Surprise, surprise
Tomato grower flips lid, sees she's a winner
(Reprinted from The Record, December 10, 2004) By Joe Goldeen
Record Staff Writer STOCKTON -- Ace Tomato Co. President Kathleen Lagorio Janssen
inspected the cardboard box top that advertises one of her products, Ace Hi Roma tomatoes. A message taped to the underside told it all: Lagorio Janssen is the 51st Stocktonian of the Year.  "My, all you devious people," she told well-wishers Thursday at the Yosemite Club in downtown Stockton who gathered to surprise her. Among those in the crowd were past honorees Ed Coy, Gerry Dunlap, Mimi Eberhardt and Marian Jacobs. It was Jacobs, in fact, who
nominated Lagorio Janssen for recognition by the Stockton Council of the Central Valley Association of Realtors. "Not only is she a generous and consistent donor, but she is an active participant and contributes countless hours to various community organizations," Jacobs said in submitting Lagorio Janssen's name. "I can't imagine being in that prestigious company," Lagorio Janssen said
of her predecessors. "This is great. I didn't have a clue. I'm stunned." She will be recognized formally at a dinner in her honor Feb. 3 at the Stockton Country Club. Lagorio Janssen -- Kathy to her friends -- is the president of six family companies in the Manteca area founded by her late parents, George and Evelyn Lagorio, including Ace Tomato, Ace Apple, Delta Pre-Pack, Lagorio Communications, Lagorio Farming and Lagorio Leasing.
In addition to harvesting and packing tomatoes and apples, she and her family including husband Dean Janssen farm alfalfa, asparagus, cherries, corn, walnuts, wheat and winegrapes. In the community, Lagorio Janssen appears to be everywhere, serving as vice chairman of the board of Community Bank of San Joaquin; a University of the Pacific regent; secretary of the board of directors of the Business Council; first woman president of the Yosemite Club; founder
and president of the Pacific Italian Alliance; and a member of the boards of Dameron Hospital Foundation, Make A Wish Foundation San Joaquin County, San Joaquin Farm Bureau Federation Foundation for Agricultural Education and St. Mary's High School Foundation and Founders Committee. In the past, she was an active member of the Stockton Symphony board. Next year, she will take a seat on the KVIE Public Television Advisory Board.
"She's being honored because she's involved in so many activities. I don't know when she eats or sleeps," said Colleen Stewart, chairwoman of the Realtors' selection committee. "The fact that I work with my husband and two of our boys makes it all worthwhile," Lagorio Janssen said when asked about what she is most proud of. In the community, her current volunteer work with St. Mary's High School, including the multimillion-dollar campaign to build a new
campus, gives her the most satisfaction, she said. She also is a supporter of the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Goodwill Industries, Catholic Diocese of Stockton, St. Joseph's Medical Center, Sunflower, United Way of San Joaquin and the Women's Shelter. A nine-member committee consisting of three past recipients, three Realtors and three members of the general public selected Lagorio Janssen from among seven nominations submitted in October. Stewart
said that to be considered, a nominee must have served the community in the past year in a volunteer capacity without regard to their paid position. Next Article >> | 
