Frank Cardinale

June 7, 1947 – February 17, 2017 Friends and Family will gather on Saturday to say farewell to Frank Cardinale, a commercial fisherman and previous restaurant owner of Cardinale's on the Santa Cruz Wharf and Santa Cruz Hotel. Frank passed away with his family by his bedside at Dominican hospital on Feb. 17th. Francesco "Frank" Cardinale was the son of Victoria (Coiro) and Vince Cardinale, who came from Sicily to fish commercially. The family immigrated to Santa Cruz in September 1955 when Frank was 8. He attended Bay View Elementary, Mission Hill and Santa Cruz High. After graduation, Frank enlisted in the Untied States Navy. He served on the USS Anchorage, transporting Marines to Vietnam. After the Navy, Frank fished salmon with his father in Bristol Bay, Alaska. He then owned and operated Cardinale's Restaurant, located on the Santa Cruz Wharf. He also owned the Santa Cruz Hotel Bar and Grill and then later went back to his roots as a commercial fisherman on the Lillia in Bristol Bay, Alaska, and the Cardinale 1, in the Santa Cruz Harbor, until his recent retirement. His family and friends will forever remember his passion for cooking, his love of eating good food, working in the garden, walking his dog, Rocky, and deep devotion to family and friends, Frank is survived by his loving wife Mary Jo "Jo" Cardinale; his son Eric (Kelly) Cardinale; stepson, Brogan (Jeannine) Healy; stepdaughter, Caroline (Nick) McKay; and his 5 grandsons: Jacob Cardinale, Zackary Cardinale, Emmett Healy, Garrett Healy and Oliver McKay. He also leaves behind his sister Marie (Ernie) Fortino, brother Joe (Jonnie) Cardinale, sister Cathy Mosley, and brother Anthony (Debbie) Cardinale. A ceremony to honor him will take place at Benito and Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel on Saturday, February 25th. 2017, beginning at 1:00 pm.