Carl Cada, Sr.

Oct. 18, 1915 - Nov. 4, 2018 Cupertino

Carl Charles Cada, Sr.: October 18, 1915 – November 4, 2018. Carl passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 4th surrounded by close family members. Carl was the third of eight children. His father, Tony, came to this country in 1909 from Austria (soon to be Czechoslovakia). Tony’s sweetheart and soon to be wife (Mary) came two years later. They homesteaded in Idaho.

Life was rough on the Idaho ranch, so Carl decided to leave home at the age of 16 to find a better life. After about four months and a few odd jobs in the area, he jumped a freight train to Los Angeles. This was during the Great Depression and finding jobs was not easy but he found work in stables, bit parts in movies and in carpentry. While in Los Angeles he met Doris Coleman and they were married on May 17, 1941. Soon after, the war broke out and Carl joined the Navy. He was stationed on the U.S.S. Montrose in the South Pacific as Chief Petty Officer Damage Control. The Montrose participated in the battle of Okinawa.

Carl and Doris’ first son, Carl Jr., was born in May 1944. Soon after, Carl was discharged from the Navy at Moffett Field and took up residence in the Santa Clara Valley where their second son, Richard, was born in September 1946.

During their 76-year marriage, Carl, with the help of Doris, became a successful building contractor. In retirement Carl volunteered at the V.A. Hospital in Palo Alto for over 20 years and, when not helping others, loved to play poker with his friends. Carl and Doris had a wonderful life together and traveled the world seeing many fascinating wonderful places.

Carl will be truly missed by all. He leaves behind two sons, three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren whom he loved and helped in many ways.