He was born Giovanni Battista Orecchia and both his parents came from the Piemonte region of Italy.
Parents:
Father: Giuseppe Orecchia of Castello di Annone
Mother: Louisa Grana of Castello di Annone
Maternal Grandparents:
*Stefano Grana, 1854-1929
*Giovanna Bergamasco, 1861-1949
Paternal Grandparents:
*Giovanni Battista Orecchia, 1844-1924
*Teresa Rossi, 1851-1896
Giovanni and his twin sister Giovanna Teresa were born in Alameda, CA.
And as was the Italian custom Giovanni was named after his paternal Grandfather.
At the time the family was living in Alameda and Father Giuseppe was working as a shoemaker. They lived at 2262 San Jose Ave.
In a few years the family would move accross the Bay to San Mateo and Father would open his own shoe repair shop called "San Mateo Shoe Repair)
The family would suffer the tragic loss of Father in 1917. Father would pass away from Kidney Disease at the age of 34. Giovanni and Nina were only 5 years old at the time.
Mother with lots of help from her brother-in-law and sister would keep her family in San Mateo.
Much credit needs to be given to Father's younger brother Paolo (Barba Poluccio) and his wife (Nena Blini), Mother's younger sister. They both did so much to help this family survive and cope with the big loss of Father.
In time Mother would move foward and co-own a large bakery where Giovanni (now John) and his sister, after school, worked along with their mother. At first the twins wrapped bread for the delivery drivers and later John would work as a delivery driver himself.
In 1929 John, Nina and Mother traveled to Italy to visit the family in the hometown of Castello di Annone. John's Nonna Giovanna Grana, was still alive but his Nonno Stefano Grana had died a short time before they arrived in Italy. The Orecchia Grandparents had passed away years before. However, there were quite few uncles, aunts, and cousins still living in d'Annone and John and Nina got to meet and spend time with them.
John and Nina were very fluent in Italian and it was quite a treat for them. They stayed for 6 months.
In his late teens John became very involved in grooming and training and riding polo horses. It was a passion of his that would later develope into a stint as a professional jocky. John's maternal Uncle Luigi would become a race horse owner and used John as his jocky. The pair would travel around the country to all the different racetracks competing for purse prizes. John loved being in this "sport of kings" but was having a very hard time keeping his weight down to the weight required to compete at the pro level. He was a little too big for the weight and his doctor told him that it would harm his health to keep cutting so much weight. He would have to give up the sport he loved.
John would retire from horse racing and return to being a bakery delivery driver.
Later John would move to San Jose with his mother and go into biz with his brother-in-law Freddy Pene. They would become partners in the "Don Clemente Wine Company" in San Jose.
A short time later WWII would break out and in 1942 John was drafted into the Army. John would serve in the Army Air Corps as a turret gunner on the B-25 bombers and later on the B-24 bombers. At the war's end John was discharged and he returned to working with Freddy in San Jose.
It was during this time that John would meet his future wife. John would deliver wine to some of the resturants in San Jose and one of the places on his route was owned by Ralph and Jennie Laurie. They knew that John was single and they introduced him to Jennie's younger sister Nunziata who had recently come over from Sicily. After a courtship they would marry and move to San Carlos.
Freddy, Nina, Nonna and Norman would also move to near by Redwood City.
In a short time John and Nancy bought their home in Redwood City.
John and Freddy Pene would co-own the "Top Hat Bar" in Redwood City.
John and Freddy would stay there for a short time and then sell the Top Hat Bar.
Then John would would make another career change and join and co-own a bakery in San Mateo with his first cousin Johnny Orecchia. Cousin Johnny was Barba Poluccio's son. This lasted for a short time.
John would then go and work for Joe Pisano who had worked for Nonna Orecchia back in the old days. Joe owned a large high volume, commercial bakery called "Pisano Bakery" in Redwood City.
In 1968 the family would suffer the sudden loss of brother-n-law Freddy Pene. At the time Freddy and sister Nina owned a liquor store called the "Manor Bottle Shop" in San Mateo. John showed what a very loyal brother he was by helping his sister and nephew Norman in keeping the store going. John would go down to the store every night after working his own job to help Norman get the store running right.
