Gaetano Gagliano | |
---|---|
Born | Cattolica Eraclea, Sicily, Italy | August 24, 1917
Died | April 14, 2016 Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada | (aged 98)
Nationality | Italian |
Citizenship | Canadian |
Known for | Founder of St. Joseph Communications |
Spouse | Giuseppina Gagliano |
Children | 10, including Tony Gagliano |
Gaetano Gagliano CM (Italian: [ɡaeˈtaːno gaʎˈʎaːno]; August 24, 1917 – April 14, 2016) was an Italian-born Canadian entrepreneur who founded St. Joseph Communications and Salt + Light Television.
Gagliano was born in Cattolica Eraclea, Sicily, on August 24, 1917,[1] and immigrated to Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1956.[2] He first worked for the Canadian Pacific Railway before launching St. Joseph Communications which eventually became the largest private communications company in Canada.[2] He and his wife, Giuseppina, had 10 children, including Tony.[2] Gagliano died on April 14, 2016, at his home in Woodbridge, Ontario, at the age of 98.[3]
He was named a Knight of the Order of St. Sylvester in 1992,[2] and a Member of the Order of Canada in 1998.[4] He has received honorary doctorates from Canadian Universities. In 2007, he was made a Commander (or Commendatore in Italian) of the Order of the Star of Solidarity from the Government of Italy.[5][6]