Malugani Family History, Part V; Magatelli Children

December 2024

Mike Magatelli^Δ (1913-2011)

11A31. Mike Magatelli^Δ was born on March 26, 1913, in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California, presumably across from the Derby Ranch on Calistoga Road, where his maternal uncle Charlie Malugani lived. He served in the Army during World War II and afterward married Charlotte Bjorndahl, a native of Illinois, in 1946. They had four children:

	Name	Birth	Death	Age
11A311.	Michael Magatelli	--	--	--
11A312.	Kristin Magatelli^Δ	--	--	--
11A313.	Richard Magatelli	--	--	--
11A314.	Diane Magatelli	--	--	--

Mike grew up in Alpine Valley above Santa Rosa along Calistoga Road.

He moved into Santa Rosa by 1940 where he lived with his mother's second cousin, Mabel (Pomi) Bellon, at 1046 3rd Street.^{[Cen 1940]} Around this time he owned the Lido Club at 101 4th Street in Downtown Santa Rosa.

Mike enlisted in the U.S. Army as a private on March 11, 1941, and served in the European Theater.

Charlotte (Bjorndahl) Magatelli, died on January 8, 1984, in Fortuna, Humboldt County, California. She was 62 years old.

Mike Magatelli died on March 23, 2011, just three days prior to his 98th birthday.

Eureka Times-Standard, March 26, 2011

“Mike Magatelli passed away peacefully on March 23rd at the River House in Rio Dell, three days shy of his 98 birthday. He had not been ill, he just decided it was time for him to go, so the family is blessed that he did not suffer.”

“Mike was the first of five children born to Tony and Serena Magatelli in Santa Rosa in 1913. Mike spent his youth helping his Pa haul firewood from Alpine Valley to Santa Rosa, working on their ranch and vineyard. Before entering WWII he owned the Lido Club in Santa Rosa. He served 34 months in the U.S. Army in the European Theater during WWII.”

“In 1945 he met love of his life Charlotte, they married in 1946. They settled in Cloverdale where they lived for 15 years.”

“He worked for Hulbert & Muffley Lumber and had a vineyard on Cherry Creek road where he had built a lake to irrigate the vineyard. In 1960 the mill burned down & he obtained work at the lumber mill in Carlotta were he eventually became the manager until the mill was sold. From there he became the North Coast quality control manager for Louisiana Pacific. The family settled in Ferndale in 1961 in Port Kenyon & in 1974 the family farm was sold. Our family was very fortunate to have lived in Ferndale where we all have many life time friends. Mike and Charlotte settled on Loop road in Fortuna where he lived for 37 years, another ranch was purchased on the Old Briceland road in Garberville. Here he enjoyed gardening, growing fruit trees, raising goats, chickens, riding horses, making firewood, cooking on his wood stove from the bounties of his gardens.”

“Charlotte died in 1984 and Dad became involved in the Friendship Circle in Eureka, where he enjoyed his love of dancing & was also a member of the Moose lodge.”

“At the age of 95, it became clear to his children that he could no longer live alone. He transitioned into life at the River House, he enjoyed sitting on the patio, watching the chickens, doves, his sheep and looking out at the bluffs across the Eel River, waiting for each season's harvests from the gardens and visiting with his friends at the River House. He enjoyed his outings to the Senior Luncheons in Ferndale and attending the Swiss Hall to listen the accordion players.”

“Mike is survived by his four children, Michael, Kristin, Richard and Diane. Their spouses, Mary, Gunnar Laxfoss and Nancy. Grandchildren, Melanie, Kyle, Cara, Marisa Magatelli, Melissa Johnson, & great granddaughter Sarah Johnson, Marcus Usher and his 3 children, Tommy, Tanner & Isabella.”

“Mike was the 2nd to last of his generation. The extended family has gathered since 1990 every two years where all of the family got to know their Uncle Mike. He was very special to all of us and will be deeply missed. He had quite the sense of humor and had a nickname for just about everybody, the most common was bootlegger.”

“The family would like to acknowledge and thank Peggy & George Patmore the owners of the River House for all of their care and love they extended to our Father. Per his request, there will be no services. Memorial contributions can be made to the Ferndale Senior Resource Agency, PO Box 726 Ferndale, Ca 95536.”

Benjamin Anthony Magatelli (1914-1994)

11A32. Benjamin “Bennie” Anthony Magatelli was born June 24, 1914, in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California, presumably across from the Derby Ranch on Calistoga Road, where his maternal uncle Charlie Malugani lived. He married Virginia J. Giroloand had two children.

	Name	Birth	Death	Age
11A321.	Lynda Magatelli	--	--	--
11A322.	Dennis Magatelli	--	--	--

Benjamin Anthony Magatelli died at the age of 80 on July 22, 1994, in Santa Rosa.

Virginia J. (Girolo) Magatelli died 9 years later in Santa Rosa on May 29, 2003. She was 85 years old.

Irene A. (Magatelli) Cardoza (1916-1963)

Irene (MAGETELLI) CARDOZA 11A33. Irene A. Magatelli was born August 22, 1916, presumably in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California, across from the Derby Ranch on Calistoga Road, where her maternal uncle Charlie Malugani lived. She married Al Bennett and had three children, all born in Marin County, California. Irene later remarried to a man named Poncia and had another daughter in Sonoma County, California. Finally, she married Joe Cardoza and had a son in San Joaquin County, California:

	Name	Birth	Death	Age
11A331.	Serena Bennett	--	--	--
11A332.	Alene Bennett	--	--	--
11A333.	Georgene Bennett	--	--	--

11A334.	Lilian Poncia	--	--	--

11A335.	Joseph Cardoza	--	--	--

After their marriage, Irene and Al lived at 230 D Street in San Rafael, Marin Co., California. There Al was the proprietor of a vegetable market.^{[Cen 1940]}

Irene (Magatelli) Cardoza died on October 19, 1963, in San Francisco County, California. She was only 47 years old.

Eugene J. Magatelli (1918-1938)

11A34. Eugene J. Magatelli was born in August 1918, probably in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California, across from the Derby Ranch on Calistoga Road, where his maternal uncle Charlie Malugani lived.

Eugene J. MAGATELLI Boxing — Eugene J. Magatelli Boxing

Eugene is recalled to have been a Golden Gloves boxer in San Francisco and quite a handsome man.

Eugene J. Magatelli died in an auto accident near Farmer's Lane in Santa Rosa on November 8, 1938. He was only 20 years old. Eugene was buried at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Santa Rosa.^[Grave]

George Lewis Magatelli (1922-1942)

George L. MAGATELLI 11A35. George Lewis Magatelli was born on January 23, 1922, in Sonoma County, California, presumably across from the Derby Ranch on Calistoga Road, where his maternal uncle Charlie Malugani lived. His 31-year old mother died when he was only 6 years old.

George Lewis Magatelli joined the Navy during World War II. He contracted measles that developed into pneumonia and died on April 12, 1942, in Solano County, California, (perhaps at Mare Island Naval Shipyard). He was only 20 years old. George was buried with his brother Eugene at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Santa Rosa.^[Grave]