Then John would work there at the store every Tuesday from 10am in the morning till closing time at 10pm. John would help them this way till Nina and Norman sold the store in the 1980's. He was a great brother and Barba (uncle)
John would retire from working at Pisano Bakery after being there for over 20 years, retiring around 1976.
John was a very devoted Nonno (grandfather) to his three grandsons' William, Johnny, and JJ. He (along with Nonna) was a very big part of their life.
John would enjoy his retirment by doing a lot of hunting and fishing. And traveling around with wife Nancy in their VW Kamper.
In his later years John would suffer from emphesima that would put a damper on his very active life.
If one word could decribe my father it would be his tremendous "loyalty" to his family. To his mother, to his sister, to his cousins, to his nephew, to his sons and to his grandsons, etc.
I've never seen anyone like him.
Rest in Peace, Dad
From your son, Joe
(PHOTOS)
I have loaded a number of photos from John's life. Just click on the RH side "view images" and they will open up. There will be a description for each one.
*BELOW*, is the obituary from the Redwood City Times Tribune :
At rest in Redwood City, CA, June 25, 1996. Life long San Mateo County resident, John B. Orecchia of Redwood City. Army Air Corps. Veteran of WWII. Former proprietor of the Top Hat Bar in Redwood City, retired Baker (25 years) from Pisano Baking Co. An avid hunter and fisherman. A native of Alameda, California. Age 83 years. John is survived by his wife of 46 years, Nancy Orecchia of Redwood City; two sons, Joe Orecchia of Union City and Tom Orecchia of Stockton, CA, his twin sister, Nina Pene of Los Altos. Grandfather of William and Joseph and Victoria Orecchia.
Friends are invited to attend the Funeral Service on Monday, July 1, 1996, at 9:30am, at the White Oaks Funeral Chapel, 1996 El Camino Real, San CArlos, thence to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, Fulton & James Ave., Redwood City for the Funeral Mass commencing at 10:00am.
Rosary Sunday, June 30, 1996 at 3:00pm at the White Oaks Chapel, San Carlos. Interment, Alta Mesa Memorial Park, Palo Alto.
Parents:
Father: Giuseppe Orecchia of Castello di Annone
Mother: Louisa Grana of Castello di Annone
Maternal Grandparents:
*Stefano Grana, 1854-1929
*Giovanna Bergamasco, 1861-1949
Paternal Grandparents:
*Giovanni Battista Orecchia, 1844-1924
*Teresa Rossi, 1851-1896
Giovanni and his twin sister Giovanna Teresa were born in Alameda, CA.
And as was the Italian custom Giovanni was named after his paternal Grandfather.
At the time the family was living in Alameda and Father Giuseppe was working as a shoemaker. They lived at 2262 San Jose Ave.
In a few years the family would move accross the Bay to San Mateo and Father would open his own shoe repair shop called "San Mateo Shoe Repair)
The family would suffer the tragic loss of Father in 1917. Father would pass away from Kidney Disease at the age of 34. Giovanni and Nina were only 5 years old at the time.
Mother with lots of help from her brother-in-law and sister would keep her family in San Mateo.
Much credit needs to be given to Father's younger brother Paolo (Barba Poluccio) and his wife (Nena Blini), Mother's younger sister. They both did so much to help this family survive and cope with the big loss of Father.
In time Mother would move foward and co-own a large bakery where Giovanni (now John) and his sister, after school, worked along with their mother. At first the twins wrapped bread for the delivery drivers and later John would work as a delivery driver himself.
In 1929 John, Nina and Mother traveled to Italy to visit the family in the hometown of Castello di Annone. John's Nonna Giovanna Grana, was still alive but his Nonno Stefano Grana had died a short time before they arrived in Italy. The Orecchia Grandparents had passed away years before. However, there were quite few uncles, aunts, and cousins still living in d'Annone and John and Nina got to meet and spend time with them.
John and Nina were very fluent in Italian and it was quite a treat for them. They stayed for 6 months.
