A funeral service will be held Monday, January 11, 2016, at 11:00 A.M., at the Santa Rosalia Chapel in San Carlos Cemetery, 792 Fremont Street, Monterey, CA with a reception to follow. Donations may be made to Hospice of the Central Coast, 2 Upper Ragsdale Drive, Monterey, CA 93940. Visit www.grunnagle.com for condolences.
Mario Lucido, a kind and gentle man, died peacefully at home on January 3, 2016, his 97th birthday, with his two daughters and caregivers by his side.
Mario is survived by daughters, Maria Lucido and Patty Lucido Wiley (Rayburn), three granddaughters, Christine Scagliotti, Darien Fleming (Michael), Laura Wiley, and his nephew, Ray Lucido (Pat).
Mario was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Kay, who left him in the loving hands of his caregivers, Maria Gomez, Armida Parra, Alma Butterfield, and Araceli Esqueda.
He was born and raised in Isola delle Femmine, Sicily, and immigrated to Monterey, CA in 1935.
In 1941, he was drafted into the United States Army, serving 4-1/2 years in the Third Infantry Division under General Patton, receiving the Purple Heart, two Bronze Stars, and many other honors.
Mario married the love his life, Katherine Russo, on September 20, 1941, while on a 15-day furlough.
After his honorable discharge, he worked as a commercial fisherman in Monterey and Alaska for many years, retiring from fishing in 1982. Mario also worked for the Hollister School District and was active in the Italian Catholic Federation, the Elks, SIRS, and Festa Italia Santa Rosalia where he served as Grand Marshall in 2008.
Mario loved his family, his Catholic faith, his American citizenship, playing bocce, sharing his legendary figs with friends and family, and took pride in the Fisherman Statue on the Monterey Wharf, a symbol of his fishing heritage.
