Leno and Rosemary LaBianca - Leno LaBianca

Leno LaBianca

Pasqualino Antonio LaBianca was born in Los Angeles, California to Italian immigrant parents. He was called Leno by his family. His father, Antonio, owned two grocery businesses: Gateway Ranch Markets and State Wholesale Grocery Company. The latter purchased food at wholesale prices and distributed it to a group of grocers. LaBianca's mother, Corina, stayed at home taking care of Leno and his two older sisters, Emma and Stella. At Franklin High School, Leno was an exceptional student, which led him to skip a grade. He was also active in his school's track team, earning him the nickname "Flash." People constantly mispronounced Lino's name, so he decided to change the spelling from "i" to "e." From then on, he was known as "Leno." Outside of school, Leno worked for his father at Gateway Ranch Markets and spent time with his girlfriend, Alice Skolfield.

In 1940, Leno's father bought a house on Waverly Drive and moved the family to the Los Feliz district of Los Angeles. Leno, missing his girlfriend Alice, forged his father's name on a change of address form and went back to Franklin High School to be with Alice.

After graduation, Leno enrolled in Los Angeles City College studying Business Administration and began working for State Wholesale Grocery Company. After one semester at Los Angeles City College, Leno transferred to the University of Southern California and went to work at Gateway Ranch Markets.

In November 1943, Leno was inducted into the Army. The following month, he and Alice became engaged, and were married in March 1944. In September, LaBianca was ordered to Europe to serve in World War II. He returned home in March 1946.

Leno and Alice's first child, Corina Jane LaBianca, was born in the spring of 1948. In 1951, Leno was elected to the Board of Directors and was named Vice President of both Gateway Markets and State Wholesale Grocery Company. That December, Leno and Alice had their first son, Anthony Carl LaBianca. The same year, LaBianca's father, Antonio, died making Leno the President of both grocery companies. He then moved his family into the house on Waverly Drive.

By 1955, Leno and Alice had grown apart and separated in January. Both moved out of the Waverly Drive house and found apartments in the Los Feliz area. In September, Leno became a father for the third time when Alice gave birth to Louise LaBianca. Alice and Leno officially divorced in 1955.