Fred Angelo Cefalu

Fred Angelo Cefalu
February 1, 2023
Los Osos, California - Fred Angelo Cefalu, born March 5, 1931, passed away at his home in Los Osos on February 1, 2023 at the age of 91.
Fred was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to the loving embrace of a large Sicilian American family, the second of eight children born to Baldassaro and Agata (Ida) Cefalu. During the Great Depression, while just a toddler, Fred moved with his pregnant mother, paternal grandmother and brother to their ancestral village of Porticello, Sicily where they lived for several years. Eventually, the family was reunited in the United States, but they did not return to Milwaukee. Rather, they moved west to San Francisco where Fred's remaining siblings were born and where he would spend the rest of his youth. The Cefalu family's move to San Francisco brought a sea change to the family trajectory because it allowed Fred's father, and other relatives, to return to the trade of their heritage - commercial fishing.
Shortly after World War II, while still a teen, Fred joined the U.S. Air Force, but his service was interrupted with the news of his father's sudden illness. Fred was excused from his military service and returned home to San Francisco to run his father's fishing business to help support the family. From that day forward he never looked back and commercial fishing became his beloved career.
In the early 50's the family relocated to Morro Bay where he was introduced by his sister Mary to his future wife, Barbara Giannini. They fell in love and on February 5, 1955 were married at St. Timothy's Catholic Church in Morro Bay. They shared nearly 68 incredible years as husband and wife. They were a great team and loved each other deeply.
Soon after their marriage, Fred and Barbara started their family and were blessed with 3 sons and a daughter. In the meantime, their business grew with the purchase of their first boat, the Ellie III which was replaced in later years by the Susan Marie and the Barbara Marie. Fred was very well known in the West Coast commercial fishing industry and highly respected. Reluctantly, Fred retired from fishing in 2008 at the age of 77.
Fred is survived by his beloved wife Barbara, son Jim (Maria), daughter Susan Maharry (Bob), sons Fred and Marc, grandchildren Rob Maharry (Jen), Sam Maharry, Gianna, Alyssa, Nicholas, Isabella and Alexandra Cefalu, great granddaughter Clare Maharry, siblings Mary Wainscott, Salvatore, Phyllis (Jim) Arnold, John (Lynn), sisters-in-law Elaine (John) Gajdos, Eileen Giannini and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.
Fred was preceded in death by his parents Baldassaro and Agata, brothers Thomas, Joseph, and Anthony, mother-in-law Wilhelmina and father-in-law Joseph Giannini, sister-in-law Maki Cefalu and brothers-in-law Kenneth Wainscott and Jody Giannini, nieces Deanna Riley, Ida Maitino and nephew Tommy Storelli.
Fred loved his family deeply and was deeply loved in return. He will always be remembered and forever loved.
Private funeral services were held at St. Timothy's Catholic Church in Morro Bay on February 23, 2023.