Alfonso Tarantino

Alfonso Tarantino

May 15, 1931 – May 31, 2017

Alfonso Tarantino was born on May 15, 1931 in Paterson, New Jersey to proud parents Carmine and Antoinetta. Alfonso was a thoughtful, caring son and a brother to six siblings: Theresa, Connie, Jean, Antoinette, John and Joseph. This thoughtful care was on full display while attending Eastside High School, when his father became ill and doctors felt a warmer climate would help. The family looked west for the climate – and to Alfonso to help guide them there. He accompanied his father to California where he translated Carmine’s Italian to English and was instrumental in helping him find a new home. Once everything was settled, the rest of the family joined them and he finished high school at Woodrow Wilson in 1950.

Alfonso was an Army Veteran, serving in the Korean War from 1951-54, where he achieved the rank of sergeant. He had a mind for numbers, and after the war he quickly enrolled at Paterson Commercial College and graduated with an accounting degree. But numbers couldn’t account for meeting Oliva Feliziani, a foreign exchange student from Italy. They quickly fell in love at Paterson Commercial and their romance bloomed. Time and distance did their best to separate them as Alfonso’s father fell ill again and he returned to California to care for him until his death. But Al had a way of beating the odds, and eventually he flew to Italy with his mother to propose. They were married on June 14, 1959 in Croce, Italy.

The happy couple settled in Los Angeles, where he found employment as a machinist with American Can Company. He also pursued a real estate license, which later led to Al and Eva delving into property management, always working side by side – the best of teammates.

Alfonso was the quintessential family man. Eva and his four children came first. He worked hard to support them financially, but his heart and humor were his greatest currency, and he always took time to support his children’s interests. He took them on numerous trips and opened his home to visiting family and friends, shuttling them around like a local tour guide. He had many more trips and destinations in his mind, but the destination he liked best was wherever his family happened to be, and his love for them always surpassed his own needs. Alfonso will be greatly missed and remembered for his easygoing nature, his singing, and his love for family and community.

Alfonso is preceded in death by his mother and father, Carmine and Antoinetta; sisters Theresa, Connie and Jean; brothers John and Joseph; wife Oliva, daughter Debra and son Alfonso. He is survived by his daughter Diana and his son Anthony; grandsons John, Matthew and Daniel, sister Antoinette, son-in-law John and daughter-in-law Alice.