For many of his 96 years, longtime Los Gatan Edward Joseph "Ed" Malatesta ran service stations, both here and in his home state of New Jersey.

This was a fitting profession for him, his family and friends attest, because Malatesta himself was like a service station: well-known to hundreds of people and always ready and willing to lend a helping hand.

Whether it was driving homebound friends to appointments, feeding the pets of vacationing neighbors, volunteering at his church, sharing candy with every child he knew, helping folks out of financial straits or—in his younger years—doing gratis repairs on the vehicles of his friends at Los Gatos' Sacred Heart Jesuit Center and the Sisters of the Holy Names Convent, Malatesta did it all.

That service station closed on Dec. 8, when Malatesta died of complications from pneumonia at the age of 96.

Born Aug. 21, 1906, in Paterson, N.J., Malatesta was the fourth of five boys. Paterson was also the hometown of his cousin Louis Cristillo, better known in the show business circuit as Bud Abbott's comedic partner, Lou Costello.

After completing the eighth grade, Malatesta went to work in the nearby town of Haledon for the Oriental Silk Printing Company. At that time, Paterson's nickname was "The Silk Center of the World," as it produced fine fabrics from imported Chinese threads. Malatesta already had some familiarity with this trade, as his father was a weaver who emigrated to the United States from Naples, Italy.

Malatesta lived in the Paterson area for 39 years, during which time he married wife Connie and had two children, Edward Jr. and Mary Ann. Among other jobs, he worked as a service station operator, a moving van driver and, during World War II, an aviation prop specialist for the U.S. government. He also spent three years in the ring as a lightweight boxer and even fought some bouts in New York's Madison Square Garden.

The family moved to California on advice from Connie's doctor, who thought the milder climate would be easier on her diabetes-related health problems. In 1945, Malatesta went to work for Standard Oil Company, which placed him at a service station at the corner of N. Santa Cruz Avenue and Elm Street—the current home of Domus.

He later went across the street to work for Associated Oil Company. Eventually, the owner decided to sell the station, so Malatesta offered to buy it. He was initially refused, but that situation soon turned around, thanks to a friend of Malatesta's who rode the daily commuter train that used to stop in town. The friend, who happened to work in San Francisco for the president of American Oil, put in a good word for Malatesta, and the station was his.

The income from running his own business helped Malatesta build a home for his family on San Benito Avenue, where they lived for about a decade. In 1954, they moved to Apple Blossom Lane, close to Connie's sister.

Before retiring from the service station business in 1972, Malatesta became well-known in town, where he worked not only on cars but on ambulances, town vehicles and even hearses from the George Place Funeral Home, located where the Chart House stands today.

He was also in contact with the California Highway Patrol, which would notify him of motorists who'd broken down on Highway 17 and needed his assistance. One time, the motorist in question was actor Gregory Peck, who owned a home in Boulder Creek at the time. In gratitude for the help, Peck invited the Malatesta family to visit him, which they did. His service station went through several name changes over the years, including Associated Oil, often known as "Flying A."

Several years after his wife's death in 1979, Malatesta moved to Los Gatos Mobile Home Park, where he became known to almost every resident. By that time, his son was an ordained Jesuit priest who traveled and taught frequently in China and Europe.

In 1979, Malatesta joined his son for a stay in Italy, where the younger Malatesta was teaching at Gregorian University. They even got to sit in the VIP section during one of Pope John Paul II's addresses at the Vatican. They later got to meet the pontiff in person, a warm man with whom Malatesta struck up an immediate friendship, and whom he unabashedly described as "a kick in the pants!"

Malatesta also maintained many local ties to the Roman Catholic Church. After the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, he went to the Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in the hills above Los Gatos and helped staff re-sort and reshelve the books from their library, which had fallen all over the floor.

The retired priests there wanted to pay Malatesta for all his help, but he refused. Instead, he accepted their offer to come up to the center for dinner on the house any night he wanted to. Here on the valley floor, Malatesta received an award in 1994 from St. Mary's Church in honor of his 50 years of volunteer service as an usher and master usher.

