By Alesha Capone
An icon of the Wyndham community, John (Giovanni) Portogallo, passed away last week.
Mr Portogallo’s niece, Marie Czajkowski, said that her uncle died about three weeks after contracting the coronavirus.
Mr Portogallo, 93, was born in Sicily, Italy in 1926. He and his parents migrated to Australia and moved to Werribee South in 1934, becoming one of the first farming families of the area.
Star Weekly interviewed Mr Portogallo during 2018, for an article in which he spoke about opening up the first espresso coffee business in Werribee.
The shop, Don Giovanni, was located Watton Street, and had a hand-operated Gaggia machine.
Mr Portogallo said the cafe “was choc-a-bloc every day and every night” with customers who enjoyed coming to play cards and drink coffee.
Mr Portogallo and his late wife, Gaetana, were married on December 7, 1947, at St Mary’s Star of the Sea in West Melbourne.
Mr and Mrs Portogallo, who passed away in 2001, both loved dancing.
Ms Czajkowski said she has fond memories of driving her uncle and aunt to different venues, such as Italian Social Clubs across Melbourne, so they could dance on Saturday nights.
Ms Czajkowski, said that Mr Portogallo – who was also her godfather – trained to sing at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music.
He went on to sing with the Werribee Italian Choir, at events and weddings, including Ms Czajkowski’s own wedding.
Ms Czajkowski said that as a young man, her uncle was even offered the opportunity to go to Milan and become a tenor, but he stayed in Australia because of his family.
Ms Czajkowski said she also has a recording of her uncle singing at BaptCare Wyndham Lodge, where he was a resident.
“He entertained a lot of the people at BaptCare and a lot of the nurses really loved him,” she said.
Ms Czajkowski said Mr Portogallo was well-known in Werribee.
“He was such an icon and he was full of information, and so interesting to listen to,” she said.
Werribee funeral celebrant Trish Vejby, who will read the eulogy at Mr Portogallo’s funeral, said: “He loved to sing and he had a beautiful tenor voice that put him in high demand.”
“I am sure the heavens are alive with his beautiful voice.”
