San Mateo County
Biographies
LAWRENCE
MARIO GIANNINI
Lawrence
Mario Giannini was born in San Francisco, California
November 25, 1894 the son of Amadeo Peter and Clorinda Agnes (Cuneo). He received his early education in
the public schools of San Francisco, studied law at the University of
California, graduating with degree of LL.B. from the Hastings College of Law in
1920; his education being further augmented by travel abroad.
From his youth he grew up in an
atmosphere of banking; as his father founded the Italian Bank of California in
San Francisco, California in 1904 the name soon thereafter changed to Bank of
Italy. Working part time during class year and full time during vacations he
had unusual opportunities to understudy clerks, tellers and minor executives.
He actually started on the Bank’s payroll as a clearings clerk in 1918. During
the decade following his graduation, under the leadership of his father the Bancitaly Corporation was organized and took over certain
New York banks which were consolidated under the name of the Bank of America
National Association. Likewise, the Bank of Italy was expanding in California,
acquiring by purchase and consolidation many banks throughout the state. In
1928 the once lowly Bank of Italy and other large and small banks in California
were consolidated under the name of the Bank of America of California and later
the Bank of America National Trust and Savings Association. During this period
Mr. Giannini’s progress was rapid and by the end of
his first ten years on the actual payroll he had achieved membership of the
Board of Directors. In February 1930 he was elected president of Transamerica
Corporation following retirement of his father. The Corporation at that time
held the stock of Bank of America. During the ensuing two years powerful
Eastern interests acquired substantial stock ownership in Transamerica and
endeavored to control its policies. The resulting resignation of Mr. L. M. Giannini, the return of Mr. A. P. Giannini
from retirement and their victory in the famous “proxy fight” returned control
to California hands. On February 15, 1932 Mr. Giannini
was appointed senior vice president of the Bank of America and on January 14,
1936 was elected president, which position he held until his death. He held
executive positions or directorships in many corporations prominent in the
banking and insurance business as well as others dealing with the civic,
cultural and social life of the community and state and several eleemosynary
institutions.
Mr. Giannini
was a member of the Knights of Columbus; Elks; Order of Stella della Salidarietta, Italiana; Native Sons of the Golden West; San Francisco and
California Bar Associations and American Bankers Association.
His club memberships were, Bohemian,
Commonwealth, Olympic and Commercial Clubs, San Francisco; Jonathan and Los
Angeles Athletic Clubs, Los Angeles; Menlo Circus Club, Menlo Park; Tennis and
Racquet Club, Palm Springs and Gymkhana Club, San Mateo, California.
On April 7, 1929 he married Miss
Anna Mercedes Collins and their two daughters are Anne, born July 1930 and
Virginia, born May 1932.
The family home was at 29 Atherton
Avenue, Atherton, California and a city apartment at 945 Green Street, San
Francisco, California.
Mr. Giannini
died August 19, 1952.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: “Eminent Californians 1953”,
by Lee E. Johnson & C. W. Taylor. Pages 111-112, C. W.
Taylor Publ., Palo Alto, California, 1953.
© 2013 Cecelia M. Setty.
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