In his late teens John became very involved in grooming and training and riding polo horses. It was a passion of his that would later develope into a stint as a professional jocky. John's maternal Uncle Luigi would become a race horse owner and used John as his jocky. The pair would travel around the country to all the different racetracks competing for purse prizes. John loved being in this "sport of kings" but was having a very hard time keeping his weight down to the weight required to compete at the pro level. He was a little too big for the weight and his doctor told him that it would harm his health to keep cutting so much weight. He would have to give up the sport he loved.
John would retire from horse racing and return to being a bakery delivery driver.
Later John would move to San Jose with his mother and go into biz with his brother-in-law Freddy Pene. They would become partners in the "Don Clemente Wine Company" in San Jose.
A short time later WWII would break out and in 1942 John was drafted into the Army. John would serve in the Army Air Corps as a turret gunner on the B-25 bombers and later on the B-24 bombers. At the war's end John was discharged and he returned to working with Freddy in San Jose.
It was during this time that John would meet his future wife. John would deliver wine to some of the resturants in San Jose and one of the places on his route was owned by Ralph and Jennie Laurie. They knew that John was single and they introduced him to Jennie's younger sister Nunziata who had recently come over from Sicily. After a courtship they would marry and move to San Carlos.
Freddy, Nina, Nonna and Norman would also move to near by Redwood City.
In a short time John and Nancy bought their home in Redwood City.
John and Freddy Pene would co-own the "Top Hat Bar" in Redwood City.
John and Freddy would stay there for a short time and then sell the Top Hat Bar.
Then John would would make another career change and join and co-own a bakery in San Mateo with his first cousin Johnny Orecchia. Cousin Johnny was Barba Poluccio's son. This lasted for a short time.
John would then go and work for Joe Pisano who had worked for Nonna Orecchia back in the old days. Joe owned a large high volume, commercial bakery called "Pisano Bakery" in Redwood City.
In 1968 the family would suffer the sudden loss of brother-n-law Freddy Pene. At the time Freddy and sister Nina owned a liquor store called the "Manor Bottle Shop" in San Mateo. John showed what a very loyal brother he was by helping his sister and nephew Norman in keeping the store going. John would go down to the store every night after working his own job to help Norman get the store running right.
Then John would work there at the store every Tuesday from 10am in the morning till closing time at 10pm. John would help them this way till Nina and Norman sold the store in the 1980's. He was a great brother and Barba (uncle)
John would retire from working at Pisano Bakery after being there for over 20 years, retiring around 1976.
John was a very devoted Nonno (grandfather) to his three grandsons' William, Johnny, and JJ. He (along with Nonna) was a very big part of their life.
John would enjoy his retirment by doing a lot of hunting and fishing. And traveling around with wife Nancy in their VW Kamper.
In his later years John would suffer from emphesima that would put a damper on his very active life.
If one word could decribe my father it would be his tremendous "loyalty" to his family. To his mother, to his sister, to his cousins, to his nephew, to his sons and to his grandsons, etc.
I've never seen anyone like him.
Rest in Peace, Dad
From your son, Joe
(PHOTOS)
I have loaded a number of photos from John's life. Just click on the RH side "view images" and they will open up. There will be a description for each one.
*BELOW*, is the obituary from the Redwood City Times Tribune :
At rest in Redwood City, CA, June 25, 1996. Life long San Mateo County resident, John B. Orecchia of Redwood City. Army Air Corps. Veteran of WWII. Former proprietor of the Top Hat Bar in Redwood City, retired Baker (25 years) from Pisano Baking Co. An avid hunter and fisherman. A native of Alameda, California. Age 83 years. John is survived by his wife of 46 years, Nancy Orecchia of Redwood City; two sons, Joe Orecchia of Union City and Tom Orecchia of Stockton, CA, his twin sister, Nina Pene of Los Altos. Grandfather of William and Joseph and Victoria Orecchia.
Friends are invited to attend the Funeral Service on Monday, July 1, 1996, at 9:30am, at the White Oaks Funeral Chapel, 1996 El Camino Real, San CArlos, thence to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, Fulton & James Ave., Redwood City for the Funeral Mass commencing at 10:00am.
Rosary Sunday, June 30, 1996 at 3:00pm at the White Oaks Chapel, San Carlos. Interment, Alta Mesa Memorial Park, Palo Alto.
