Mateo Pitalo

Born in 1895, Splitsko-Dalmatinska, Croatia, arrived in Biloxi, Mississippi, and soon found work in the seafood industry. He would marry Mary Kuluz Pitalo and begin a family.

Fulfilling his dream, Mateo purchased his first Biloxi lugger in 1920, and then later, a second. For more than 30 years, Mateo would captain the MARGARET A with Bill Romero serving as captain of the MARION BOY.

Captain Pitalo would work for many of the seafood factories along the Gulf Coast, but worked mostly for the Kuluz Brothers Packing Co. In 1940, Mateo leased Rosetti Café from his brother-in-law, Jake Rosetti, but simultaneously owned and operated both boats until 1945.

Mateo was an active member of the Slavic Lodge and St. Michael Catholic Church in Biloxi for more than 50 and 60 years respectively. He passed away in 1976 at the age of 81.