Vito's big send-off: Woodside says good-bye to a friend Vito's big send-off: Woodside says good-bye to a friend (February 18, 2004)

By Andrea Gemmet

Almanac Staff Writer

Normally, having a picture of your face on the wall of the post office isn't a good thing, but this is a special case. Vito Dellegrazie, whose friendly face has cheered many a customer, will be leaving the Woodside post office, where he's worked since 1995. Fliers with his smiling face can be seen all over Woodside, including in the Woodside Road post office.

Mr. Dellegrazie, 56, who is locally famous not only for his kind nature but also for his terrible jokes, will be sorely missed when he retires at the end of this month, says Woodside resident Donna Huggins.

"Seldom has the departure of someone you see all the time caused such dismay," Ms. Huggins says.

She is organizing a farewell bash for Mr. Dellegrazie on Friday, February 27, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Woodside's Independence Hall, and inviting all his customers and friends to join the party. Buck's restaurant, Robert's market and See's Candies will be pitching in to provide refreshments, she says.

"All I know is that I'm being kidnapped from here at 5:30 p.m. on the 27th," says Mr. Dellegrazie from behind the post office counter, where he's selling stamps and chatting with customers.

Mr. Dellegrazie doesn't plan to ease into a leisurely retirement, he says. Instead, he is sending out resumes to a variety of companies.

Small-town postal worker is only one of the many jobs Mr. Dellegrazie has had over the years, and he usually holds down two or three at a time. Besides being an insurance broker for the last 28 years, he spent 27 years as a notary, 18 years in the catering business, 12 years in the restaurant business and five years working in PG&E's engineering department.

"Nobody retires in California, especially in the Bay Area. You can't afford it," he says.

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