John Cardinalli, age 96, from Hollister, California, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family and friends on November 5, 2017.
John was born in Pittsburgh, California in 1921 and raised in Monterey, California, where he and his wife, Josephine raised their two children, John and Jennifer.
Mr. Cardinalli served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany with the OSS (now CIA) from 1942 to 1945. At age 92, he documented his military service in a book called “65 Years of Secrecy” which is now part of the collection of the Library of Congress. In 2016, Mr. Cardinalli was honored in Washington, D.C. on an Honor Flight and in 2017 was to receive a Congressional Gold Medal, which was delayed until 2018; however, Congressman Jimmy Panetta learned from a family member that Mr. Cardinalli was close to death and arranged for a Congressional Resolution in his honor to be read and entered into the official record of the House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. and then presented to him in the hospital by his aid, Anthony Musa.
His accomplishments are many: fisherman, painting contractor, land developer, owner of a clothing store, Italian Bakery, author, husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.
His wife of 59 years, Josephine, passed away in 2011. He is survived by his son, John (Rosie) Cardinalli and daughter Jennifer (Bob) Fernandes; grandchildren John (Grace) Cardinalli and Kara (Steve) Loupe, Christopher (Starr) Fernandes and Bob Fernandes; great grandchildren John W. Cardinalli, Madeline and Oliva Loupe, Gianna and Isabella Fernandes, Dominic, Dean and Mya Fernandez.
Visitation will be held at Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Funeral Home on Sunday, November 12, 2017 from 1:00pm to 7:00pm with the recitation of the Rosary at 3:00pm.
On Monday, November 13, 2017, family and friends will meet at San Carlos Cemetery, 792 Fremont Street in Monterey for a funeral service that will begin at 11:00am. Entombment will immediately follow.
A reception will be held at the Moose Lodge, 555 Canyon el Rey Blvd., Del Rey Oaks, CA 93940.
Visit www.grunnagle.com for condolences
