Albert Rene "Al" Marcotte

1926 - 2016

Albert Rene Marcotte April 16, 1926 - August 11, 2016 Resident of Diablo Albert (Al) Rene Marcotte was born ninety years ago on April 16, 1926 in Covina, California to a French father, George Ray Marcotte and an Italian mother, Elena (nee Giovannoni) Marcotte. He passed on August 11, 2016 in his home in Diablo, California surrounded by his wife and family. At age three, Al and his family moved away from his father's family in Southern California, to his mother's family in the San Francisco Bay Area. In Oakland, Al grew up in a Catholic home with his parents, five younger siblings, three brothers, Rene and Chuck (twins) and George, and two sisters, Ellie and Donna, along with a large extended Italian family. A paper boy at age twelve, Al loved working and earning money to help with family expenses. As a boy, Al along with his brothers, did many jobs: delivered mail bags on the ferry from Oakland to San Francisco and back, washed box cars for the Union Pacific Railway at the Oakland railroad yard, where his father was a yardmaster during the depression. Al attended both Roosevelt and Oakland Tech High Schools. However, he dropped out of high school to work in the shipyards as a ship fitter during WWII. Earning a man's wage and being promoted to a supervisor, Al decided not to return to school. At age eighteen, he joined the Navy, eager to fight for his country. He spent two and one half years on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. Saratoga, in the South Pacific. As a firefighter on the flight deck, which was considered the most dangerous job on a Carrier, he hosed the burning planes that crash landed, pulled pilots from burning planes, and in darkness guided planes to take off and land for battle with the Japanese. He fought at the battle of Iwo Jima, where his beloved ship was bombarded with five Kamikazes and two torpedo hits. He always said, "I never even got a scratch", because he felt protected by the St. Christopher's medal his French grandmother gave him. After the war, Al and his younger twin brothers bought a failing family grocery store in Oakland, and turned it into a successful neighborhood store and hangout. During that time, Al bought railroad cars of, still rationed bananas, and sold them on East 14th Street, which stopped traffic, as grateful customers clambered to buy bunches of bananas. He became known as "The Banana King." Relinquishing the grocery store to his father, Al worked as a produce manager, a food salesman, and eventually a landlord, when his brothers and he bought and fixed up eight cottages in Berkeley, to help support their younger brother and sister, and mother (whom Al loved and adored). At that time, he realized real estate was his calling. Al earned his real estate license, and sold commercial and residential property. Then, in 1959 in Hayward, his twin brothers and he built their first apartment building with money from a handshake-loan with an Italian banker, and the use of his brother-in-laws contractor's license. Al and his brothers became real estate developers, building apartments together for over twenty-five years before separating their partnership in the mid-1980s. While working together, each brother had his niche in their partnership, and each became an expert within that niche. Al loved the work he did, the business he and his brothers created, he the driving force, who never wanted to retire. Al continued to build more apartment complexes with his two sons, until he retired due to illness. In 1950, Al married Annette Sierra, the first love of his life, with whom he had six children and was married to for forty years until her unfortunate premature death in 1990. In 1998, Al married again to the second love of his life, Barbara, with whom he created a new life. Al is survived by his wife Barbara Marcotte, five of his children; Mark Marcotte, Cynthia Anderson, Paul Marcotte, Gina Stearley, and Robin Renshaw, and two step-children Raymond Kristiansen and Jolie Goorjian. His youngest daughter, Noel Marcotte, tragically died in 1990, six months before her mother. Al is also survived by fifteen grandchildren: Meagan, Brad, Christopher, Rachel, Breanne, Marrissa, Brock, Michael, Samantha, Dylan, Mikaela, Paul, Holly, Baylie, and Sevan, and two great-grandchildren. Al is also survived by sons-in-law Mark Anderson, Mark Renshaw and Michael Goorjian. His brothers, Rene and George Marcotte, his sisters-in-law Lily and Shirley Marcotte, his sister Donna Leber, and brother-in-law Bob Leber survive Al. Al is also survived by those who comprise his big Italian family, numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins, all descendants of Vincenzo Giovannoni, who came to Jackson, California from the Tuscan town of San Ginese, Italy in the 19th century. He is also survived by three French cousins and their families. Al is predeceased by his parents Elena and George, brother, Chuck, and sister, Ellie Sealy and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. Al loved to travel and was fortunate to travel all over the world to many countries and continents. He enjoyed the outdoors, participating in outdoor sports: snow skiing, scuba diving, water skiing, roller blading, bicycling, jogging, and swimming, as well as working out in the gym. He was strong and healthy, and took great pride in his health and appearance. Al Marcotte was a man who did not take no for an answer. He never accepted defeat. He claimed he would always find a way, even if it meant he had to go over, under, around, or through the obstacle that was blocking him. He believed that problems could always be solved, and solutions found. His motto was, "Just do it!" Al's optimism, positive attitude, love of life, adventures and challenges defined who he was. A man of action, Al enjoyed all aspects of his life and family; he was full of life, never daunted by it, but instead, thrilled at the opportunities life offered him, whether a ski trip to the Alps or a piece of prime property to develop. Al will be missed and forever celebrated and loved by his family and friends. We would like to thank Al's caregivers, especially Ryan and Tashi, whom for years gave Al dignified and loving care. And we are forever grateful for the extraordinary care Al received from these two compassionate, dedicated, and caring individuals. Al's funeral rites will be held at The Cathedral of Christ the Light at 2121 Harrison Street Oakland, California: Vigil and visitation on Thursday, August 25, 2016 from 5 to 8PM and a Funeral Mass on Fri., Aug. 26, 2016 at 1:30 PM. Holy Angels (925) 932-0900