Alfredo Lunardi
July 14, 1929 - July 9, 2018
Alfredo Lunardi, founder of Lunardi’s Markets, beloved husband of the late Irene Lunardi, cherished father of son Paul and the late Ralph Lunardi, brother of Dora Quilici, son of the late Rafaello and Amelia Lunardi. Alfredo was born in San Pietro A Vico, Lucca, Italy. In 1950, at the age of 20, he left his native Italy and settled in San Francisco.
Alfredo met his beloved wife Irene Geisel in 1955 and were married on April 28th, 1957 in San Francisco at Sts. Peter and Paul’s church. In 1958 they had their first son Ralph and in 1961 they had their second son Paul.
In 1950, he began working for O Lippi and Co., a banana wholesale business. By 1953, Alfredo acquired a local San Francisco market called “Mother’s Market,” located at 23rd and Irving Street. From that simple beginning, Alfredo, with help of his sons Ralph and Paul, eventually opened 8 locations in the Bay area. “The key to our success is good people, and we have the best in the business,” Alfredo has proudly explained. “When customers walk into Lunardi’s, it’s as if they are walking into our home. You can feel the warmth between our employees and our customers.” Alfredo was a hands-on owner and took pride in maintaining the highest quality for his customers. “The most perishable item we have isn’t the meat or the eggs or the lettuce. It’s the customer. A dozen eggs can be replaced, but you can’t call the warehouse and get another customer.” If focusing on personal service is one element of Alfredo’s success, maintaining the best quality is the other. Alfredo has passed on this philosophy to his sons Ralph and Paul from when he was hand selecting every piece of produce at the wholesale market, at 2:00 am every morning and as he illustrated, “we can explain our prices, but we don’t ever want to have to justify our quality.” Alfredo had a great passion and love for the supermarket business especially the produce department. He made a point in visiting 1 to 2 stores everyday up until his illness.
Alfredo was passionate about his business and he also loved to play bocce ball and was a big fan of the San Francisco 49ers and Giants. He also had a passion for cooking. Alfredo was a member of the Peninsula Social Club, the Associazione Lucchesi Nel Mondo and also a recipient of the prestigious the Medaglia D’ Oro from the Associacion Lucchesi Nel Mondo.
Special thanks to Medical Care Professionals and the wonderful, loving care they gave Alfredo towards the end of his life. The family would also like to extend their sincerest thanks to all of the doctors, nurses, friends, employees and St. Bartholomew’s for everything they have done for us.
Friends and family are all invited to a rosary at St. Bartholomew’s Catholic Church 600 Columbia Dr., San Mateo on Tuesday, July 17th, at 7:00 pm. The funeral mass will also be held at St. Bartholomew’s Church on Wednesday, July 18th, at 10:00 am. Interment to follow at the Italian Cemetery in Colma. In lieu of flowers, Alfredo’s Family request to make donations in Alfredo’s name to U.C.S.F., Lockbox 45339, San Francisco, CA 94145-0339. Please have all checks written to UCSF, please be sure to write in the memo section “for Dept. of Cardiology”.