Edward Charles Puccini

PUCCINI, Edward Charles - 94, passed away on December 4, after a long stay in a retirement home. He was born on December 25, 1910 in San Francisco as the fourth child of Alfred and Mary Puccini, b. Marenco. He grew up in the City with his sister, Nilda, and his two brothers, Emil and Joseph. His father was a native of Monticalvoli, Italy, who came to America as a young man and built up a successful fish business at Fisherman's Wharf, Oakland and Crescent City. His mother was a native Californian, her parents arriving in America around 1870. The family lived on Jones Street for many years, where all the children attended Commodore Stockton Grammar School and Galileo High School. Edward's wish continue his schooling at a university could not be fulfilled, the family funds being short as the Great Depression began, so he enrolled at Heald's Business College, where he graduated and soon began what was meant to be a long career at the Bank of America. As the family business prospered his father urged his sons to join the family business. Within the years Edward ran the San Francisco plant, A. Puccini & Sons, with his brother Joe, his brother Emil joining his father in Oakland. 1938 Edward married Emma Jean Molinari, the daughter of an immigrant family originally from Gavi Ligure, Italy. 1941 their first son Alan was born, 1949 their second son Douglas, both of whom learned the fish business from the bottom up. 1951 the family built a house in Atherton, where Edward and Emma lived for 50 years Success continued and 1954, his father opened the Sea Wolf Restaurant at Jack London Square in Oakland, two blocks down from their Oakland cannery, West Coast Crab. When Alfred Puccini died in 1961 the family decided to sell A. Puccini & Sons. Edward joined his brother Emil in running the Oakland business and became president of the Sea Wolf Restaurant. In 1985 the Crescent City cannery and the West Coast Crab were sold. Edward continued his work at the restaurant until at the age of 75 when he found it time to sell the restaurant to enjoy his heartily earned retirement. Edward was, like his father, an active member of his business community. He is survived by his wife Emma; his son Alan, living in Moraga, Alan's wife Susan and their family, John (Francesca) and Gia Rauenhorst (Jeff); his son Douglas, a practicing psychotherapist in Switzerland, Doug's wife Silvia and their family, Edward and Camilla; and his niece Linda Radcliffe (Joe).