FIGLIO DELLA COSTA - JOE BERTOLIJoseph Bertoli passed away January 27, 2009 at his home in Santa Cruz surrounded by his loving family. He was 88 years old.
Joe was born in Santa Cruz on January 4, 1921, the son of Joseph and Rosa Bertoli. He grew up in Santa Cruz and was a graduate of Santa Cruz High School. As a young man he worked at Salz Tannery and later worked for the City of Santa Cruz in the sanitation department. For many years Joe has also owned and operated a gardening and landscape business for which he was well known and will be missed by many.
He was a member of the Santa Cruz Elks Lodge, Marconi Club and Sons of Italy. His family characterized him as a hardworking man who was a very devoted husband and father. He was very fond of his dogs and in his spare time enjoyed hunting for mushrooms.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Virginia Bertoli of Santa Cruz; daughter, Sharon Bertoli of Jackson, CA; brother, Natale Bertoli and his wife Emma of Santa Cruz; sisters, Elvira Nance of Roseburg, OR and Gemma Locatelli of Santa Cruz; sisters-in-law, Lena Silva of Santa Cruz and Mary Locatelli of Los Gatos; He is also survived by three godsons, many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at Holy Cross Church, 126 High St, Santa Cruz, CA Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at 10:00 am. A vigil service will be held at Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel, 1050 Cayuga St, Santa Cruz, CA, Monday February 2, 2009 at 7:00 pm. Visitation will be at Pacific Gardens Chapel on Monday from 1:00 pm until service time and at Holy Cross Church on Tuesday from 9:15 until service time. Entombment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Santa Cruz, CA
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Santa Cruz, 940 Disc Dr, Scotts Valley, CA 95066 or to your favorite charity.
Published in the Santa Cruz Sentinel on 1/30/2009
Ivano says: Joe was born about the same time as another Joe: my uncle: Joe Gemignani. He and his wife Virginia were very good friends of the Gemignanis. In the mid -1970s, my uncle was President of the Italian Catholic Federation Branch in Santa Cruz. I remember Joe Bertoli as being part of the fun loving group that attended the ICF parties at the old Holy Cross Hall. Many a good time was had by all. Big Joe was always friendly, greeting everyone with a big smile on his face and extending is hand , offering a very firm handshake. He was always proud of having worked with the Sanatation Department in Santa Cruz. When I would ask Joe what he did for a living, he would respond by saying: "I'm just an old Garbage Man, Ivano". To those of us who knew Joe, he certainly was much more than that.
Addio Joe Bertoli. Until we meet again across "Il Ultimo Ponte".
2 comments:
Ivano mio caro Amico!! How are you ?? just catching up on your blogga since today we have a winter holiday "Family Day". This holiday just came into effect last year only in our Province of Ontario. I see the Obituary on Joe Bertoli. We have a few friends here in Toronto by the name of Mario and Bianca Bertoli, they immigrated here from Friuli Mareto di Tomba Udine. Mario is currently the President of the Famee Friulana in Oakville Ontario as well as the President of the Italian Country Club in Oakville Ontario. I wonder if Joe Bertoli is related? Are Joe's parents from Friuli? Let me know! Take care of yourself Ivano and as usual keep the Flame alive, regardless if they crossed il Ultimo Ponte!!
Ciao e Mandi
Doriano
DORIANO: Thanks for your comments. As always they are very interesting and informative. As far as I know Joe Bertoli's family was not Friulian. However, as I am finding out, their are a few closet Furlans "su per la costa".
This may have been because of the strong influence of the many "Toscanos" . Remember they had to compete with them in the work force. (This is not to imply that Joe Bertoli's family was one of these.) Thanks again my friend for contributing to the LNostra-Costa 'Blagga-Train'. Sempre Avanti ivn0
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