Joseph Francis Sartori

Joseph Francis Sartori
Joseph Francis Sartori
Born	(1858-12-25)December 25, 1858 Cedar Falls, Iowa
Died	October 6, 1946(1946-10-06) (aged 87) Los Angeles, California
Known for	Security-First National Bank (Security Pacific Bank), Los Angeles Country Club, California Community Foundation
Spouse(s)	Margaret Lambert (Rishel) Sartori (1865-1937)
Children	Juliette Boileau (Sartori) Wallace (1892-1964)

Joseph Francis Sartori (December 25, 1858 – October 6, 1946) was a Los Angeles banker and civic leader, founder and President of Security-First National Bank, was one of the founders of the Los Angeles Country Club and the City of Torrance, and was influential in the development of the Los Angeles Biltmore Hotel, Subway Terminal Building and Los Angeles Civic Center.

Sartori was born December 25, 1858 in Cedar Falls, Iowa. His father, Joseph Sartori, migrated from Germany in the early 1850s. Though his family had lived in Germany for many generations, their origins were Italian. After five years as a bricklayer and plasterer in the United States, Joseph sent for his sweetheart, Theresa Wangler, the daughter of the burgomeister of Baden-Baden, Germany, and they were married in New Jersey.

Sartori showed his enterprising nature early in life. At the age of eleven or twelve, young Joseph began working on the railroad as "train butcher", selling newspapers, candy and other notions. When other men were happy to earn $30 per month, Sartori was earning $100.

In 1874, at the age of 15 he entered Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa.

He was very impressed by the Navy and wanted to join. But his parents did not want him to enlist and, after some negotiations, they told him he could go to any school in the world. And so, at the age of seventeen, he interrupted his schooling at Cornell and went to Germany where he entered the University of Freiburg. Here, among other pursuits, he developed a deep love of music. He also joined the dueling club, but at this, his parents, alarmed, insisted he return home, where he re-entered Cornell.

Sartori was athletic, and especially loved baseball. This love, along with his ability and aggressiveness, made him a natural leader. When at first he was not allowed to join the baseball team, he created a competing team that challenged and beat the existing college team. He was known as an outstanding shortstop.