A PHOTO REMEMBRANCE OF FALLEN SAN JOSE POLICE OFFICER RICHARD HUERTA - 2013

In my book "La Nostra Costa" (Our Coast), I write about the brutal killing of my best friend San Jose Police Officer Richard Eugene Huerta, on August 6, 1970 and how it affected my personal and professional life.,  I previously posted these photos on the Vintage San Jose Police Facebook page; now I publish them on the LNostra-Costa Blog in Remembrance of Richard

This is a photo of Richard's Academy Class, c.1963. He stands second from the left in the back row.

This photo was taken in my backyard in San Jose in July 1969.  One year later in August of 1970, Richard (pictured in the center) was shot and killed in the line of duty. On Richard's left is SJPD Sergeant Ray Obierne




                                                                        

                                                                        

                                       Officer Richard Eugene Huerta on Patrol c. 1970


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Flag flying at half staff in remembrance of Fallen Officer Richard Huerta. The photo was taken in front of the Police Administration Building in August 1970. I believe that the SJPD Officer standing at attention is Robert Gummow.

       US Marine and SJPD Honor Guard  for Fallen Officer Richard Huerta, August 1970.

Pallbearers attending to Richard Huerta's casket, Aug. 1970. On the left side (front to rear): Officers Richard Yuhas,  Jim Emmons and Tom Perez.  Right side (front to rear): Sgt. Ivan Comelli, Officers Fred Esparza and Jim Larsen. Lt. Bill Bown stands at the extreme right corner of the photo.

 San Jose Police Motorcycle Officers escorting Fallen Officer Richard Huerta to Grave site at Oakhill Memorial Cemetery in San Jose, Aug. 1970.

Laying Fallen Officer Richard Huerta to rest at Grave site at Oakhill Memorial Cemetery, San. Jose, Aug. 1970. Officers facing camera (l-r): Sgt. Ivan Comelli, Officers Fred Esparza and Jim Larsen. Backs to the camera (l-r) Officers Richard Yuhas, Jim Emmons and Tom Perez.

San Jose Police Identification Officers Christine Mendoza (on the left) and Janie Jensen placing flowers on  Richard's casket, Oakhill Memorial Cemetery, San Jose, Aug. 1970. Long time San Jose Police Records Person, Margie Thompson can be seen in the background (middle) in the  light color dress.

Remembrance of Fallen Officer Richard Huerta, written by Editor Richard Cadenasso and appearing in the Aug. 14, 1970, publication  of the Vanguard, a San Jose Peace Officers Association newsletter.

Dedication of Richard Huerta Park at Hillsdale Ave. west of Ross Street, in San Jose, Oct. 10, 1974. Richard's Mother (center) receives plague from San Jose Police Chief Robert Murphy (left). San Jose Mayor Norman Mineta stands at the right.

 Lt. Ivan F. Comelli marches San Jose Police Honer Guard into Richard Huerta Park, Oct. 10, 1974.

 Richard's Mother in tearful remembrance of her fallen son. Photo taken at Richard Huerta Park dedication Oct. 10,1974.  Officer Joe Hasselman (in uniform) is seated in front row, second from right.  Deputy Chief Robert Allen (in uniform) is seated in second row directly behind Richard's mother. San Jose Mayor Norman Mineta is seated in the second row on the end at the left.

          Official Dedication Annoucement of Richard Huerta Park in San Jose California, Oct. 10, 1974.

A WINDOW TO THE PAST

 

This photo tells it all. For me, its like having a window into the past.

 

It is one of my favorite photos and it appears on page 77 of my book "La Nostra Costa  (Our Coast) [LNC]. It is captioned "BRONCO IN HIS RANCERE OUTFIT C.1950". I took this photo from the inside of our bedroom in our old house on the Gulch Ranch. In it you can see "Bronco", my father, like he would be dressed to go to work each morning. In the background to the right you can see the clothesline that my mother hung clothes to dry. Capi, our dog, appears to be watching for something. And to the left with the "Keep Out" sign on the door is the club house where my brother and I kept and read our "Funny Books" . And where we played Italian songs [some with a Fascist flare to them]  on an  old  stand up Victrola phonograph. [LNC : pages 145-147]

