THE MIKE OCCHIATO STORY

MICHAEL OCCHIATO born-1878 died-1979

"CENTI ANNI"

AN AMERICAN SUCCESS STORY Sept. 21,1878, about the time that America had been rebuilt and reunited from its civil war,there was born in Basillica, Italy, to Carlo and Francesca Occhiato a son, whom they named Michael.For the next 100 yrs Michael will become the main character in a American saga that is rich in family devotion and cohesiveness.It is a saga that reflects the disipline of old world parents and the loyalty of family. It is a story of hard work,ingenuity and enterprise that flowers in free America. It has the warmth of philanthropy that comes from a family that shares the fruit of its success with its community and state. Mike was only seven when his father came to America. After he established a foothold, Carlo Occhiato sent for Francesca and Michael. The cargo ship on which they sailed stopped at many ports of call. With no word about is family Carlo feared they had perished at sea. His fears were forgotten when the weary travelers finally reached New York. Because there was no work in New York Carlo took his family to Kansas city.The family spent 2 years in Kansas City before moving to Denver.In Denver Mike managed only 3 years of schooling before family needs required him to work to help support his brothers and sister He had two brothers, Phillip and Nick,his one sister was Rose(Iacino) .Mike's long and colorful career began in Denver when he sold newspapers in the city's red light district.The area is now the newly developed streets around Coors Field. By the time he was 14 he was working for the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad in Leadville,followed by a stint in the mines.In 1900 his parents and those of a young woman in Italy "arranged" according to custom, for a marriage.Mike financed her journey to America, and on Dec. 9,1900 he married Serafina Giordano.He and his new wife moved to Pueblo, where he worked for 4 years in the steel mill. In the years Mike worked at the mill he tried to save enough money to go into his own business .In 1905 thats exactly what he did. For $150.00 he was able to purchase a horse,a wagon a few beer kegs and authorization to sell Zangs beer throughout Pueblo.He sold it in bottle's,but much of it went into customers pails from a keg on the wagon.Mike augmented his daily sales by carefully collecting discarded items such as papers,cloth,scrap metal and anything that could be converted to cash or be used in the business.Their business prospered through hard work, fair dealing and the involvement of their 9 children in all aspects of the business. On July 1,1916 when prohibition became effective the family was faced with financial ruin.Together the family branched out into candy and tobacco and then finally into soft drink manufacturing.His first soft drink was Orange Crush but in 1933 he obtained the franchise for Pepsi Cola for all of southern Colorado.Pepsi Cola Bottling of Pueblo grew into a substancial business empire that eventually encompassed not only southern Colorado but also Eastern New Mexico, and the entire Panhandle of Texas.The company eventually employed over 200 people with plants or warehouses in 11 different cities and a fleet of over 100 vehiches.He came a long way from one horse.His story is mentioned in books and in many articles. Mike always believed in giving back to his community.He also taught his children this.He served on city council for many years.He also was active in the Catholic church and was given their highest lay award when he was made a Knight of Saint Gregory by the Vatican.The foundation in his name has provided Hundreds of Scholarships to underprivleged kids. He was also given his communities highest honor when he was installed posthumously into the city of Pueblo Colorado's Hall of Fame.

SERAFINA GIORDANO OCCHIATO

Serafina was born in Salerno, Italy in1879.Serafina passed away in 1948 after a lengthy illness that had confined her to home for the last 10 years of her life. Two years short of their golden anniversary,Serafina realized she would not recover from a stroke. She told Mike "You are a good man, take care of yourself. Do not abuse yourself and you will live to be hundred.Every year after that Mike was toasted on his birthday "Centi Anni" (100 years).Mike believed Serafina's words and they did come true. Serafina had 3 sisters, Mrs.Jennie Diodosio
Mrs.Elisa Piserchio, and Mrs James Piserchio.She also had 2 brothers,Joseph and Liberato.Joseph and his wife Theresa had 3 boys (John,Tony,& Fred) and 3 girls (Vera O'Dorisio,Josephine Consinero &Orma Oreskovich).

MIKE'S PARENTS

CARLO OCCHIATO born1854 died 1925 FRANCESCA OCCHIATO born1925 died1923. Mike's father arrived in America first after which he sent for his wife Francesca and son Michael.In addition to Mike they had 3 other children,two boys
Phillip and Nick and a daughter Rose(Iacino).
The family settled in Denver. Mike and his brother, Phillip eventually moved to Pueblo.The rest of the family remained in Denver.

In 1901 Mike married Serafina Giordano

80yrs on ELM STREET

mike Having saved while working in Pueblo's steel mill Mike and Serafina moved in 1903 into this house on Elm Street in the heart of Pueblo's Italian neighborhood.It was the first and the last house that Mike would ever buy.In the basement of this little house is where Mike started his business in 1905.This house which still stands today holds many memories for the Occhiato family both happy and sad.The happy times were not only when Mike and Serafina started their business here but also when they started their family ,raising all 9 children here. There were also sad memories like when Serafina passed away here in 1948.Mike lived here for almost 80 years and only death took him from the neighborhood he loved so much.He died in his bed while asleep in 1979 just short of his 101st birthday.

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