Gatto's Tires & Auto Service Founder Passes Away

Feb. 13, 2019

Mike Gatto, founder of Gatto's Tires & Auto Service, based in Fla., passed away at 93.

Feb. 13, 2019—Mike Gatto, founder of Gatto's Tires & Auto Service, based in Fla., passed away at 93, Florida Today reports. Gatto had a stroke and passed away the following morning, Pam Gatto-Gallo, daughter and president of Gatto Tires said to Florida Today.

Gatto started his business in 1971 following a 22-year stint of working in sales and marketing at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co, Florida Today reports.

"He always said that was such a better life," Gatto-Gallo said to Florida Today.

Gatto-Gallo started work for the company in 1973, Florida Today reports.

"I had a 5-year-old, a 3-year-old and a newborn," Gatto-Gallo said to Florida Today. "The job was supposed to be temporary, for a couple of weeks. I've been there 46 years, but it was great to get to work together everyday,"

"We were like two peas in a pod."

In addition to serving his business, Gatto served the community, holding the following roles, Florida Today reports: vice mayor of Melbourne, Calif., the chairman of the board for Melbourne Area Chamber of Commerce, a recipient of the Junior Achievement of the Space Coast Business Hall of Fame, chairman of the board for Holmes Regional Medical Center, a founder of Reliance Bank and Bank First, a founding member and past president of the Space Coast Tiger Bay Club, and chairman of the Melbourne Airport Authority.

"He was a great guy," Gatto-Gallo said to Florida Today. "Everybody loved him. He had a charming personality and quite a wit. Ninty-three years. That's a long run."