Angelo Monte Sr., Senior Vice President of Gurney’s Inn Resort, Spa and Conference Center and decorated D-Day Hero was born above the family restaurant in Brooklyn in 1919 and raised in the restaurant business. That restaurant was Monte’s Venetian Room and his parents, Angelo and Filomena, started it in 1906. He was one of seven Monte boys, five of whom worked the family business. Shortly after Pearl Harbor, he joined the Army and was assigned to the infantry, 29th division where he fought for the freedom of this country and the world. He and his division were among the first wave of troops to hit Omaha Beach on D-Day morning. With more than 65 % casualties on the beaches of Normandy, it seems like a miracle that his life was spared and he made it home alive .Upon his return his father handed him an apron and told him “You are the night bartender”. He held that post and the job of night manager at the restaurant for the next 22 years. He developed a devout and loyal following that included politicians, entertainers, gangsters and just plain neighborhood folks. Many of those same people came to visit him in Montauk.
Angelo Monte Sr. defined hospitality as a family tradition, passed on from one generation to another in order to establish and reinforce a strong sense of identity. He along with his late wife Gladys, were the ultimate hosts; welcoming countless friends, acquaintances and even strangers into their home for family dinners and informal gatherings. They always instilled in all five of their children the idea that hospitality is a way of life not just something reserved for special guests or special occasions. This tradition lives on today through his children. Through the years, Angelo Monte Sr. supported his brother Nick Monte, the family business and our close family with his strong work ethic, ever-present smile and dedication to perfection.
His key to maintaining a successful family business has been the blending of his family’s business-of-living with his family’s living-of-business, indeed a learned process. In order to understand the enormity and the success of his juggling act, one must simply watch him on any given morning while he graciously welcomes our guests and hugs one of his kids or grand children at the same time. ” United We Stand - Divided We Fall” is his longstanding advice for a family in business.
Angelo Monte Sr. was a humanist more than anything else. He never lectured or talked down to others. He was a leader and a superb manager but he never took on the trappings of rank, thought of himself as better, or smarter than anyone else. He found common ground with Senators and soldiers, scientists and ordinary folks, a people person to the very core of his being. It seems only right and fitting that Gurney’s Inn dedicated their beautiful Sea Grille dining room where every table is perfectly dressed, to a man who dressed himself impeccably every day, dedicating this magnificent venue of gracious hospitality to a man who lived and breathed and epitomized hospitality. He will deeply be missed.
October 27th, 2008 at 4:49
Love of God, Country and Family…Honor, Integrity, Pride, Honesty, Respect, Selflessness.
To Angelo Monte, all of these ideals were more than just words. They were the foundation of the life that he lived. He was a wonderful father, grandfather, mentor and friend. His gracious ways earned him the title of “a true gentleman”. His strong courage, convictions and faith in God made him a true American Hero.
The world is a lesser place without him but I know that Heaven is a better place now that he’s there.
We will all miss him dearly but we were blessed to have known and loved him..
It was a privilege and an honor to be his son and his friend.