Person:Pete Uraine (2)

About Pete Uraine

Peter "Pete" Uraine was born on 5 July 1920 in California, a son of Alex Uraine (b. 1891) and his wife Hazel Valoff (b. 1896), both of Russian heritage. Pete grew up with his parents and eight siblings in East Los Angeles and when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, he volunteer and enlisted in the United States Air Force and served his country in World War II. He was stationed at Clark Field in the Philippines and flew a PBY-4 patrolling the South China Sea during much of the war.

After World War II, Pete began his career in the food industry with Olson Baking Company as a bread driver and route supervisor. In the mid-1940's, Olson was acquired by Alpha Beta, a then 39-store chain of supermarkets, and Pete was appointed supervisor, and later deli field representative. When Alpha Beta had grown to 70 stores, Pete was promoted to Deli Buyer and was responsible for Alpha Beta's deli program, previously supervised by William "Bill" Railsback. He stayed with Alpha Beta February 1966, when he joined Certified Grocers of California.

Pete worked as a Deli Purchasing Manager for Certified Grocers (now Unified Grocers) in the 1970's and 80's until he developed cancer and could not continue to work. Pete was active in the Dairy/Deli/Bakery Council of Southern California (DDBC), or "Deli Council", a local food-industry trade association, was elected to its Board of Directors and was elected as its eleventh President in 1970.

Pete was awarded the Deli Council's "Big Cheese" Award in January 1968 for his contributions to the Council, and later, for his leadership and support, received its "Retailer of the Year" award in 1978, and the "Hall of Fame" award posthumously in January 1985. Pete also is credited with the formation of the early stages for what is now known as the "DDBC National Deli Seminar", and served as Chairman for four years and was Program Chairman in 1982. He was also credited in being the person responsible for urging the Deli Council Past Presidents to establish the "Hall of Fame" Award, first awarded in 1983. Pete also served as the Chairman of the Deli Council City of Hope Committee and was the originator and organizer of the successful deli educational bus tours during the 1960's.

Pete Uraine passed away on 17 September 1984 after complications from cancer. He had been treated at the City of Hope in Duarte, California. He was survived by his wife Mary, and their four children: Marsha, Mark, Christy and Michael.

1.   Deli News Magazine. (Huntington Beach, California: Pacific Rim Publishing)
   XXI, No. 10, October 1984.

   Pete Uraine
   
   Pete, Uraine, a veteran deli pioneer, died on Monday, Sept. 17 at Hogg Memorial Hospital in Newport Beach of complications from his recent illness. He had been treated at the City of Hope Medical Center in Duarte.
   
   Pete is credited with starting what is now known as the National Deli Seminar in 1978 and served as chairman for four years, and later was program chairman in 1982.
   
   He also was responsible for forming the early stages of the Deli Council and was an active member for many years. He served as President in 1970.
   
   Pete was born of Russian parentage and in a family of nine children. He grew up in East Los Angeles - a teeming district known as "the flats".
   
   When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Pete enlisted in the U.S. Navy Air Force, stationed at Clark Field in the Philippines, he flew on a PBY-4 patrolling the South China Sea.
   
   After the war, Pete returned to Los Angeles and joined the Olson Baking Co. as a bread driver. In two years he was promoted to route supervisor - responsible for 12 routes in the Hollywood Area.
   
   In the mid-fifties, Alpha Beta purchased Olson Baking Co. to supply their private-label bread for their 39 stores. Pete was appointed supervisor of the newly-formed bread division. In 1958, he became deli field representative. His duties entailed calling upon stores to arrange special sales and promotions, and to instruct deli personnel.
   
   A year later Pete was advanced to deli buyer of the chain, which by then had increased to 70 stores. Pete was responsible for Alpha Beta's deli program. In addition to the regular deli items, Pete bought bread, eggs, dairy products, gourmet foods, Jewish foods, and Japanese foods. He stayed with Alpha Beta until joining Certified in February 1966, and he remained with Certified Grocers, and at the time of his death was Deli Purchasing Manager.
   
   He is survived by wife, Mary, and four children: Marsha, Mark, Christy, and MIchael. Memorial can be made to the City of Hope Cancer Fund.

2.   California. Department of Public Health. Bureau of Vital Statistics. Death Index, 1940-1997.

   California, Death Index, 1940-1997
   Name: Peter Alex Uraine
   Social Security #: 547551212
   Gender: Male
   Birth Date: 5 Jul 1920
   Birth Place: California
   Death Date: 17 Sep 1984
   Death Place: Orange
   Mother's Maiden Name: Valoff

3.   Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index: Death Master File, database. (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service).

   U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-Current
   Name: Peter Uraine
   SSN: 547-22-1515
   BORN: 5 Jul 1920
   Died: Sep 1984
   State (Year) SSN issued: California (Before 1951)

4.   United States. 1930 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T626).

   1930 United States Federal Census
   Name: Peter Uraine
   Gender: Male
   Birth Year: abt 1921
   Birthplace: California
   Race: White
   Home in 1930: Belvedere, Los Angeles, California
   Map of Home: View Map
   Marital Status: Single
   Relation to Head of House: Son
   Father's Name: Alex Uraine
   Father's Birthplace: Russia
   Mother's name: Hazel Uraine
   Mother's Birthplace: Russia
   Household Members: Name Age
   Alex Uraine 39
   Hazel Uraine 34
   Sarah Uraine 17
   Natalie Uraine 15
   Grace Uraine 12
   Peter Uraine 9
   Maurice Uraine 8
   Billy Uraine 2

5.   U.S. Public Records Index, Volume 1. (United States).

   U.S. Public Records Index, Volume 1
   Name: Peter A Uraine
   Address: 1122 Howard Street, Whittier, CA, 90606
   [11222 Howard St, Whittier, CA, 90606-1430]
   [1122 Howard Street, Whittier, CA, 90600]
   [1747 E Ocean Bv, Balboa, CA, 92661 (1993)]