Thomas Gavosto, Former Owner Of Torino Sausage Co., Dies At 80

If it tastes great, don't change it.

That motto worked for Thomas Gavosto's father, William, who hand-carried the family's sausage recipe from Torino, Italy, in 1921, and for Mr. Gavosto himself, who ran Torino Sausage Co. for 50 years.

Descriptions of his salami and sausage - in which he used only the finest cuts of pork - serve for Mr. Gavosto himself: old-fashioned, burly and beguilingly spicy.

He died of a stroke Monday.

"He was 80 on May 3," said his wife, Virginia Gavosto, of Birch Bay. "But he was like a 50- or 60-year-old. He loved to go clamming and crabbing. He'd worked all his life to retire here at the cabin. On his birthday, he got letters from (Seattle) Mayor Norm Rice, President Clinton, Sen. Slade Gorton."

She said he and she were great partners in the business, and that he got along with just about everybody.

"Everybody" included clients and friends such as the Rosellini restaurateurs, the Obertos, the Wards of 13 Coins restaurants, the Gai's bakery family, and gourmet Angelo Pellegrini.

"But where the Oberto sausage company went for national sales," said his son Thomas Jr. of Seattle, "Dad opted for the Northwest, allowing him to make smaller batches of quality sausage," hand-tied at the South Dearborn Street factory.

Mr. Gavosto - a dark, tallish man - was as enthusiastic about sports as about sausage. He skied with and coached his boys on the Alpental ski team, practiced with and coached them in Little League football, and shot a mean game of hoops.

"He was a great dad," said his son. "He did everything with us up until he was 80. He was always in there doing it, not yelling at us from the sidelines."

He kept any worries to himself.

"I worked for him 37 years and never had a problem," said his former foreman, Roland Gribaudo.

Mr. Gavosto tended to act with his heart rather than his voice: After selling out in 1990 - the new owners bought the old recipe - Mr. Gavosto began volunteering four days a week at Birch Bay Food Bank.

He also continued to raise basil and plum tomatoes, then cook up a storm for family and friends.

That old family recipe included a generous helping of love.

Other survivors include son Bill Gavosto, Windsor, Calif.; stepchildren George Johnston and Louise Campbell, Seattle; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Private services are today in Birch Bay. Remembrances may go to any charity.