I have the best 4th of July memories of bringing the family together and I'll never forget my beautiful uncle Joe!!! RIP

Sal and Judi Pollace here, remembering you and Sal's football games at San Jose High and your wrestling teams.

Remembering the births of all our babies as we took turns having them, seemed like one a year for at least six years.

Remembering all the late night card parties, and when we were finally done playing cards the kids were just getting up with the sun. 

Remembering the bowling league, where whichever of you, Joe or Sal lost their temper first, they had to make the popcorn for the card game. 

Remembering being out on the boat with the babies, and the two of you trying to water ski with your cigarettes hanging out of your mouths, trying to not to let them get wet. 

And when you helped us move from San Jose to Eureka, packing everything we owned in your big truck, and off we went. 

And since you stood up for us when we were married it was so perfect to have you and Judy join Sal and I on our 25th anniversary cruise, and now to think we recently had our 50th anniversary cruise with our kids and grandkids.

I won't go into the stories at Holy Cross Church, only because when the fun really got started, Sal always took me home. 

We love you so much Joe, and know we will be with you again. We pray for your family and wish we had had more time with you. 

Sal and Judi Pollace

Our deepest sympathies to the Ventimiglia family. We all grew up and went to school with Joe. He will be greatly missed.
 
Sincerely, 
Lyle and Sandra Telford (Piccolo)
Don and Kathy Piccolo

Joe, I remember when growing up in San Jose, the Holy Cross Catholic Church between 12th and 13th Street on Jackson Street, is where we just about did every thing in our teen age live.  We were:  Alter Boys, belonged to the ICF, (Italian Catholic Federation), Junior Branch.  There we all started the ICF Drill Team, the Saturday Night Dances that are ICF Group had, and even had a Play on stage in the Holy Cross Church Hall.  The Priest that were watching over us as we grew up, Father Savio, Father O'Brien and Father Copania, you are now able to talk with them about the Good Old Days.

We all lived and grew up in the Italian Neighborhood so to speak.  Some of our parents and family member worked in the Cannery over on Taylor Street and we, as kids, even picked apricots and prunes a few summers.

Your brother Larry and family lived right next door to us.  Their son, your nephew, Donnie got involved with us also as an Alter Boy and with us in the ICF Drill Team.

Your brother Larry brought a 16-foot Chris Craft and my dad Sal bought a Ladd Build 17-foot 5-inch boat.  My dad and Larry assembled Larry's Chris Craft boat and installed the fiberglass coating on both boats and the finish paint.  Larry and my dad were fishing buddies and I remember us boating with them and fishing a lot with them.  I know you remember going to Lake Tahoe with your brother Larry's Family and my family, camping and water skiing.  "The Good Old Days".

Well Joe, I know that you are in Haven wth the Heavenly Father that we both served as young adults.  I know you are now with some of our gang that we grow up with who went to be with the Heavenly Father before you and all of the gang here still on earth.  We want you to keep the doors open for the rest of us who will be up there some day with you all.  Just for fun, when talking to the Heavenly Father, will you see if he will let us get away with what we did on earth, when we are all together again?

See Ya, 
Your Buddy
Rich

A memory; as life passes us by is all we have to hold us together.  My days with Joe were every summer from dawn till dusk playing baseball at Backesto Park,  Serving early mass at Holy Cross Church, Riding our racing bikes to the fair grounds and sneaking onto the board track of the San Jose Veledrome and racing around the quarter mile race track.  The after school homemade bread with olive oil and oregano sprinkled on top that Joe's mom Mary made for us on 17th street almost every day. Our first Sadie Hawkins Dance with 2 girls that we had never met before, all dressed up in our cowboy outfits, and then having to switch girls because one girl was too tall for Joe.  That girl became my wife for the last 55 years.  The ICF Drill team and Saturday night ICF dances. I would not trade those memories for all the money in the world. Thank you Joe!

Rocci Cetani

Joe was a caring person who cared for his family and friends always. He let me and my wife feel so welcomed into our home that we rented from him and his wife Judy. We are going to miss him a lot.

OBITUARY

Joseph Dominic Ventimiglia

February 20, 1940 – June 12, 2013

Lima Family Santa Clara Mortuary

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