Eleanor Delligatti
Eleanor Delligatti is the wife of Michael Jim Delligatti, the creator of McDonald’s iconic burger, Big Mac. Mr. Delligatti died at the age of 98 on November 29, 2016 at his home in Fox Chapel, a suburb of Pittsburgh surrounded by his family.
Eleanor Delligatti’s husband became one of McDonald’s first franchise owners, opening his first McDonald’s in 1957, subsequently the owner of dozens of stores in the Pittsburgh area and then the Big Mac was born.
It wasn’t an easy process, at first Mr. Delligatti’s idea of a two-all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, and onions on a sesame seed bun was not well received by McDonald’s top managers, in spite of the rejection, Michael’s persistence and desired to bring a big sandwich to the McDonald’s menu won the battle and the Big Mac was eventually added to the menu in 1967, first sold for 45 cents. The big Mac was indeed a success!! Soon every McDonald’s franchise owner wanted Delligatti’s sandwich in their menus.
Michael Jim Delligatti was born in August, 1918 in Uniontown, Fayette County. His dad’s job forced him and the family to move a lot and he never got to go to college, but he served in the military that fought in World War II.
Mr. Delligatti was married to his wife Eleanor B. Delligatti also known as Ellie Delligatti. Together they had two sons, Michael and James Delligatti.
Eleanor Delligatti, 79, was born in Dec 1936.
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