He was born Giovanni Battista Orecchia and both his parents came from the Piemonte region of Italy.
Parents:
Father: Giuseppe Orecchia of Castello di Annone
Mother: Louisa Grana of Castello di Annone
Maternal Grandparents:
*Stefano Grana, 1854-1929
*Giovanna Bergamasco, 1861-1949
Paternal Grandparents:
*Giovanni Battista Orecchia, 1844-1924
*Teresa Rossi, 1851-1896
Giovanni and his twin sister Giovanna Teresa were born in Alameda, CA.
And as was the Italian custom Giovanni was named after his paternal Grandfather.
At the time the family was living in Alameda and Father Giuseppe was working as a shoemaker. They lived at 2262 San Jose Ave.
In a few years the family would move accross the Bay to San Mateo and Father would open his own shoe repair shop called "San Mateo Shoe Repair)
The family would suffer the tragic loss of Father in 1917. Father would pass away from Kidney Disease at the age of 34. Giovanni and Nina were only 5 years old at the time.
Mother with lots of help from her brother-in-law and sister would keep her family in San Mateo.
Much credit needs to be given to Father's younger brother Paolo (Barba Poluccio) and his wife (Nena Blini), Mother's younger sister. They both did so much to help this family survive and cope with the big loss of Father.
In time Mother would move foward and co-own a large bakery where Giovanni (now John) and his sister, after school, worked along with their mother. At first the twins wrapped bread for the delivery drivers and later John would work as a delivery driver himself.
In 1929 John, Nina and Mother traveled to Italy to visit the family in the hometown of Castello di Annone. John's Nonna Giovanna Grana, was still alive but his Nonno Stefano Grana had died a short time before they arrived in Italy. The Orecchia Grandparents had passed away years before. However, there were quite few uncles, aunts, and cousins still living in d'Annone and John and Nina got to meet and spend time with them.
John and Nina were very fluent in Italian and it was quite a treat for them. They stayed for 6 months.
In his late teens John became very involved in grooming and training and riding polo horses. It was a passion of his that would later develope into a stint as a professional jocky. John's maternal Uncle Luigi would become a race horse owner and used John as his jocky. The pair would travel around the country to all the different racetracks competing for purse prizes. John loved being in this "sport of kings" but was having a very hard time keeping his weight down to the weight required to compete at the pro level. He was a little too big for the weight and his doctor told him that it would harm his health to keep cutting so much weight. He would have to give up the sport he loved.
John would retire from horse racing and return to being a bakery delivery driver.
Later John would move to San Jose with his mother and go into biz with his brother-in-law Freddy Pene. They would become partners in the "Don Clemente Wine Company" in San Jose.
A short time later WWII would break out and in 1942 John was drafted into the Army. John would serve in the Army Air Corps as a turret gunner on the B-25 bombers and later on the B-24 bombers. At the war's end John was discharged and he returned to working with Freddy in San Jose.
It was during this time that John would meet his future wife. John would deliver wine to some of the resturants in San Jose and one of the places on his route was owned by Ralph and Jennie Laurie. They knew that John was single and they introduced him to Jennie's younger sister Nunziata who had recently come over from Sicily. After a courtship they would marry and move to San Carlos.
Freddy, Nina, Nonna and Norman would also move to near by Redwood City.
In a short time John and Nancy bought their home in Redwood City.
John and Freddy Pene would co-own the "Top Hat Bar" in Redwood City.
John and Freddy would stay there for a short time and then sell the Top Hat Bar.
Then John would would make another career change and join and co-own a bakery in San Mateo with his first cousin Johnny Orecchia. Cousin Johnny was Barba Poluccio's son. This lasted for a short time.
John would then go and work for Joe Pisano who had worked for Nonna Orecchia back in the old days. Joe owned a large high volume, commercial bakery called "Pisano Bakery" in Redwood City.
In 1968 the family would suffer the sudden loss of brother-n-law Freddy Pene. At the time Freddy and sister Nina owned a liquor store called the "Manor Bottle Shop" in San Mateo. John showed what a very loyal brother he was by helping his sister and nephew Norman in keeping the store going. John would go down to the store every night after working his own job to help Norman get the store running right.
