Gilda J. Stagnaro

We will certainly miss Gilda's warm greeting and conversation. We have been coming there for many years and always felt at home. We will miss her smile, interesting stories and energy.
She will be missed by all of our family. Our thoughts and prayers are with Robert, Dino and Malio.

Thank you Gilda for making Santa Cruz a wonderful place to visit. I will always remember your gracious greeting and your wonderful smile. You were a role model for all of us. Rest in peace. You will be missed by so many.

I was a way at college when my mother got to a stage in her life that she could no longer get down to the wharf on her own. She loved it down there and she loved the clam chowder. Gilda used to stop by on the way to work and bring mom her chowder. What an amazing wonderful friend to everyone that has had the privilege to know her. We are all so luck to have known her and what a blessing it is to still get that same warm greeting when you go down to eat at Gilda’s . The legacy continues, what...

I've never met anyone more loving than Gilda. She made everyone feel special. They were going to name me Terry, which is my middle name, & that's what she always called me. One of the perks of growing up here was the blessing of knowing her. The wonderful smiles & hugs she gave are permanently imprinted on my soul. If anyone deserves heaven, it's Gilda!

I moved myself and my young son to Santa Cruz in 1965, went to work at the University and visited the wharf many times where I always felt a part of the Stagnaro family because of Gilda. When her restaurant opened I was a regular there with my son. She always remembered my name and many years after I moved away, every visit to Santa Cruz I would go to Gilda's and she still remembered my name. I cannot imagine her not being there. I was privileged to know her and am deeply grieved at her...

We were valley transplants who had the honor of living in Santa Cruz from 1989 to 2003. During that time, Gilda's was our haven for a great bowl of chowder and beautiful view of the bay. Gilda always had a warm smile and we still look forward to going there when we are in town. Gilda, you will be missed.

I learned of your spirit soaring as the squall line of that days storm was passing as well...I thought it would be fitting to name that days storm after you, Gilda for all those stormy days at the wharf when we would just hang out and enjoy nature as GOD painted for us to view...And I must thank you for all the wonderful years of your inspiration. And for teaching me how to remember a new friends name. (although no one can do it like you...) My love to all the family and friends in this great...

Gilda reminded me of my own Mom,Betty Ealy.Strong,independent and"never met a stranger."
Gilda was a true icon and a blessing to all of the Santa Cruz community.
What I enjoyed most was how she would see someone she knew eating and slide into the booth or come and greet them with that wonderful smile and happy aura.
She really was "the queen of the Santa Cruz Wharf."
Condolences and blessings to all.
We will all remember her with a smile on our face.
Shirley Ealy Killam and...

Dear Friends,
My parents, Ken and Pat Lopes, and I have been regular customers for years. We loved Gilda and will miss her. I took this picture this past August and wanted to share it with you.