Margaret E. Bassetti

98 Years Young. Born 2-24-17- Died 6-3-15

The world has lost a true pioneer! A member of the historic Matasci Ranch family in San Jose, CA, among the first women to attend San Jose State University, on the first Transcontinental Jet Flight (American Airlines - January 4, 1959), and on the list of civilians to be the first to fly to the moon. Margaret was also an accomplished artist, an avid gardener, and an enthusiast of reading, writing, and new technology.

Margaret passed away peacefully with family at her side. She was preceded in death by her parents John and Sofia Matasci, her sister Loreta (Babe) Castagnola, brothers Arnold (Gladys) Matasci, Ernest (Ines) Matasci, plus niece Catherine (Vince) Valenti. Waiting to be united later are many generations of family members including nieces Sr. Barbara Matasci, SND , Joanne (Wayne) Edwards, nephew Dennis (Jolene) Castagnola, great nieces Lorraine Walston, Diana Autrand, Carrie Hartline, and Cathy Maust, great nephews Steve Valenti, Michael Valenti, Craig Edwards, Tim Castagnola, and Jeff Castagnola, plus several great great nieces and nephews.

Margaret's parents immigrated to San Jose from Sonogno, Switzerland. With that, travel and adventures were a part of her destiny. After graduating from Notre Dame High School and attending San Jose State University, her journeys took her to the mountains of Idaho where she fished several months of the year, to the far away continents of Asia and Australia, to the 1960 Winter Olympics with a boyfriend connected to the Swedish Ski Team, and many places between. She was a fan of road trips, and was equally comfortable just going places on her own as well as picking up a family member to share the experience with.

A memorial will be scheduled at a later date. If you wish to honor Margaret a donation may be sent to the Matasci Scholarship Fund at Madonna del Saso School at 20 Santa Teresa Way, Salinas, CA 93906.