Named for the Pelanconi family, chiefly Lorenzo (1866-1955), who oversaw their vineyards here in Glendale. His mother, born Isabel Ramírez (1841-1917), was a native of Olvera Street: her father Juan owned much of it back when it was called Wine Street. She married Italian immigrant Antonio Pelanconi (c. 1833-1879) in March 1866 and little Lorenzo was born that December. The Pelanconis moved into their own Olvera Street home in 1871 – it became the famous restaurant La Golondrina in 1930 – and ran a winery across the road. After Antonio’s untimely death, Isabel married his friend Giacomo Tononi, who helped manage the business. Like his mother, Lorenzo had an eye toward higher learning and was educated at the French school, St. Vincent’s College (precursor to LMU), and Santa Clara University. He later derived the bulk of his fortune from real estate. He and his wife Martina (née Yorba, 1879-1980) lived in a Sunset Blvd. mansion for decades and were known for their collection of priceless antiques – they had no kids to break them. The Pelanconis sold their Glendale property in 1926, with Walter B. Davis subdividing it, although Pelanconi Ave. itself wasn’t laid out or named until 1936.
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