You can also see the enclosed chicken yard where we kept our chickens. Inside that chicken yard to the left, out of view, is where Bronco almost got arrested as an Alien Spy, while feeding our rabbits in their hutches, during a WW II Blackout. [LNC: Pages 30-31]  All of this is gone now, except for the distant field. BTW: Near the top of the photo, horizontally across along where the crops end, is part of the race course my brother John and I took when racing in the "Old Carrettone", our old family car.[LNC: Pages 261-263]

 

 

 

THE DELUCCA ACCIDENT - SIXTY-SIX YEARS AGO TODAY

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IVANO SAYS: I posted this today on our La Nostra Costa (Our Coast) Facebook page. I know that some of my LNostra-Costa "Blagga" friends (Gino Campioni for one) to not do Facebook for personal reasons. Therefore,  I'm posting this for you  to see.

At approximately 6:30 PM on August 1, 1947, sixty-six years ago today, quite possibly the worst accident in Santa Cruz North Coast History occurred at the intersection of Swanton Road and Coast Hwy 1. The photo below appeared in the SC Sentinel that year, and shows the two vehicles, a California Department of Forestry Truck and a 1941 Buick passenger car after the violent collision. None of the six member Fire crew was killed, however; five of passengers in the Buick did not survive the accident. “The Sentinel identified the dead victims as Amerigo DeLucca, age thirty-six, Donna DeLucca, age four , Anthony DeLucca, age 9, Mr. Manual Quadros, age sixty, and Mrs. Manuel Quadros, age fifty-five.” [La Nostra Costa (Our Coast) Page 291]

 

 

For my personal views and additional photos "clicca": http://nostra-costa.blogspot.com/2007/07/collision-course-delucca-accident.html

OLD 'LA NOSTRA COSTA ANNOUCEMENT - SANTA CRUZ FAIRGROUNDS 2006.

JUST IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T HEARD....

Figlio Della Costa Charlie Modena Remembered

Charles Louis Modena
January 16, 1914 - May 6, 2013
Resident of Santa Cruz
Our Dearest Dad, Charlie, died peacefully with family at his bedside after a very brief illness.
He was born at home on a beautiful ranch in San Gregorio, California to Carlo and Sylvia Modena, who were originally from Lucca, Italy. He was the youngest of five children.
He relocated to Santa Cruz upon his marriage to his wife, Theresa. It was in Santa Cruz where they raised their two children, Charlene and Fred and lived happily for more than seventy years.
He was in the military Army Corp of Engineers during WWII and was discharged in August 1943. He was a member of the Elks Club, The Marconi Club and the ICF of Santa Cruz.
He acquired Santa Cruz Distributing Company in the 1950's and sold the company in 1998. It was one of the first independent trucking companies in Santa Cruz.
Charlie was a lover of life, a great story teller and was happiest when surrounded by family, friends and his hunting dogs. His interests were endless and so many things brought him joy: His love of family history, cooking family recipes, gathering wild mushrooms, award winning wine making, canning, gardening, grafting fruit trees, hunting, fishing, and traveling, especially to Italy. He really was the keeper of the family flame. Never to be forgotten is the organic strawberry wine made by our Mom and Dad when they were well into their seventies. He loved making summertime root beer floats and used his artistic talents to keep his small children entertained for hours. Who can forget his love for Kitto, the family cat, who shared his life and easy chair for more than 20 years.
He is preceded in death by his wife of seventy years, Theresa Dimeo Modena who passed away in 2010 and is also survived by his children: Charlene and Fred; Daughter in law, Lia Modena; Two grandchildren, Lisa and Eric Modena; and three great grandchildren, Isabel, Lance and Cedric Modena and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would also like to thank devoted caregivers, Sylvia Soper, Marissa Alvarez, Pam Smith, Viveca Vega and grandson, Eric Modena.
Papa Charlie's passing leaves a huge emptiness in the lives of family and friends. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him and whose lives he has touched and enriched.
Dad, give everyone a hug for us.
Friends are invited to a visitation beginning at 9 AM on Saturday May 18, 2013 at the Oakwood Memorial Chapel 3301 Paul Sweet Road in Santa Cruz. Funeral Mass begins at 11:00 AM with a graveside committal to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery 2271 7th Ave Santa Cruz. 
A reception following will be held at the Elks Lodge 150 Jewell Street Santa Cruz.
If you would like to offer condolences to Charlie's family, share your memories and light a candle in his memory please visit www.scmemorial.com

