Joseph Cervelli, Sr.
Joseph Cervelli, Sr. passed away in Alameda, California at ninety-six years of age. Joe was born in 1927 to Aladino and Eda Cervelli in Alameda. His bravery, or as he would say coraggio, and inner strength are an inspiration to his family and loved ones. He was a wonderful man who brought joy and laughter with him wherever he went. He had a gift of engaging in conversations and making people feel special. He was truly dedicated to his family, and his memory will always live on in our hearts.
Joe was the ever faithful, loyal, and dutiful husband to his wife of over sixty-three years, Catherine Margaret Cervelli. He was an adoring son to his parents Aladino and Eda Cervelli, and dedicated son-in-law of Giobatta and Teresa Ratto, who all preceded him in death. He was the loving and devoted father to his daughter, Denise Maddix (née Cervelli) and son-in-law Daniel Maddix, who also both preceded him in death, and to his son Joseph (Laura) Cervelli, Jr.; the very proud and adoring Papà to his granddaughter, Danielle (Joseph) Robinson (née Maddix), and great-granddaughter Denise Robinson; the treasured brother-in-law of Nicholas (Laurie) Ratto, Margaret Ratto, and Mark (Margaret) Ratto; the caring and cherished uncle of Angela and Paula Ratto.
Joe graduated as the class salutatorian from Alameda High School in 1945. He then joined the army and attended the University of Utah. After his service, he obtained his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley in 1950, becoming the first in his family to graduate from college. He always valued hard work and academics. He remained a loyal and true Old Blue his entire life, enjoying many basketball and football games with his family as a season ticket holder for five decades. Joe worked as a mechanical engineer and was a beloved leader at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) for thirty-six years before retiring in 1991. There he worked on challenging problems with esteemed colleagues, with whom he built long-time friendships.
In addition to being very dedicated to his work, Joe’s true devotion was to his family and friends. In 1960, he married Catherine at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church in Alameda, where he has remained a devout parishioner. He loved his Italian heritage and the lifelong friends that he cultivated from his childhood and his parents’ friendships. He always went above and beyond for his family and found enjoyment in tending to his parents’ vegetable garden, continuing his father’s tradition of dove hunting, playing bocce ball, and making homemade pasta. Joe’s love and talent for cooking brought family together and created happy memories that we will always cherish.
Friends and family are invited to attend the visitation from 5:00-7:00 pm and recitation of the Rosary on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at 7:00 pm at Saint Philip Neri Church, 3100 Van Buren, Alameda. A Funeral Mass will be offered on Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at 10:00 am at Saint Philip Neri Church. Following the mass, he will be interred in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Hayward. Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Amyloidosis Foundation at https://amyloidosis.org/act or to the Missionaries of Charity at https://missionariesofcharity.org/contact-us.html.