John Amato
Obituaries
Vail Trail - November 10, 2000
Early Vail developer Amato dies at 70, by Marka Moser
John Amato, who was instrumental in the development of many of Vail's first condominium projects such as Manor Vail and Sandstone, 70, died Monday, Nov. 6, in Denver of complications from the cancer he had battled since last spring. He was 70.
"John was quite a character, and a really caring guy," said Bob Warner of Edwards, who served on the Upper Eagle Valley Sewer District board with Amato for 10 years.
One of the favorite stories about Amato that has circulated in the valley for years concerned a Bighorn Water District election in the early 1970s. Amato felt that water district board members were withholding water as a way to control development.
It's been reported that Amato gathered up a busload of Denver friends and conveyed property to them on the drive up to Vail, along with liquid refreshments. They arrived in a festive mood and ready to vote at the polls a few minutes before the 7 p.m. closure.
Since property owners can vote in special district elections, the incumbents in that election met with defeat.
Amato was born in Denver on Feb. 21, 1930. He earned a a bachelor's degree in business from Regis College in Denver and received a law degree from Westminster Law School (now the University of Denver) with one of the highest grades ever achieved in the Colorado Bar exam. He practiced both as an attorney and a CPA, with many of his various businesses related to land development and mutual funds.
Amato was an avid volunteer, serving on the boards and commissions of many non-profit groups ranging from Boy Scouts and St. Anne's School in Denver to the Archdiocese of Denver and locally on the Vail Associates board of directors. He was elected to many board positions, primarily those involved with special districts.
It was while serving on these boards that Jim Collins, a Denver attorney, first met Amato nearly 30 years ago.
"We were good friends," Collins said. "John was a most interesting character. He was one of the ore unusual, dynamic personalities that I've known - and perhaps that Vail has known." As a developer when Vail was first put on the map, he spent quite a bit of time in this area, although Denver remained his home. He built the A&D Building with partner Vice Diminico, which housed his liquor store and the Deli in the early days of Vail. That building still stands on the corner of Bridge Street and Gore Creek Drive and now houses The Golden Bear.
Amato was a significant figure in the early days of Vail, said Charlie Gersbach, who was one of three partners with Amato in the development of Manor Vail in 1966. They also developed The Wren, adjacent to Ford Park.
Gersbach describes Amato as a strict constructionist who was always concerned with doing things in an orderly fashion. Brilliant, with an eclectic personality.
"John was considered one of the top legal minds to come out of the 1950s in the Denver area," Gersbach added. "He fought hard for what he believed in. He was blessed with total recall, one of those photographic minds."
Amato was a ski patrolman, a mountain climber, an Eagle Scout and was instrumental in setting up the guidelines to allow condominiums in the state of Colorado. Gersbach added that Amato always wanted to be a teacher. It's been suggested that he would have been in his element as a law professor.
Amato is survived by a sister Helen Dentici of Bangor, Maine, and two sons, Peter Amato of Pueblo and Thomas Amato of Denver. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Susan.
A wake is planned in Denver for mid-November, although the details are not yet available.
The family requests that donations in Amato's memory be made to the American Cancer Society or to an charity of choice.