FIGLIA DI SANTA CROCE (DAUGHTER OF SANTA CRUZ) MARY GHIO MARSALISI REMEMBERED

IVANO SAYS: The below Remembrance of Mary Ghio Marsalisi was first published in the

 Santa Cruz Sentinel : www.santacruzsentinel.com  

Mary Ghio Marsalisi Obituary Mary Ghio Marsalisi Feb. 16,1921-Mar. 31,2013 Resident of Santa Cruz Mary Ghio Marsalisi passed away on March 31, 2013 at a local convalescent hospital. She was 92. Mary was born in Santa Cruz on February 16, 1921. She was one of eight children born to Stephen and Caterina Ghio. Mary grew up in Santa Cruz and was a graduate of Santa Cruz High School. As a young women she met Bernard Marsalisa while he was recovering at the Casa Del Rey from injuries he sustained in World War Two. The couple later married and made their home in Santa Cruz. Mary was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She enjoyed gardening and attending social gatherings of the Italian Catholic Federation and the Marconi Club. She was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church. She is survived by her sons, Louis Marsalisi and Stephen Marsalisi and his wife, Julie; daughter, Ann Loncarich and her husband, Rick; sister, Victoria Gemignani; brother, Johnnie Ghio; four grandchildren, Chase Marsalisi, Leah Marsalisi-Romero and her husband, Ben Romero, Nicolette Marsalisi and Taryn Marsalisi; She is also survived by her great grandson, Benito Romero and numerous nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bernard Marsalisi, five siblings, Steve "Ghighi" Ghio, Bautista "Lillie" Ghio, Victor Ghio, Flora Jackson and Gloria Dellamora, daugher-in-law, Bonnie Marsalisi and her parents. A vigil prayer service and rosary will be held at Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel, 1050 Cayuga St, Santa Cruz, CA. on Thursday, April 4, 2013 at 7:00 pm. A visitation will be held at the chapel on Thursday from 5:00 pm until service time. A private family interment will be held on Friday at Holy Cross Cemetery. The family wishes to express a sincere and heartfelt thank you to Mary's nieces, Donna Karst and Linda Deane and her great niece Melissa Dean their unconditional love and the care they gave to her during her illness and to Hospice of Santa Cruz for the compassionate care and support they provided the last months of her life. Contributions may be made to Hospice of Santa Cruz, 940 Disc Dr., Scotts Valley, CA 95066.

ADDIO MARY, UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN ACROSS "IL ULTIMO PONTE" (THE LAST BRIDGE)

SANTA CRUZ NORTH COAST PRESENTATION A SUCCESS.

IVANO SAYS: OUR SANTA CRUZ NORTH COAST PRESENTATION IN SANTA CRUZ ON MARCH 16, 2013 WAS A GREAT SUCCESS. MY THANKS TO JIM HOWES, LaNORMA, (NORMA DINELLI WILSON, PATTY MORELLI AND MY GRANDSONS KRISTIAN RICHARD KNOWLES AND ANDREW FRITTER. I COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU.  ALSO MY THANKS TO THOSE WHO ATTENDED AND PARTICIPATED IN THE EVENT. MILLE GRAZIE.

BELOW ARE SOME PHOTOS OF THE EVENT TAKEN BY MARVIN DEL CHIARO:

Jo Anne Perkins (Papa) with Flora Anecito (Bargiacchi)

                                                                                    The "Old Rancere" with 'Shavola' in hand explaining how "Bronco"

                                 used to work the fields "su per la costa", while singing in Italian.

                                        Patty Morelli and Alverda Orlando

                                Jim Howes, my Production Manager

                            Marvin Del Chiaro, Friend and Photographer

                                  Pointing to Map of 'La Nostra Costa"
                                          with Marvin and La Norma

                                    With Grandson, Kristian


                           
 LaNorma telling it how it was growing up 'su per la costa'.

