Eugene C. Cavallaro

He was one of 8 children, 5 brothers and 3 sisters: Vernon, Amby, Dolores, Lloyd, Eugene, Loretta, Rudy and Jeanette.

Gene quit school at an early age and held several odd jobs to help his family.

In 1940 at the age of 20, he joined the reserves where his brothers, Vernon, Amby, and Rudy were already serving in other branches of military.

In 1941 he enlisted in Army to serve his country. He was assigned to the 29th division – E Company and shipped to Liverpool, England to await the Europe invasion. During his service as a combat medic assistant, he helped bring aid to wounded soldiers on the battlefield.

During the attack of Saint-Lo, while traveling through Vere, France he was hit in the knee by shrapnel where received the Purple Heart. While recuperating in a field hospital from his wounds a counter attack was launched near the hospital. He and a captured German doctor provided medical service for all the wounded left behind. For that courageous act, he received the Bronze Star for Heroic Achievement.

He came home after the war in 1945 where he met his wife Aldine (Dina) Carvao at Chuckles Cannery and soon after was married. They would have celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary on October 31, 2012.

Over the course of the last 64 years, they lived in Sunnyvale, Compton and San Jose, California. During that time, they gave birth to 2 children, Colleen & Orlando.

His work history included specialties as a maintenance technician at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California, machine maintenance operator at Monterey & Chuckles Cannery, and a custodian at Del Mar High School in San Jose, California.

He is survived by his wife Aldine Cavallaro (married 63 years), two sisters, Dolores Boncher and Loretta Lasser, daughter and son, Colleen Garner and Orlando Cavallaro, grandchildren, Dan, Ken and Kevin Garner, Stacey Hilton, great grandchildren, Amy and Nathan Baptista, Isabella, Liliana and Amelia Hilton.

He was kind at heart, joyful and easy going. Always had a smile on his face, a song in his heart and wink in his eye. He was an avid gardener; builder of many things and could turn anything into something amazing.

He loved his God, his country and his family. He will be missed but not forgotten.