Biography
Leonard Gucciardi was born in Sicily in 1889, at a time of great poverty and little opportunity. He completed his primary education by age 11, at which time he left for America with an uncle. His parents remained in Sicily.
Leonard made his way to Chicago with his uncle where he worked on the streets selling fruit. He would hoist a crate of lemons on his shoulders and sell them. Many years later, his son John asked him how he was able to do this. He replied that as the day progressed, his load became incrementally lighter, and that is how he knew he was making money. Leonard Gucciardi's story is the inspiration for our model of incremental change.
Leonard went home to Sicily and married. Soon thereafter, he and his wife returned to America and started a family, eventually settling in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A brother-in-law helped him rent a space in which he worked tirelessly to establish a successful fruit business. The store eventually became a well known grocery establishment. Leonard, his wife and three children worked at the store. He was even able to sustain the business through the Great Depression and World War II.
The grocery store eventually moved to Port Washington, Wisconsin where it experienced continued success. Leonard Gucciardi was still working full time when he passed away at the age of 77. Our organization proudly bears his name.
Leonard and Anna Gucciardi - Circa 1915
The Leonard Gucciardi Empowerment Organization
