Don Ciucci

1947 - 2018

Don Ray Ciucci

DON RAY CIUCCI
It is with great sadness that we announce the unexpected loss of our family's beloved patriarch, Don Ray Ciucci on July 21,2018.
A San Francisco native, Don was born May, 6, 1947 to parents Nello and Luisa Ciucci (deceased). Don grew up in the Mission Terrace neighborhood of San Francisco where he graduated from Lowell High School in 1965; attended the City College of San Francisco and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where he earned a BS in City and Regional Planning. In 1972, Don was hired by the Daly City Redevelopment Agency where he worked until 1979. It was then that Don decided to pursue a career with the Daly City Fire Department. While promoting through the ranks, Don found his true calling in the training division where he was the 1995 Ed Bent Instructor of the Year award recipient and the 2003 California Firefighter's Association "Training Officer of the Year." In 2005 Don retired from the fire service as a Deputy Fire Chief, having left a lasting impression on the hundreds of firefighters he trained throughout San Mateo County. Unable to refrain from teaching, Don taught Fire Science curriculum at the College of San Mateo to the next generation of aspiring firefighters.
At age 20 Don met the love of his life, Debby Wettstein which started a 51 year love affair. They married in 1971 and bought their "starter home" in Pacifica, CA, which remains the Ciucci family home to this day. In 1981 Don and Debby had their first child, Angelina Marie Ciucci (deceased 2008), with their son Matthew Donald Ciucci arriving in 1985. Don was a devoted father who watched his son and daughter follow his footsteps by pursuing careers with the Daly City Fire Department and Daly City Police Department.
Having no shortage of hobbies, Don exemplified the craftsmanship and creativity of boat building as a member of the San Francisco Model Yacht Club. Spending his teenage years street racing on Brotherhood Way, Don fulfilled his passion for showing his vintage hot-rods as a member of the Golden Gate Street Machines car club. He was a member of the SF Italian American Social Club, and he was on the Board of Directors of both the Brockway Hot Springs Homeowners Association and the Daly City Operation Santa Clause Toy Drive (Since 1976).
We are comforted in knowing that he is now reunited with his loving daughter Angelina, his parents Nello and Luisa Ciucci and his father-in-law Fred Wettstein. Don is survived by his wife Debby; son Matthew; daughter-in-law Leslie; idolized grandchildren Mikey and Maggie; mother–in-law Lil Wettstein; brother-in-law Jim; nephews Rob and Chris Wettstein and his loving life-long friends and extended family. He is loved and missed beyond words.
In-Lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Don's name to the CPMC Melanoma Research Foundation, 2015 Steiner St., San Francisco, CA 94115.
Friends may visit Thursday, July 26th, 2018 after 6:15pm at St. Cecilia Church, 2555 17th Ave., San Francisco where a vigil service will be held at 7:30pm. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday, July 27th at 10:30am at St. Cecilia's.