A motorcade of about 75 participants, some riding Harley Davidsons and others in cars, passed through downtown Morgan Hill led by widower Mary Jo Cetani in honor of her late husband Rocci Cetani Jr.
“He touched so many people. He was just one of those bigger than life personalities,” said Mary Jo Cetani, who had memorial t-shirts made up and held up a giant photograph poster of Rocci Jr. as she rode in the passenger spot on his Harley with their son leading the group April 16.
“Rocci had a Harley. He loved his ‘baby,’” Mary Jo said. “We would ride with friends and he would go on just guy rides, too.”
Rocci Cetani Jr., 56, of Morgan Hill, died Dec. 15, 2015 in Carson City after contracting a bacterial infection that turned to septic shock while on vacation with friends in Lake Tahoe. They spent 18 days in emergency care.
“It was a very sudden thing,” said Mary Jo, who organized the Memorial Ride as a final tribute to her husband of eight years.
He had worked as a salesman for Morgan Hill-based Nor Cal Fire Protection with his brothers, and was an active member of The Foothills Church in Gilroy, where he befriended the motorcycle club Fellowship Riders.
“He had tons of friends,” Mary Jo shared. “There were over 500 people at his celebration of life service.”
Cetani Jr., a Leland High School alumnus, moved with his parents to Morgan Hill after high school with most of his family already residing here. He owned a Harley Davidson.
His brother, Paul Cetani, friend Chris Schnabel and a few close riding buddies wanted to participate in the Memorial Ride, which gradually grew to about 75. The group made its way south through downtown to Highway 152 via Watsonville Road before taking Highway 129 to Highway 1. They made stops at some of Rocci’s favorite spots at the River Inn Restaurant in Big Sur, a toast at the Rocky Point Restaurant and then to Daisy’s Bar in San Juan Bautista. The group also played the Cole Swindell song, “You Should Be Here,” to honor Rocci Jr.
“His biggest love was for his family,” Mary Jo said. “He was a kid at heart, loved to tease, always laughing and smiling and especially hugging. He loved to hug everyone especially if they didn’t like to be hugged.”
Rocci Cetani Jr. is survived by his parents, Rocci Sr. and Patsy; brothers Paul and Matt; sister Debbie Arambula; four sons Rocci III, Tony, Vinny and Logan; and three stepchildren Scott, Kyle and Tara.
Rocci’s brother Matt Cetani, owner of Cetani Vineyards in Hollister, bottled his 2013 wine and dedicated it to Rocci, naming it “The Roc,” according to Mary Jo. It has a picture of Rocci being his usual “goofy” self.
“All in all it was a very hard day with a lot of tears,” Mary Jo said. “But such a wonderful day that so many of Rocci’s friends and family wanted to be there and participate in a tribute to a wonderful man who we all loved and who touched our lives.”
