Obituaries
Joseph Castellucci
Joseph Robert "Aloha Joe" Castellucci died May 17 at the age of 48.
A native of Bridgeport, Conn., Castellucci was born Dec. 8, 1950. After working for a time as a baby photographer, Castellucci got into the radio business in 1976, four years after graduating from broadcasting school. His first gig was a 500-watt station in the middle of the Catskill Mountains in New York. After seven years there, Castellucci came to California in 1982.
Within a few weeks, Castellucci landed a job with KEZR 106.5 FM, for whom he worked many jobs over the next eight years, including being a midday, evening and overnight air personality, news director and morning show producer. In 1989, Castellucci married fifth generation Los Gatan Audreyanne Shuman, four years after they first met.
In 1990, he left KEZR and went to KARA 105.7 FM, where he filled in for air personalities, produced radio spots and maintained the website of the station as well as those of its sister stations, KRTY 95.3 FM and KLIV 1590 AM. An experienced chocolatier, Castellucci designed chocolate molds for KARA and Empire Broadcasting to give away as client gifts during the holiday season.
His "Aloha Joe" nickname came from his penchant for wearing his favorite Hawaiian shirts every Friday--Aloha Friday. He wore them to express the aloha spirit, which for him meant always having a bright, upbeat attitude and hugging people, even if for no special reason. His signature radio sign-off was: "If you don't do anything else today, give somebody a hug!"
Among Castellucci's hobbies were traveling, gardening, computers, arts and crafts, watching Star Trek and playing Santa Claus at Cambrian Park Plaza, for KARA's annual Christmas party and for friends. A member of the Italian American Heritage Foundation, Castellucci enjoyed using his size-13 feet to compete in grape stomping contests. In 1995, he competed in the El Dorado Italian Festival Grape Stomp in Reno, Nev., and took first place, with the help of friend and fellow IAHF member Tony Zerbo.
Survivors include wife Audreyanne Shuman-Castellucci of Los Gatos; sisters Donna Rhodes and Carol Castellucci, both of Connecticut; and several nieces and nephews in California and Connecticut.
Memorial services have been held, with interment at Los Gatos Memorial Park. Donations may be made to the Joe Castellucci Memorial Fund, in care of the Los Gatos Community Foundation, P.O. Box 1089, Los Gatos, 95031. Funds will help purchase a new metal park bench for the town, dedicated with a plaque in Castellucci's memory.
Anne McCarthy
Former Los Gatan Anne Fortune McCarthy died April 1 in Walla Walla, Wash., where she had been residing. She was 81.
Born Jan. 6, 1914, in Battle Creek, Mich., McCarthy grew up in Toledo, Ohio. Two years after earning her bachelor's degree from Hiram College, she married Donald McCarthy in 1937.
A homemaker, McCarthy was very supportive of her husband's military career, which included two assignments in Hawaii. The couple moved to Los Gatos in 1960 and later to Monte Sereno. They lived in this area for 37 years, before moving to Washington earlier this year.
McCarthy was a member of the American Association of University Women and enjoyed crossword puzzles, playing bridge, swimming and traveling.
Survivors include husband Donald of Walla Walla, Wash.; daughters Joan Di-Stefano of Carmel and Delia McCarthy of South Lake Tahoe; sons James McCarthy of Walla Walla and Thomas McCarthy of Lake Havasu, Ariz.; four grandchildren; sister Isabel Napier of San Antonio, Texas; and brother James Fortune of West Hartford, Conn.
Memorial services have been held. Donations may be made to Whitman College in care of Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder St., Walla Walla, Wash. 99362.
Bernard Hardwicke
Longtime Los Gatos merchant and Santa Cruz resident Bernard George "Bern" Hardwicke died May 2. He was 95.
Born June 18, 1903, in Minneapolis, Hardwicke moved to Aptos in 1924, attended the University of Southern California and, in 1933, married Los Gatos native Mima Templeman.
Until his 1966 retirement, Hardwicke was the owner of Los Gatos' A.W. Templeman Hardware, a pioneer Santa Clara County business operated by his father-in-law, Arthur Templeman. In the late 1960s, Hardwicke lived in Mentone, France, and then Belvedere, Calif., before returning to Santa Cruz.
Hardwicke was an active volunteer with the Presbyterian Church of Los Gatos and the Santa Cruz Congregational Church. He was a founding member of Sons in Retirement and was a member of the Los Gatos Kiwanis Club and the Saratoga Men's Club. He was also romantic--refilling and inscribing in 1993 the same satin heart-shaped See's candy box he had given his wife for Valentine's Day 60 years ago.
Son John Templeman Hardwicke preceded his father in death. Survivors include wife of 66 years Mima Hardwicke of Santa Cruz; sons Arthur Terrence Hardwicke of Reno, Nev.; Bernard William "Bill" Hardwicke of Los Gatos and Robert Anthony Hardwicke of Canyon; also five grandchildren.
Memorial services have been held. Donations may be made to Cindy's Celebrations Elder Services, P.O. Box 1637, Capitola, 95010.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