Then John would work there at the store every Tuesday from 10am in the morning till closing time at 10pm. John would help them this way till Nina and Norman sold the store in the 1980's. He was a great brother and Barba (uncle)
John would retire from working at Pisano Bakery after being there for over 20 years, retiring around 1976.
John was a very devoted Nonno (grandfather) to his three grandsons' William, Johnny, and JJ. He (along with Nonna) was a very big part of their life.
John would enjoy his retirment by doing a lot of hunting and fishing. And traveling around with wife Nancy in their VW Kamper.
In his later years John would suffer from emphesima that would put a damper on his very active life.
If one word could decribe my father it would be his tremendous "loyalty" to his family. To his mother, to his sister, to his cousins, to his nephew, to his sons and to his grandsons, etc.
I've never seen anyone like him.
Rest in Peace, Dad
From your son, Joe
(PHOTOS)
I have loaded a number of photos from John's life. Just click on the RH side "view images" and they will open up. There will be a description for each one.
*BELOW*, is the obituary from the Redwood City Times Tribune :
At rest in Redwood City, CA, June 25, 1996. Life long San Mateo County resident, John B. Orecchia of Redwood City. Army Air Corps. Veteran of WWII. Former proprietor of the Top Hat Bar in Redwood City, retired Baker (25 years) from Pisano Baking Co. An avid hunter and fisherman. A native of Alameda, California. Age 83 years. John is survived by his wife of 46 years, Nancy Orecchia of Redwood City; two sons, Joe Orecchia of Union City and Tom Orecchia of Stockton, CA, his twin sister, Nina Pene of Los Altos. Grandfather of William and Joseph and Victoria Orecchia.
Friends are invited to attend the Funeral Service on Monday, July 1, 1996, at 9:30am, at the White Oaks Funeral Chapel, 1996 El Camino Real, San CArlos, thence to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, Fulton & James Ave., Redwood City for the Funeral Mass commencing at 10:00am.
Rosary Sunday, June 30, 1996 at 3:00pm at the White Oaks Chapel, San Carlos. Interment, Alta Mesa Memorial Park, Palo Alto.
Parents:
Father: Giuseppe Orecchia of Castello di Annone
Mother: Louisa Grana of Castello di Annone
Maternal Grandparents:
*Stefano Grana, 1854-1929
*Giovanna Bergamasco, 1861-1949
Paternal Grandparents:
*Giovanni Battista Orecchia, 1844-1924
*Teresa Rossi, 1851-1896
Giovanni and his twin sister Giovanna Teresa were born in Alameda, CA.
And as was the Italian custom Giovanni was named after his paternal Grandfather.
At the time the family was living in Alameda and Father Giuseppe was working as a shoemaker. They lived at 2262 San Jose Ave.
In a few years the family would move accross the Bay to San Mateo and Father would open his own shoe repair shop called "San Mateo Shoe Repair)
The family would suffer the tragic loss of Father in 1917. Father would pass away from Kidney Disease at the age of 34. Giovanni and Nina were only 5 years old at the time.
Mother with lots of help from her brother-in-law and sister would keep her family in San Mateo.
Much credit needs to be given to Father's younger brother Paolo (Barba Poluccio) and his wife (Nena Blini), Mother's younger sister. They both did so much to help this family survive and cope with the big loss of Father.
In time Mother would move foward and co-own a large bakery where Giovanni (now John) and his sister, after school, worked along with their mother. At first the twins wrapped bread for the delivery drivers and later John would work as a delivery driver himself.
In 1929 John, Nina and Mother traveled to Italy to visit the family in the hometown of Castello di Annone. John's Nonna Giovanna Grana, was still alive but his Nonno Stefano Grana had died a short time before they arrived in Italy. The Orecchia Grandparents had passed away years before. However, there were quite few uncles, aunts, and cousins still living in d'Annone and John and Nina got to meet and spend time with them.
John and Nina were very fluent in Italian and it was quite a treat for them. They stayed for 6 months.
