Marc Cattaneo

God sent His angels for Marc Carlo Cattaneo Easter Sunday, April 24, 2011. Born in July 1953, Marc was raised and lived his entire life in San Luis Obispo. He was a talented young swimmer and won countless medals and honors, including being invited to the Junior Olympics Training Camp as a boy. His first job was working for his father, Charlie Cattaneo, owner of the then San Luis Obispo Garbage Company. He was also a commercial fisherman, carpenter and eventually obtained his building inspector''s license. But he was proudest of all of owning and operating Cattaneo''s Beanery with his wife, Sandy Cattaneo. Cattaneo''s Beanery was a down home eatery that overlooked the San Luis Obispo creek on Higuera Street. He proudly served the Cattaneo family''s famous linguica and long horn beef, having barbecued it over the open fire pit on the nostalgic, creek side patio. He could be found hosting blue grass and barbecue on Friday nights while he mingled and laughed with his customers and friends. Marc was a rare soul and enjoyed life and the things he loved with a childlike joy. He was poetic and a deep thinker with a truly tender heart. He loved the water, outdoors, camping, wildlife and nature. He especially loved the ocean, surfing, deep sea and commercial fishing and making sand castles with his grandchildren. Marc also had a great passion for music, especially guitar driven blues, bluegrass and soulful tunes of any kind. You can find the story of his life hidden in some of the best blues songs of all time. He has been described as a thrill seeker, but he was also very down to earth. He enjoyed going on adventures exploring the countryside of California and camping with his family. He was also involved with youth sports and enjoyed assisting in coaching youth football in San Luis Obispo. He was the Dodger''s number one fan, almost always in LA Dodger''s blue. One of his favorite things to do was create beautiful landscapes of native cactus and succulent gardens around his home. His gardens brought beauty and joy to the neighborhood, and as a result were often photographed and admired by people passing by. His love for nature and wildlife was only surpassed by his love for his family. Marc and Sandy were soul mates and shared 29 years together loving each other unconditionally. Together they share six children and welcomed eight grandchildren into the world. Marc, being young at heart himself, thoroughly enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. They all have very precious memories of their time with Grandpa Cat/Bopa. Nature hikes, building dams in the creek, ocean expeditions, delicious barbecues and more. He inspired them to be silly, think outside the box and always told them how very special each of them was. He touched his famiglia in so many ways, will always be remembered and forever loved and missed. Marc is survived by his wife, Sandy; children Mauri Tamborra (John), Angelo Cattaneo, Matt Nunes, Meegan Casabar (Lando), Angela Cattaneo and Carlo Cattaneo; grandchildren Tianna, Annika, Jens, Molly Jane, Gabrielle, Claire-Rose, Veraty and Joseph; brother, Billy Cattaneo (Linda); sister, Carla Cattaneo (Tony); and nephews and niece, Santino, Gina and Jeremy. Marc was preceded in death by his parents, Nina and Charles Cattaneo; and brother, Christian Cattaneo. A celebration of Marc''s life will be held in the summer, his favorite time of year. Please contact Mauri Tamborra at (720) 371-0101 if you''d like to be notified of the details of this celebration. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: Defenders of Wildlife (800) 385-9712 or Surfrider Foundation 788-4640.