Angelo Joseph Mion, a 14-year resident of Bainbridge Island, died in his sleep Nov. 25 at his home.

He was born June 12, 1910 in Atlanta, Ga., of Italian immigrant parents. The death of his father when Angelo was 7 necessitated his mother’s return to Italy with his three sisters. He lived in Italy until he was 18, at which time he returned to the United States and began a career in the tile-terrazzo-marble trade, working for his uncle in Atlanta.

He was a decorated World War II veteran, having served in the Navy’s Construction Battalion (SeaBees) in the Pacific Theater.

After the war, he went to California where he founded Florentine Tile and Terrazzo in Los Angeles. In time, he added marble and granite fabrication to his company’s services and was able to expand the business to Palm Springs and San Diego.

He moved his family to San Diego in 1957 to focus on his business there. His company, renamed the Florentine Company, grew to become the dominant construction company of its kind in Southern California. It was responsible for thousands of contracts for granite, marble, ceramic tile and glass mosaic installation throughout the area.

In 1982, the San Diego Union did a feature article on him and all the marble work he was responsible for, including many of San Diego’s office towers, hotels, banks, museums, hospitals and custom residences. Renowned for quality and reliability, Florentine was the only contractor, out of the more than 100 that worked on the original Jack Murphy (now Qualcomm) Stadium, that the city did not require to provide a performance bond.

Florentine was also named “One of the Hundred Best Things about San Diego” by San Diego Home and Garden magazine and has continued to win many accolades for its contribution to the regional building industry.

He was devoted to his family. Always active and competitive, he took up golf in his 50s, played racquetball until he was 71, and kept supervising Florentine’s many large projects until he was in 76.

At age 75, after a 57-year absence, he returned to Italy for a tour with his family. In 1988, shortly after retiring, he moved with his wife to Bainbridge Island, to live with his daughter and her husband, Marie and David Spooner.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Eunice, and daughter Marie Spooner, both of Bainbridge Island; son Ronald (Glenda) Mion of Del Mar, Calif.; and four grandchildren, Angela Spooner Hanson, Nicole Mion, Gregory Spooner and Jessica Mion.

Services were held Nov. 27 at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, with interment at Port Blakely Cemetery. Donations can be made to: The Mustard Seed School, c/o St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 1310 Madison Ave N, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110.

Arrangements were under the direction of Kass Funeral Home.