Albert Santi's Obituary
Albert D. Santi, 72, of Memphis, passed away on May 23, 2014. There are few things that define Albert D. Santi, tennis, sports, cars, women, and Tiger basketball. He was born May 6, 1942 grew up in Memphis, the son of the late Donato Santi and Josephine Annaratone Santi. A graduate of CBHS, Albert received his BBA in real estate from the University of Memphis in 1967. He also holds a degree from Northwestern University Graduate School of Mortgage Banking and studied property income loans at Michigan State University. Albert quickly moved up the ladder in mortgage lending becoming vice president of Boyle Mortgage Company. During that time he was looking to make it easier for the layman to understand the industry. Taking action he wrote his first book Questions and Answers for FHA, VA, and Conventional Loans, which eventually grew into what is now revered among professionals as the mortgage manual. Having had over 30 years of lending experience, Albert taught classes in FHA and VA loans for local realtors, using several of the nine books he authored, one of which was the Encyclopedia of Mortgage & Real Estate Finance published by The Mortgage Bankers Association of America. He received numerous awards for his publications one of which was a featured review in USA Today. In later years Albert became president and founder of Second Chance Mortgage Company and Santi Mortgage Company LLC. Albert also served as president of the Memphis Realtors Association. While in college Albert was active in the Marine Reserves and was elected treasurer in Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, later serving as president of its Memphis alumni chapter. Always having philanthropic inclinations Albert was instrumental in founding the Collierville Civitan Tennis Tournaments, which benefited Special Olympics, and served as its Director in the initial year. After his accident the tournament was renamed in his honor. Albert was proud of the nationally ranked Bed and Breakfast he established at Hickory Withe, TN called “The Lodge,” which he shared with his treasured companions, “Sugar Bear,” his elkhound and “Beamer,” his black lab. Sitting on 100 acres of land, Albert’s home was built with cypress timbers that dated back to the 1800’s, with cedar infrastructure. As reflected in each room of the lodge he loved Tiger basketball and football, being actively involved in the Highland 100 Club during the ’80’s. Another passion of Albert was tennis. You would definitely find Albert playing in local tennis tournaments and supporting the professional tournament here in Memphis. He was also the recipient of countless tennis awards. He is survived by his son, Marcus Santi and daughters, Suzanne Zuri and Jennifer Jamison. He leaves two sisters, Dolores (Dodie) Jagendorf and Rita Grivich, and niece Gina Grivich Farrar. Special thanks to a loving caregiver, Lola Noel. In the ’50’s and early ’60’s if you saw a red and white ’58 Chevy Impala fly down the road or race at Lakeland Speedway, in the ’70’s and ’80’s it would have been a blue TR6, and in the ’90’s a green Camaro convertible….you saw Albert Santi in the driver seat! He’s doing what he does best, telling stories and playing sports and entertaining a host of characters in heaven. The family will receive friends 5p.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 27, 2014 at Memorial Park Funeral Home with a Rosary at 7 p.m. The funeral service will be held at 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, at Memorial Park Funeral Home. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorial donation can be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.
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