In his late teens John became very involved in grooming and training and riding polo horses. It was a passion of his that would later develope into a stint as a professional jocky. John's maternal Uncle Luigi would become a race horse owner and used John as his jocky. The pair would travel around the country to all the different racetracks competing for purse prizes. John loved being in this "sport of kings" but was having a very hard time keeping his weight down to the weight required to compete at the pro level. He was a little too big for the weight and his doctor told him that it would harm his health to keep cutting so much weight. He would have to give up the sport he loved.
John would retire from horse racing and return to being a bakery delivery driver.
Later John would move to San Jose with his mother and go into biz with his brother-in-law Freddy Pene. They would become partners in the "Don Clemente Wine Company" in San Jose.
A short time later WWII would break out and in 1942 John was drafted into the Army. John would serve in the Army Air Corps as a turret gunner on the B-25 bombers and later on the B-24 bombers. At the war's end John was discharged and he returned to working with Freddy in San Jose.
It was during this time that John would meet his future wife. John would deliver wine to some of the resturants in San Jose and one of the places on his route was owned by Ralph and Jennie Laurie. They knew that John was single and they introduced him to Jennie's younger sister Nunziata who had recently come over from Sicily. After a courtship they would marry and move to San Carlos.
Freddy, Nina, Nonna and Norman would also move to near by Redwood City.
In a short time John and Nancy bought their home in Redwood City.
John and Freddy Pene would co-own the "Top Hat Bar" in Redwood City.
John and Freddy would stay there for a short time and then sell the Top Hat Bar.
Then John would would make another career change and join and co-own a bakery in San Mateo with his first cousin Johnny Orecchia. Cousin Johnny was Barba Poluccio's son. This lasted for a short time.
John would then go and work for Joe Pisano who had worked for Nonna Orecchia back in the old days. Joe owned a large high volume, commercial bakery called "Pisano Bakery" in Redwood City.
In 1968 the family would suffer the sudden loss of brother-n-law Freddy Pene. At the time Freddy and sister Nina owned a liquor store called the "Manor Bottle Shop" in San Mateo. John showed what a very loyal brother he was by helping his sister and nephew Norman in keeping the store going. John would go down to the store every night after working his own job to help Norman get the store running right.
Then John would work there at the store every Tuesday from 10am in the morning till closing time at 10pm. John would help them this way till Nina and Norman sold the store in the 1980's. He was a great brother and Barba (uncle)
John would retire from working at Pisano Bakery after being there for over 20 years, retiring around 1976.
John was a very devoted Nonno (grandfather) to his three grandsons' William, Johnny, and JJ. He (along with Nonna) was a very big part of their life.
John would enjoy his retirment by doing a lot of hunting and fishing. And traveling around with wife Nancy in their VW Kamper.
In his later years John would suffer from emphesima that would put a damper on his very active life.
If one word could decribe my father it would be his tremendous "loyalty" to his family. To his mother, to his sister, to his cousins, to his nephew, to his sons and to his grandsons, etc.
I've never seen anyone like him.
Rest in Peace, Dad
From your son, Joe
(PHOTOS)
I have loaded a number of photos from John's life. Just click on the RH side "view images" and they will open up. There will be a description for each one.
*BELOW*, is the obituary from the Redwood City Times Tribune :
At rest in Redwood City, CA, June 25, 1996. Life long San Mateo County resident, John B. Orecchia of Redwood City. Army Air Corps. Veteran of WWII. Former proprietor of the Top Hat Bar in Redwood City, retired Baker (25 years) from Pisano Baking Co. An avid hunter and fisherman. A native of Alameda, California. Age 83 years. John is survived by his wife of 46 years, Nancy Orecchia of Redwood City; two sons, Joe Orecchia of Union City and Tom Orecchia of Stockton, CA, his twin sister, Nina Pene of Los Altos. Grandfather of William and Joseph and Victoria Orecchia.
Friends are invited to attend the Funeral Service on Monday, July 1, 1996, at 9:30am, at the White Oaks Funeral Chapel, 1996 El Camino Real, San CArlos, thence to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, Fulton & James Ave., Redwood City for the Funeral Mass commencing at 10:00am.
Rosary Sunday, June 30, 1996 at 3:00pm at the White Oaks Chapel, San Carlos. Interment, Alta Mesa Memorial Park, Palo Alto.
Family Members
Siblings
