Salvedor "Red" J. Aiello
Aug. 26, 1915 Nov. 16, 1997
Salvedor Aiello, a welder for Contra Costa County for 36 years, died Sunday in Martinez after a lengthy illness. He was 82.
The native and lifelong resident of Martinez was a graduate of Alhambra High School, where he was active in sports. During World War II he worked at Pioneer Rubber Mill in Pittsburg. He worked to build County Employees Union Local 1 into the strongest public employees union in the state and served as its president for 16 years. He belonged to DRUIDS and was a member of St. Catherine's of the Sienna Parish in Martinez.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Lydia Aiello of Martinez; and daughters, Marilyn and Louise Aiello, both of Martinez.
Services: 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Catherine's Catholic Church, Martinez, with burial at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Lafayette. Vigil 6:30 p.m. today at Connolly and Taylor in Martinez with visitation from 4 to 8 p.m.
Memorial gifts: Catholic Charities.
Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, CA)
Date: November 18, 1997
********************************************************
SALVEDOR "RED" AIELLO DIES
Salvedor "Red" Aiello, a welder and down-to-earth champion of the working man, died Sunday.
The Martinez native was 82.
"My father loved people, and he was just really proud of being a working person," his daughter, Louise Aiello, said Monday. "He loved people and wanted to see them do well." If he didn't have something good to say about someone, he wouldn't say a word, she said.
Although he had suffered a major heart attack in Yosemite in 1986 and was flown to a Walnut Creek hospital, friends and family said he had bounced back, going strong until the end.
The 1933 graduate of Alhambra High School in Martinez worked at the Pioneer Rubber Mill in Pittsburg during World War II, then was a welder with the Contra Costa County public works department for 36 years.
About the time the Public Employees Union Local 1 incorporated as a nonprofit group in 1954, Aiello joined. He was elected a director, serving on the board for 30 years and as elected general president for 14 years. After retiring in 1984, he was made president emeritus, and the union's new headquarters on Blum Road in Martinez was named in his honor.
Henry Clarke, head of Local 1, credited Aiello with building the union's membership. He said a former county personnel director frequently quipped that Aiello had a union card in new employees' hands before they reported for work.
"He was just a great person," said Clarke, who for years dined regularly before board meetings with Aiello at such Martinez haunts as Jack's and Amato's.
"He really related very well to his fellow workers, and back in those days we didn't have agency shops and so forth. And Red was our best organizer."
Aiello also was a good friend to Clarke, who recalled the time they attended a San Francisco conference and Clarke had had too many drinks.
"Red knew it, and he wouldn't get in the car until I gave him the keys to drive," Clarke said.
Aiello also resolved more grievances than most union business agents, Clarke said. Union members still called Aiello for advice in recent years. A little over a month ago, "Red called me because he heard that there was a laborer who was a son of a friend of his who was having some problems. Red told me to get on it."
Former County Supervisor Nancy Fahden of Martinez fondly remembered Aiello.
It was Aiello's identification with the average worker that made him so effective. "He was one of them. There were no airs. There were no pretenses. He played no part, and they (workers) loved him for it," she said.
Aiello's Sicilian-born mother, uncle and grandmother were forced to relocate from Martinez during World War II.
"It was kind of a disgrace for them to have to move," Aiello told the Times in 1988. "They felt ashamed they had neglected to become citizens."
After retirement, Aiello liked to tool around in the 1933 Ford pickup he bought at a county surplus sale. He knew its longtime driver and considered it a good bet, his daughter said.
Clarke said it was a big disappointment to Aiello when vision problems halted his driving and visiting with friends.
Aiello was a loyal fan of Louis L'Amour western novels, even though he had to read the big print versions, his daughter said.
He was married to Lydia Aiello for 57 years.
His daughter said her parents met when her father threw grapes at her mother as she walked home from school. Aiello is also survived by daughters Louise and Marilyn Aiello, and brothers-in-law Norman Vecchi and Leonard Vecchi, all of Martinez.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Catherine's of the Sienna parish in Martinez. Burial will be at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Lafayette.
Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, CA)
Date: November 18, 1997
Aug. 26, 1915 Nov. 16, 1997
Salvedor Aiello, a welder for Contra Costa County for 36 years, died Sunday in Martinez after a lengthy illness. He was 82.
The native and lifelong resident of Martinez was a graduate of Alhambra High School, where he was active in sports. During World War II he worked at Pioneer Rubber Mill in Pittsburg. He worked to build County Employees Union Local 1 into the strongest public employees union in the state and served as its president for 16 years. He belonged to DRUIDS and was a member of St. Catherine's of the Sienna Parish in Martinez.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Lydia Aiello of Martinez; and daughters, Marilyn and Louise Aiello, both of Martinez.
Services: 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Catherine's Catholic Church, Martinez, with burial at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Lafayette. Vigil 6:30 p.m. today at Connolly and Taylor in Martinez with visitation from 4 to 8 p.m.
Memorial gifts: Catholic Charities.
Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, CA)
Date: November 18, 1997
********************************************************
SALVEDOR "RED" AIELLO DIES
Salvedor "Red" Aiello, a welder and down-to-earth champion of the working man, died Sunday.
The Martinez native was 82.
"My father loved people, and he was just really proud of being a working person," his daughter, Louise Aiello, said Monday. "He loved people and wanted to see them do well." If he didn't have something good to say about someone, he wouldn't say a word, she said.
Although he had suffered a major heart attack in Yosemite in 1986 and was flown to a Walnut Creek hospital, friends and family said he had bounced back, going strong until the end.
The 1933 graduate of Alhambra High School in Martinez worked at the Pioneer Rubber Mill in Pittsburg during World War II, then was a welder with the Contra Costa County public works department for 36 years.
About the time the Public Employees Union Local 1 incorporated as a nonprofit group in 1954, Aiello joined. He was elected a director, serving on the board for 30 years and as elected general president for 14 years. After retiring in 1984, he was made president emeritus, and the union's new headquarters on Blum Road in Martinez was named in his honor.
Henry Clarke, head of Local 1, credited Aiello with building the union's membership. He said a former county personnel director frequently quipped that Aiello had a union card in new employees' hands before they reported for work.
"He was just a great person," said Clarke, who for years dined regularly before board meetings with Aiello at such Martinez haunts as Jack's and Amato's.
"He really related very well to his fellow workers, and back in those days we didn't have agency shops and so forth. And Red was our best organizer."
Aiello also was a good friend to Clarke, who recalled the time they attended a San Francisco conference and Clarke had had too many drinks.
"Red knew it, and he wouldn't get in the car until I gave him the keys to drive," Clarke said.
Aiello also resolved more grievances than most union business agents, Clarke said. Union members still called Aiello for advice in recent years. A little over a month ago, "Red called me because he heard that there was a laborer who was a son of a friend of his who was having some problems. Red told me to get on it."
Former County Supervisor Nancy Fahden of Martinez fondly remembered Aiello.
It was Aiello's identification with the average worker that made him so effective. "He was one of them. There were no airs. There were no pretenses. He played no part, and they (workers) loved him for it," she said.
Aiello's Sicilian-born mother, uncle and grandmother were forced to relocate from Martinez during World War II.
"It was kind of a disgrace for them to have to move," Aiello told the Times in 1988. "They felt ashamed they had neglected to become citizens."
After retirement, Aiello liked to tool around in the 1933 Ford pickup he bought at a county surplus sale. He knew its longtime driver and considered it a good bet, his daughter said.
Clarke said it was a big disappointment to Aiello when vision problems halted his driving and visiting with friends.
Aiello was a loyal fan of Louis L'Amour western novels, even though he had to read the big print versions, his daughter said.
He was married to Lydia Aiello for 57 years.
His daughter said her parents met when her father threw grapes at her mother as she walked home from school. Aiello is also survived by daughters Louise and Marilyn Aiello, and brothers-in-law Norman Vecchi and Leonard Vecchi, all of Martinez.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Catherine's of the Sienna parish in Martinez. Burial will be at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Lafayette.
Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, CA)
Date: November 18, 1997
Salvedor "Red" J. Aiello
Aug. 26, 1915 Nov. 16, 1997
Salvedor Aiello, a welder for Contra Costa County for 36 years, died Sunday in Martinez after a lengthy illness. He was 82.
The native and lifelong resident of Martinez was a graduate of Alhambra High School, where he was active in sports. During World War II he worked at Pioneer Rubber Mill in Pittsburg. He worked to build County Employees Union Local 1 into the strongest public employees union in the state and served as its president for 16 years. He belonged to DRUIDS and was a member of St. Catherine's of the Sienna Parish in Martinez.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Lydia Aiello of Martinez; and daughters, Marilyn and Louise Aiello, both of Martinez.
Services: 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Catherine's Catholic Church, Martinez, with burial at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Lafayette. Vigil 6:30 p.m. today at Connolly and Taylor in Martinez with visitation from 4 to 8 p.m.
Memorial gifts: Catholic Charities.
Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, CA)
Date: November 18, 1997
********************************************************
SALVEDOR "RED" AIELLO DIES
Salvedor "Red" Aiello, a welder and down-to-earth champion of the working man, died Sunday.
The Martinez native was 82.
"My father loved people, and he was just really proud of being a working person," his daughter, Louise Aiello, said Monday. "He loved people and wanted to see them do well." If he didn't have something good to say about someone, he wouldn't say a word, she said.
Although he had suffered a major heart attack in Yosemite in 1986 and was flown to a Walnut Creek hospital, friends and family said he had bounced back, going strong until the end.
The 1933 graduate of Alhambra High School in Martinez worked at the Pioneer Rubber Mill in Pittsburg during World War II, then was a welder with the Contra Costa County public works department for 36 years.
About the time the Public Employees Union Local 1 incorporated as a nonprofit group in 1954, Aiello joined. He was elected a director, serving on the board for 30 years and as elected general president for 14 years. After retiring in 1984, he was made president emeritus, and the union's new headquarters on Blum Road in Martinez was named in his honor.
Henry Clarke, head of Local 1, credited Aiello with building the union's membership. He said a former county personnel director frequently quipped that Aiello had a union card in new employees' hands before they reported for work.
"He was just a great person," said Clarke, who for years dined regularly before board meetings with Aiello at such Martinez haunts as Jack's and Amato's.
"He really related very well to his fellow workers, and back in those days we didn't have agency shops and so forth. And Red was our best organizer."
Aiello also was a good friend to Clarke, who recalled the time they attended a San Francisco conference and Clarke had had too many drinks.
"Red knew it, and he wouldn't get in the car until I gave him the keys to drive," Clarke said.
Aiello also resolved more grievances than most union business agents, Clarke said. Union members still called Aiello for advice in recent years. A little over a month ago, "Red called me because he heard that there was a laborer who was a son of a friend of his who was having some problems. Red told me to get on it."
Former County Supervisor Nancy Fahden of Martinez fondly remembered Aiello.
It was Aiello's identification with the average worker that made him so effective. "He was one of them. There were no airs. There were no pretenses. He played no part, and they (workers) loved him for it," she said.
Aiello's Sicilian-born mother, uncle and grandmother were forced to relocate from Martinez during World War II.
"It was kind of a disgrace for them to have to move," Aiello told the Times in 1988. "They felt ashamed they had neglected to become citizens."
After retirement, Aiello liked to tool around in the 1933 Ford pickup he bought at a county surplus sale. He knew its longtime driver and considered it a good bet, his daughter said.
Clarke said it was a big disappointment to Aiello when vision problems halted his driving and visiting with friends.
Aiello was a loyal fan of Louis L'Amour western novels, even though he had to read the big print versions, his daughter said.
He was married to Lydia Aiello for 57 years.
His daughter said her parents met when her father threw grapes at her mother as she walked home from school. Aiello is also survived by daughters Louise and Marilyn Aiello, and brothers-in-law Norman Vecchi and Leonard Vecchi, all of Martinez.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Catherine's of the Sienna parish in Martinez. Burial will be at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Lafayette.
Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, CA)
Date: November 18, 1997
Aug. 26, 1915 Nov. 16, 1997
Salvedor Aiello, a welder for Contra Costa County for 36 years, died Sunday in Martinez after a lengthy illness. He was 82.
The native and lifelong resident of Martinez was a graduate of Alhambra High School, where he was active in sports. During World War II he worked at Pioneer Rubber Mill in Pittsburg. He worked to build County Employees Union Local 1 into the strongest public employees union in the state and served as its president for 16 years. He belonged to DRUIDS and was a member of St. Catherine's of the Sienna Parish in Martinez.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Lydia Aiello of Martinez; and daughters, Marilyn and Louise Aiello, both of Martinez.
Services: 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Catherine's Catholic Church, Martinez, with burial at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Lafayette. Vigil 6:30 p.m. today at Connolly and Taylor in Martinez with visitation from 4 to 8 p.m.
Memorial gifts: Catholic Charities.
Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, CA)
Date: November 18, 1997
********************************************************
SALVEDOR "RED" AIELLO DIES
Salvedor "Red" Aiello, a welder and down-to-earth champion of the working man, died Sunday.
The Martinez native was 82.
"My father loved people, and he was just really proud of being a working person," his daughter, Louise Aiello, said Monday. "He loved people and wanted to see them do well." If he didn't have something good to say about someone, he wouldn't say a word, she said.
Although he had suffered a major heart attack in Yosemite in 1986 and was flown to a Walnut Creek hospital, friends and family said he had bounced back, going strong until the end.
The 1933 graduate of Alhambra High School in Martinez worked at the Pioneer Rubber Mill in Pittsburg during World War II, then was a welder with the Contra Costa County public works department for 36 years.
About the time the Public Employees Union Local 1 incorporated as a nonprofit group in 1954, Aiello joined. He was elected a director, serving on the board for 30 years and as elected general president for 14 years. After retiring in 1984, he was made president emeritus, and the union's new headquarters on Blum Road in Martinez was named in his honor.
Henry Clarke, head of Local 1, credited Aiello with building the union's membership. He said a former county personnel director frequently quipped that Aiello had a union card in new employees' hands before they reported for work.
"He was just a great person," said Clarke, who for years dined regularly before board meetings with Aiello at such Martinez haunts as Jack's and Amato's.
"He really related very well to his fellow workers, and back in those days we didn't have agency shops and so forth. And Red was our best organizer."
Aiello also was a good friend to Clarke, who recalled the time they attended a San Francisco conference and Clarke had had too many drinks.
"Red knew it, and he wouldn't get in the car until I gave him the keys to drive," Clarke said.
Aiello also resolved more grievances than most union business agents, Clarke said. Union members still called Aiello for advice in recent years. A little over a month ago, "Red called me because he heard that there was a laborer who was a son of a friend of his who was having some problems. Red told me to get on it."
Former County Supervisor Nancy Fahden of Martinez fondly remembered Aiello.
It was Aiello's identification with the average worker that made him so effective. "He was one of them. There were no airs. There were no pretenses. He played no part, and they (workers) loved him for it," she said.
Aiello's Sicilian-born mother, uncle and grandmother were forced to relocate from Martinez during World War II.
"It was kind of a disgrace for them to have to move," Aiello told the Times in 1988. "They felt ashamed they had neglected to become citizens."
After retirement, Aiello liked to tool around in the 1933 Ford pickup he bought at a county surplus sale. He knew its longtime driver and considered it a good bet, his daughter said.
Clarke said it was a big disappointment to Aiello when vision problems halted his driving and visiting with friends.
Aiello was a loyal fan of Louis L'Amour western novels, even though he had to read the big print versions, his daughter said.
He was married to Lydia Aiello for 57 years.
His daughter said her parents met when her father threw grapes at her mother as she walked home from school. Aiello is also survived by daughters Louise and Marilyn Aiello, and brothers-in-law Norman Vecchi and Leonard Vecchi, all of Martinez.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Catherine's of the Sienna parish in Martinez. Burial will be at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Lafayette.
Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, CA)
Date: November 18, 1997
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