With Anna Maria Gottie, President, 

   Ladies Branch, Santa Cruz Old Timers

At ringside with Primo Carnera and Max Baer

IVANO SAYS (CON'T): Below are some photos shown on the 'big screen" at our Event:

                                           Benito Mussoline C.1922

                                      Stanchion at La Barranca Park - Santa Cruz

                                           Ellis Island

                                           Angie Battistini's Birthday - Santa Cruz

                      

 Fallen Santa Cruz Police Officers Elizabeth Butler and Loren "Butch" Baker  

                           Saluting Butler- Baker Funeral Procession  2013

                                                Gregory Brothers, Francis and Alvin C. 1945

                                                              Guido Bianconi

                         Gemignani Brothers, Lido, Augie and Joe

                                       Peter Pianavilla

                            Gervasio "Bronco" Comelli and Lido Cantarutti

                                                                         
                                          Lina Bressani Gemignani

                                Map of La Nostra Costa by Norma Dinelli Wilson

                  Photo of La Nostra Costa's Golden Bluffs by Anneliese Agren


                                                                                                         

ANNOUNCING A SANTA CRUZ - NORTH COAST PRESENTATION - SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 2013

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT AND UPDATE 3-2-2013:  JIM HOWES, A FORMER SANTA CRUZ POLICE OFFICER, WILL BE CONDUCTING A REMEMBRANCE FOR FALLEN SANTA CRUZ POLICE OFFICERS LOREN "BUTCH" BAKER AND ELIZABETH BUTLER JUST PRIOR TO THE START OF IVANO'S PRESENTATION.

IVANO FRANCO COMELLI, AUTHOR OF "LA NOSTRA COSTA (OUR COAST)   A FAMILY'S JOURNEY TO AND FROM THE NORTH COAST OF SANTA CRUZ, CA (1923-1983), will be making a Santa Cruz - North Coast Presentation , in Santa Cruz on Saturday, March 16, 2013.

Please come join Ivano, in his guise as"The Old Rancere",  as he celebrates, through stories, songs, photos and audience participation, life in "Santa Croce" and on "La Nostra Costa" as he remembers it in those early years.  Detail of the Event are as follows (Scroll down to bottom for Event time schedule):


WHERE: 399 ENCINAL STREET, SANTA CRUZ, CA
 SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
                BOARD OF EDUCATION  BUILDING - SOUTH WEST CORNER OF ENCINAL AND DUBOIS STREETS   ( NEAR COSTCO AND HARVEY WEST PARK -
                HANDICAP ACCESS THROUGH THE REAR OF BUILDING)


DATE:     SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 2013
TIME:      11:OO AM  TO 4:00 PM

FOOD:     A LIGHT CUISINE WILL BE SERVED

DRINK:   NON-ALCOHOLIC ONLY

MUSIC:   OLD ITALIAN SONGS AND ERA FAVORITES

FEE:          $5 DOLLAR DONATIONS SUGGESTED
















PARKING:    FREE -  IN THE BACK AND ON STREET

WEBSITE:     www.nostra-costa.blogspot.com

TEL:                831-521-0576

DIRECTIONS: AT THE INTERSECTION OF HWY 1 AND HWY 9 IN SANTA CRUZ, TURN ON HWY 9 TOWARDS FELTON; THEN MAKE A LEFT ON ENCINAL STREET (SECOND INTERSECTION ). GO STRAIGHT  TO THE INTERSECTION OF DUBOIS AND ENCINAL.  THE OFFICE OF EDUCATION BUILDING WILL BE ON YOUR LEFT. "CLICCA":  http://goo.gl/maps/RORkj   FOR MAP.

AS TOM MARKETELLO WOULD SAY:

DRIVE SAFELY.  HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.

EVENT TIME SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES APPROXIMATE):

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM 

WELCOME - MEET WITH THE 'OLD RANCHER' (IVANO), LUNCH BY ZOCCOLI's

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM

REMEMBRANCE FOR FALLEN OFFICERS LOREN 'BUTCH' BAKER AND ELIZABETH BAKER BY JIM HOWES

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

SANTA CRUZ NORTH COAST PRESENTATION BY IVANO FRANC0 COMELLI AND NORMA DINELLI WILSON

2:30 PM - 4:00 PM

GROUP MINGLING, PHOTO VIEWING, 

LA NOSTRA COSTA (OUR COAST) BOOK SIGNING BY IVANO