When asked what his secret was to living such a long and healthy life, Malatesta had several suggestions. On a serious note, he swore by Alka-Seltzer tablets, which he took daily for a good portion of his life. In a lighter vein, Malatesta was known to proclaim, followed by robust laughter: "I don't drink, I don't smoke and I don't chase after wild women—they chase me!"

Among Malatesta's interests were fishing, traveling, taking gambling trips to Reno and telling stories about anything and everything from his 96 years to whoever was willing to listen. One thing he never lacked was a willing audience.

Malatesta was preceded in death by his wife, Connie Malatesta; his son, Rev. Edward J. Malatesta, S.J.; and his daughter, Mary Ann Hazlett. Survivors include grandsons Jonathan Hazlett of Half Moon Bay and Bennett Hazlett of Watsonville; granddaughter Linda Caton of Wichita Falls, Texas; great-grandchildren David, Nicole, Layla, Julie and Mark; 2 great-great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Mary Malatesta of Los Gatos; and aunt and uncle Josephine and Richard Dennen of Los Gatos.

Memorial services have been held, with interment at Los Gatos Memorial Park. Donations can be made to the Sisters of the Holy Names, 200 Prospect Ave., Los Gatos, 95030, or to the Maryknoll Sisters, P.O. Box 311, Maryknoll, N.Y. 10545-0311.

Contributed photograph Debbie Lazaneo-Brill

Debbie Lazaneo-Brill, who lived in Los Gatos most of her life, died in San Jose Dec. 4 at the age of 45.

Born May 2, 1957, Lazaneo-Brill was a graduate of Branham High School in San Jose. She worked at the now-defunct Frank's Los Gatos Market and Bini's Bar and Grill, as well as at Moore Buick and C.B. Hannegan's.

Survivors include husband Bill Brill; mother Jo Ann Ceccio; father and stepmother Frank and Penny Lazaneo; sisters Connie Lazaneo, Pam Rizzi and Patty Hannegan; nieces Brezi Little and Chenoa Bonham; and nephew Francesco D'Anna.

Memorial services have been held. Donations can be made to the American Lung Association, 1469 Park Ave., San Jose, 95126.


Ray Byrne

Longtime Saratoga resident Ray Byrne died Nov. 29 at the age of 87.

Born Aug. 8, 1915, in North Dakota, Byrne moved with his family to California in 1920, settling in the San Jose area in 1935. During World War II, Byrne served in the U.S. Air Force as a navigator and flew missions in the South Pacific.

In 1963, Byrne, his wife, Betty, and their children moved to Saratoga. Byrne spent most of his career investing in and creating small businesses, the most recent being Challenge Manufacturing Co. of Emeryville, which he sold in 1987.

Over the years, Byrne was active in starting up and serving many community and charitable organizations, including Live Oak Adult Day Services of San Jose and Gilroy and Live Oak Senior Nutrition Center of Los Gatos. He and his wife were also active members of the Los Gatos United Methodist Church for the past 40 years.

Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Betty Byrne of Saratoga; sons and daughters-in-law Jeff and Bruna Byrne of Saratoga; Jon and Zinta Byrne of Fort Collins, Colo.; and Steve and Randi Byrne of Morgan Hill; sister Arline Hansen of Angels Camp; and four grandchildren.

Memorial services have been held.


Gundrun Myklebust-Olsen

Los Gatos resident Gundrun Myklebust-Olsen died in her home Dec. 10 at the age of 96.

Myklebust-Olsen was born Oct. 16, 1906, in Mo i Rana, Norway. She lived in the United States for many years and worked as a seamstress for the American Linen Supply.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Olaf Myklebust, her son, Norman Myklebust, and her grandson, Gary Flaa. Survivors include daughter Laila Montgomery; daughter and son-in-law Sonia and Norm Green; daughter-in-law Margaret Myklebust; seven grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Memorial services have been held, with interment at Los Gatos Memorial Park.