Orlando Ungaro and Frances Lipovski

Orlando and Frances Ungaro

Orlando Ungaro was born in Natal, BC, on May 9, 1931 to Ninno Ungaro (who was born in Cellara, Cosenza, Italy) and Emma (Pugliese) Ungaro (daughter of Phillip and Theresa Pugliese). As a young boy, who lost his father at 16 years old, Orlando worked for the coal company in Michel, BC, to help support the family. There were two sisters (Eleanor and Ida) and one brother (Alfred), all younger than him. He grew up in the small town of “Middletown”, amongst so many other Italian families. After graduation, he attended Normal School, in Victoria, BC, where he received his teaching certificate. He came back to Natal and married Frances Lipovski in 1951. 

Orlando taught school for almost 20 years starting in Jaffray, BC (as a 19-year-old principal), and then Natal, Sparwood, Fernie and finally, Kelowna.  During that time, he was always very active in his community, being a member of the Kinsmen Club and the fire department, He became the town’s first mayor (Reeve) and then mayor of Sparwood back in the 1960s. Orlando was instrumental in spearheading an urban renewal program to relocate residents from Natal, Michel and Middletown to Sparwood.
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Orlando and Frances raised five children; Karyn, Allan, Joe, Don and Mary. They operated a clothing and shoe store together for many years in Natal. They suffered a total loss of store and home to a fire in 1961. They moved their family to Kelowna in 1968, where he taught at KSS High School. He often received letters or notes from former students who thanked him for his mentoring and encouragement, for more than 30 years after his teaching career. Orlando had membership in the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club, serving as its President in 1971 and 1973.

In 1970, Orlando decided to change careers and took his real estate course…running the very successful Hoover Realty Ltd for over 20 years.  As a real estate broker, he mentored and taught so many through the challenging decade of the 1980s, to become successful Realtors.  He never stopped teaching.  As well, Orlando and Frances were always cognizant of the needs and challenges of the less fortunate. They were very resourceful in reaching out to many families to give them a “leg up” and to help them realize their dreams. They never lost sight of their roots, and the perseverance, resilience and dedication required to rise from challenges that life brought along. 

After retiring from real estate, Orlando decided to have some retirement fun and started up a Music Box store in Kelowna…he loved nothing better than to demonstrate the music boxes and Rhythm Clocks  to all who would come in to his shop!

Orlando was predeceased by his wife, Frances, in December of 1999 and later passed away in January of 2006.

Contributed by Joe and Karyn, children.