including vinegar, olive oil, lives, canned seafood, artichokes, pickled and grilled vegetables, and more. In 1970-1971, Joe (son of Angelo) and Milo (son of Marco) joined the company. Several next-generation family members work for the company today. Susan Magnano Salazar first entered the company in 1985. Amy Smith Kirtland, first of the fourth generation, joined the company in 1994.  Then fourth generation Milo Jr. Magnano joined in 2002 and Tony Magnano in 2007. 


Several graduates from Tony's era attended the luncheon to cheer him on. 

Front: Tony Maganano '01, Kelly Kolstad '01, Imants Holmquist '02,
Back row:  Jeremy Dodd '02 and Chris Brown '02

In 2010, Seattle Business magazine named The Napoleon Co. the winner of the first annual Washington Family Business Award for Small Companies.

Ad Astra - Harry Norton '44

Harry Norton 

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Harry NORTON 1923 ~2012 March 31, 2012 marked the passing of Henry L. Norton (Harry). Born in Seattle, January 25, 1923, Harry was raised on Capitol Hill, attending Broadway High School and The University of Washington where he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity. He served as a pilot in the Army Air Corp during WWII. Harry married Mavis Skorstad in 1946. Their loving partnership produced four children who were raised in the family home he built next door to his parents, Henry and Paulette Norton. Along with his partner and dear friend, Richard VanSant, Harry owned a successful custom brokerage firm, Norvanco, Inc. from which he retired in 1990. He loved to travel, read, golf really liked to golf, and in retirement became a bee keeper. He knew how to live life, enjoying family and friends and bringing joy and laughter with his good spirits and quick wit. Harry is preceded in death by his eldest son, Charlie (Kathi Dwyer). He will be missed by his wife, Mavis, children, Matthew Norton, Sue Kennedy (Rick), Kim Kvinge (Jorn), sister, Angelina Bowen, seven grandchildren, two great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to The Salvation Army, or a charity of the donor's choice .

Published in The Seattle Times from April 15 to April 17, 2012