Bennie and Joyce Gatto have spent most of their lives going the extra mile to make Lathrop a better place to live.
Now there are 16 miles of what will be the longest urban trail in the Northern San Joaquin Valley that will carry their names.
The trail atop the 300-doot wide levee protecting River Islands, will ultimately encircle the entire planned community of 15,001 homes.
More than 70 people turned out Thursday to watch as Bennie Gatto cut the ribbon officially dedicating the Bennie and Joyce Gatto Historical Trail.
Mile 0 — where the ceremonies took place atop the levee — had the swollen San Joaquin River as a backdrop while a youth baseball game took place at nearby Islander Field.
“If there is anyone who deserves it (the honor the trail being named after them) it is Bennie and Joyce,” noted Lathrop Mayor Sonny Dhaliwal before presenting Bennie with a plaque on behalf of the Lathrop City Council.
Joyce was a bit under then weather and was unable to attend.
Bennie’s service to Lathrop and its residents for the 50 plus years is legendary.
Not only did he play a key role in bringing safe drinking water for Lathrop before cityhood, but he was part of the successful effort to incorporate the community.
Bennie served eight years on the City Council and was Lathrop’s second mayor. He also served more than 14 years on the Lathrop Planning Commission.
His community service included helping at the high school his two children attended and graduated — East Union High where Lathrop students went for decades — and ultimately Lathrop High after it was built.
Between the two schools, Bennie served for a half century on high school football chain gangs. That is in addition to a lifetime of setting the bar in terms of community involvement
In September 2012, the Lathrop High Spartans dedicated the football field “Bennie Gatto Field” in his honor for his tireless dedication not just to Lathrop but to its youth as well.
Joyce launched the annual mayor’s art show — the latest edition is taking place tonight – and as a tireless supporter and advocate for the arts.
Bennie served 22 years as a volunteer firefighter, a task that in the early days earned him 50 cents for every fire he helped fire. He also served on the Lathrop-Manteca Fire District board from 1981 to 2010 including six years as chairman.
Gloryanna Rhodes, a fire board member, noted it would take “3 to 4 hours” to share all of the things Bennie and Joyce have done for the community.
Rhodes, who also is a past council member, made comments underscoring the fact Bennie set the platinum standard when it came to community service.
River Islands CEO Susan Dell’Osso indicated the Gattos are among the first people she met when she first came to Lathrop in 1989.
“River Islands, for sure, would not have been here without (Bennie Gatto),” Dell’Osso said.
Dell’Osso noted not only did Gatto play a key role in helping gain approval of the original concept of Gold Rush City that preceded the 15,001-home planned community of River Islands, but was essential in getting voter approval for the current project.
