Attilio “Al” Serafini, Jr.
May 31, 1935 - December 8, 2017
Attilio Serafini passed away peacefully on December 8, 2017 surrounded by his family, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was a man of great vitality, integrity and honor, and a true friend to many. He will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
He was born in Steubenville, Ohio on May 31, 1935 to Attilio Serafini and Helen (Costanzo) Serafini as the youngest of his two brothers, Dino Serafini and Claudio Serafini. After spending his early childhood in Steubenville his family moved to Arizona to enjoy the warmer climate. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Arizona State University in 1958 and his MBA from Pepperdine University in 1979.
Upon graduating from college, he joined the Navy, attended Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI, and was commissioned an Ensign in the Supply Corps upon graduation from the Naval Supply Corps School in Athens, GA in 1960. He served in various assignments in the Supply Department on the aircraft carrier USS Hancock (CVA-19 ) as a Division Officer deployed to the Western Pacific. On release from active duty he continued in the Naval Reserve for 32 years commanding various Navy units, attending the Naval War College, and retiring with the rank of Captain.
Following his release from active duty in 1962, he was employed as a representative by the Kealy Company, a major supplier to the Navy Exchange system, and for over a decade traveled throughout the Far East. While working in Japan he met and married the love of his life Hideyo “Eiko” Mishima of Yokohama on his birthday in 1973. He eventually returned to live in Hawaii with his wife Eiko, and then returned to the Bay Area to join his brother Claudio where for several decades was a principal at Serafini Associates, a Santa Clara, CA management consulting firm. He was a long time resident of San Carlos.
He was active in many civic, military and professional organizations including the Bay Area Honor Flight Foundation, the Bay Area Supply Corps Association, the Marines Memorial and the Naval Order of the United States Foundation where he was the Treasurer since its inception over 10 years ago. He was particularly proud of his work as project manager responsible for the commissioning and dedication of a life size statue of Fleet Admiral Chester M. Nimitz on September 3, 2013 which is located adjacent to the battle ship USS Missouri and near the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Most recently he was the project manager for the creation and installation of a bust of Chief John Finn, the recipient of the first Medal of Honor for valor during the attack on Pearl Harbor which he unveiled this last June aboard the newly commissioned USS John Finn (DDG-113). He was committed to the welfare of our nation’s veterans and for many years counseled veterans on benefits and transiting into private employment following their release from military service. .
His wife Eiko died in 2009, and he is survived by his eight nieces and nephews: Claudio “Randy” Serafini, Diane M. Serafini, Mark V. Serafini, Michael A. Serafini, Helen SerafiniHill, Dino R. Serafini, Chris Serafini, and Cecilia SerafiniSmith all of whom reside in California.
He lived a full and productive life surrounded by his family and his lifelong friends and will be missed by the so very many people whose lives he touched with his kindness, generosity and wisdom.
A Visitation will be held on December 18 from 5pm to 8pm with a 7pm Vigil Service at Crippen & Flynn Carlmont Chapel, 1111 Alameda de las Pulgas in Belmont. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10am on December 19, 2017 at Saint Charles Church, 880 Tamarack Avenue, San Carlos followed by interment with Honor Guard at 12pm at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Los Altos.
A Celebration of his life is planned to be held in February 2018.
If you would like to donate in memory of Al, he would have preferred the Naval Order of the United States Foundation [www. navalorder.org]