In Memoriam: Ben Sacco

Bernard “Ben” Sacco, founder of Sierra International Machinery and Sierra Recycling and Demolition, Bakersfield, Calif., has died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 87.

Ben Sacco was born in the small town of Montemurro, Italy, and immigrated to the United States in 1935. After serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, Sacco moved to California with $90 in his pocket to work in the agriculture industry.

In 1947, he and partner Morris Rosenberg founded Sierra Bag Co. in Bakersfield to provide produce containers to area growers. In 1959, Sacco also founded Sierra Iron and Metal to recycle salvaged metals. That company evolved into Sierra Recycling and Demolition, which processes scrap metal and engages in building demolition and site preparation work.

The bagging company was sold in 1987, and Sacco used the proceeds to launch Sierra International Machinery, which manufactures and sells processing and material handling equipment used within the scrap and demolition industries.

“He was 65 years old at the time,” says his son John Sacco. “At an age when most people are looking to retire, he was entering another phase of his entrepreneurial life.”

Ben Sacco’s two companies remain family owned. Son John Sacco is president of Sierra International Machinery and son Philip Sacco is president of Sierra Recycling and Demolition.

Combined, the two companies employ about 125 people and continue to grow and expand, which his sons say is a great testimony to the hard work Ben Sacco has put in over the years.

Ben arrived at work before most staff members and was always the last one to go home, say his sons. He took the companies to heart and considered all the employees as members of his family and treated them as such, they add.

Ben’s eldest son, Anthony Sacco, has dedicated his time to taking care of his mother and father while the family dealt with Ben’s illness.

Earlier this year, the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries Inc. (ISRI), honored Ben Sacco with a lifetime achievement award.

In addition to a full business career, Ben was a cultural ambassador between the United States and his native Italy. He co-founded the Italian Heritage Dante Association in California in the 1960s, and the Italian government appointed him a vice consulate for Italy from 1969 to 1992.

Ben Sacco is survived by his wife, Eunice Sacco; sons Anthony, Philip and John Sacco; daughters Angela Aragon and Laura Sacco; and six grandchildren.

Sierra companies will be closed for business on Friday, June 26, allowing employees to attend services. Services are open to the public and are scheduled for 11 a.m. at St. Francis Church on H Street in Bakersfield.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to:

Boys’ Town of Italy

Attn: Brother Anthony D’Adamo

250 East 63rd St.

New York, NY 10021

Ph.: (212) 980-8770.