Marcello Manfredi, a lifelong Roseville resident whose grocery business was a mainstay of the Italian American community for almost half a century, has died at age 94.
Mr. Manfredi died Nov. 25 of health complications related to old age, said his son, Paul.
Mr. Manfredi began working as a boy in his parents' store, the Italian & American Grocery, on Church Street. Opened in 1925, the mom-and-pop market was believed to be the first to offer Italian foods and delicacies in Roseville.
"It was the only store that stocked the Italian goods common in today's market – mortadella, anchovies, gorgonzola, olive oil in gallon cans and 20 different kinds of pasta," his son said.
The business moved in 1935 to Lincoln Street and was renamed Manfredi's Grocery. Mr. Manfredi and his wife, Nina, later moved to a larger space with a partner and operated the store as Freeman-Manfredi's Grocery until they sold it in 1969. He continued working as a Placer County purchasing manager until retiring in 1984.
He doggedly pursued education, including a degree from Heald Business College, while working 13-hour days with only one Sunday off every two weeks. He took one night class a semester for 19 years to earn an associate's degree from Sierra College in 1973.
He also gave back to the community as a volunteer. He served 17 years on Roseville Little League's first board of directors and eight years on a City Council advisory commission for senior issues.
Marcello Vasco Manfredi was born in Roseville in 1914, the only child of Italian immigrants Louis and Aniceta Manfredi.
He graduated from Roseville High School and was active in fraternal groups, including the Catholic Holy Name Society, Italian Catholic Federation and Red Men Lodge, Minneoba Tribe No. 224. He married Nina Giannoni in 1941 and had two sons.
Mr. Manfredi loved baseball, music and ballroom dancing with his wife, who died in 2007. He played trombone on Friday and Saturday nights at Italian community dances for many years. A warm and friendly man with a gentle spirit, he enjoyed being with family while serving his community.
"I never heard my dad use profanity or raise his voice," Paul Manfredi said. "He didn't have to. His integrity spoke for itself."
Call The Bee's Robert D. Dávila, (916) 321-1077.
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