LIFE IS A BEACH

SANTA CRUZ BEACH C. 1945 (WHERE THE PROS AND OTHERS PLAY VOLLYBALL TODAY) FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: ELIO "BEBO' RODONI, GIOVANNI PRIMO (JOHN) COMELLI, ME (IVANO COMELLI), MY MOTHER VALENTINA COMELLI (DIRECTLY BEHIND ME) LAURA NERI (BESIDE ME) AND HER MOTHER ELVIRA NERI.


IVANO SAYS: THE ABOVE PHOTO WAS SENT TO ME BY LAURA (NERI) GULARTE ALONG WITH THE FOLLOWING LETTER:

"Dear Ivano:
My name is Laura Neri Gularte. My parents were Quinto and Elvira Neri. I am "LaNorma's"cousin. Going through some old photos, I came across the picture I am sending you, taken at the Santa Cruz Beach. It is Elio Rodoni, your brother John, you, your mom, myself and my mother. I don't know what year it was taken, however; I'm thinking sometime in the middle 1940s. Norma thought you might enjoy having it. I do remember your mom often picking us up to go to the beach. (Ed: Probably in the "Old Carrettone".) Norma and I had a great time going over these old pictures.

I have your book and have enjoyed reading it.

Laura Neri Gularte

Thanks Laura. I really appreciate you sending me the photo and letter. Life was really a "beach" back then.....or was it? Judging by the expressions on "Bebo's" and my face we were wishing to be elsewhere. BTW: The other photo was also taken at Cowell's Beach circa 1957. Sitting from left to right: Bruce Hansen and Jim Ceragioli. Standing left to right "Charles Atlas" and Jerrill (The Old Professor) Kerrick. ('clicca on foto for enlarged image.)

'Con Un Bacin D'Mor Ivano

DREAM INN OF SANTA CRUZ

PHOTO: THE DREAM INN SITTING ADJACENT TO COWELL'S BEACH SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA. (http://www.expedia.com/).

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IVANO SAYS: THE FORMER DREAM INN, THEN THE COAST SANTA CRUZ HOTEL, AND NOW THE DREAM INN ONCE AGAIN, IS THE SUBJECT OF A VERY INTERESTING STORY ABOUT IT'S ORIGINAL OWNER, BRADLY MALCOM McDONALD SENT TO ME BY GINO 'D'BAFFI' CAMPIONI.

In May of 1967 when I joined the Church, I was interviewed by Bishop Bradley Malcolm McDonald. He was a wonderful and very kind man. He always walked with crutches, as he had a leg ailment, and doctors did not dare do surgery, as he was a hemophiliac, and might not survive the operation.

He faithfully continued to serve in the Church, but with much pain.

At one time he had owned a night club in Capitola, but when he first joined the Church, he decided that such a business was not appropriate. He sold that place, and later had a hotel built on West Cliff Drive, near the Sisters' Hospital. He called the hotel, "Dream Inn". At the East end of the hotel was the "Twelve Winds Dining Room".

On a few occasions I enjoyed the wonderful food at the dining room with new friends I found in the Church. Sometimes I took the young missionaries there.

When I had to move to Oregon, I lost track of all those people. In 1992 I returned to Santa Cruz for the 40th reunion of my high school class. On the Sunday that I was there, I attended church services in my first meeting house, the Santa Cruz Ward building, (now the Santa Cruz Stake Center on Elk St.).

Spotting Bishop McDonald at the far end of the chapel I waved to him, and he waved back. He apologized for not having time to stop and chat, then ran to his next appointment! I learned that he had been to the Mayo Clinic, and a method had been found for safely doing his needed surgery. He no longer needed crutches. I was so thankful to know that.

The last time I saw him was about 10 years ago. I was then serving as the 2nd counselor to the Monmouth Stake Sunday School President, and was invited to accompany him to visit the Lincoln City Ward near the ocean.

This ward frequently has more visitors than regular members, due to its proximity to the beach and various places of amusements. When the teacher asked all visitors to introduce themselves, I found that there were three from Santa Cruz. Brad McDonald, now a Stake President, his good wife Bea, and myself. We had a short but fond renewal of friendship.

The McDonalds now live somewhere near Seattle, and continue to serve in the Church.

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Saluti, Gino

FIGLIO DELLA COSTA - JOE BERTOLI

FIGLIO DELLA COSTA - JOE BERTOLI

Joseph 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".