Alexander Luzzi

Alexander Luzzi was born in the small village of Cersosimo, Italy and was the first-born son of Giuseppe and Caterina Luzzi. They were so happy to finally have a son after having three beautiful daughters, Guiseppina, Filomena and Clara. Two more sons followed after Alexander, Quenino and Orlando. Our Dad told us that his Nona would spoil him and save him special treats. When he wasnt working with his Father and fellow workers on the farm, he was playing soccer or cards or running to the next village for some event.

Dad came to the United States on June 20, 1949 and the country was so glad to have him, he was almost immediately drafted into the Army. The funny part was that he made it all the way through basic training, before they discovered that he didnt speak English. So they shipped him off to Germany where he met his future wife. He married his wife Katrin in August of 1955 and soon three children followed. Catharina (named after his Mother) was the first, then Giuseppe (named after his Father) and finally Claro (named after his wifes father).

Dad grew up on a farm and inherited a green thumb. Every year he would plant his garden and fill it with tomatoes, pupach, parsley and basil. The garden was always a center of conversation with friends and family and he loved sharing what he grew with others.

Dad was a family-man and loved being surrounded by his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren as well as his entire extended family. That extended family included his friends at the Sons of Italy, his bowling team and his bocci team. He loved spending time with his family and friend and you could always depend on him for a joke and a good laugh. At all the social events, he was the king of jokes and storytelling and was the Italian Fred Astaire of the dance floor and was in high demand with all the ladies present so his wife had to share him all evening.

He especially loved his grandkids Robert, Christina, Ryan, Matthew and Jordan and great-grandchildren Olivia and Joseph and treasured every minute he spent with them. They always brought a smile to him. Every time he looked at Joseph he would say I love that face.

Dad really never had a bucket list like many people do as they get older. He merely loved to spend time with friends and family. He would look forward to the drive to Dana Point to have lunch with his Grandson Robert. They would sit by the window overlooking the harbor and watch the boats float in and would especially enjoy it when a boat went by named Io Fatche Nende, which in Italian means I Am Doing Nothing. He also really enjoy meeting my sister Cathy and his great-grand-daughter Olivia at the Brea Mall. They walk through the Mall and he always made it a point to buy Olivia a new toy. They would have lunch, usually at their favorite Nordstroms Caf and Olivia would entertain her Nono and Omi throughout the meal with her antics. Even after his health started to decline in June of this year, he still looked forward to going to the Mall and meeting Cathy and Olivia and now his great-grandson Joseph for lunch.

Our lives changed forever when on July 9th and our world as we knew it stopped and our lives were changed forever when the doctor mention that dreaded word cancer. It was the last thing that any of us ever thought wed hear when talking about our Father. The Lord called him home on the afternoon of July 29th. But that day he had been surrounded by all those who love him, his sister, his brothers, children, grandchildren, nephews, nieces and others.

He left us to join his beloved sisters, brothers-in-law and others that preceded him and were sure that when he joined them they had all his favorites, pizza, pasta, lasagna, petanuse and of course rosettes waiting for him. And we know that as soon as he got there it was their turn for him to make them laugh and asking them to dance like he always did here. He kept his sense of humor to the end. Wed been asking him to move to Yorba Linda for years, and when he got the initial care facility in Yorba Linda, my sister told him well I finally got you to Yorba LindaDad looked at her and smiled and replied Yea..by ambulance.

Wed like to thank all of you who have been so supportive. The love, calls, cards, food and prayers we received are greatly appreciated and the strength of our family made this difficult time more bearable for everyone.

Thank you.