Ross Cardinalli, Jr.—husband, father, and founder of Stockton Mortgage—died unexpectedly on April 15, 2023, in Stockton, CA. He was 73. Cardinalli was known by family, friends, and colleagues for his boisterous personality, sharp sense of humor, and steadfast business acumen.
Cardinalli was born in Pittsburg, CA on November 8, 1949, to Ross Frank Cardinalli, Sr. and Helen Vidmar Cardinalli. As a teen, he embarked on a meteoric athletic career in track and field. In 1967, Cardinalli completed a stunning 880-yard dash with a time of 1:52.3, setting a Pittsburgh High School record which stands to this day. After graduating that same year, he attended the University of the Pacific in Stockton and received his BA in Physical Education in 1971. He also obtained his lifetime high school teaching credential in 1973. Cardinalli had voluntarily joined the Army National Guard and was honorably discharged as the Vietnam War drew to a close.
Through the seventies, Cardinalli kept up his competitive running, completing an AAU marathon in San Mateo in under three hours and competing in well-regarded races like the Bay to Breakers 12k run in San Francisco. Not long after, he embarked on the career that would define his entire professional life.
He obtained his real estate and appraising licenses from San Joaquin Delta College and worked for the Grupe Company. After getting his broker’s license, he founded Stockton Mortgage in 1980, becoming a leader in private financing and loan servicing in the Valley. He loved running his business and was known for working six-day weeks and taking his staff out for regular lunches at Lincoln Center, across from the office on Pacific Ave. which he had owned since 1993. He was subsequently entered into both the Pittsburg High and UOP Halls of Fame for his track career.
Cardinalli met his wife, Cecelia Saiers Cardinalli, in 1981; they married in 1985 and raised three children together. He and his family enjoyed summer vacations in Santa Cruz and winter ski trips in Bear Valley. Cardinalli was proud of his heritage as an eighth-generation Californian, a direct descendant of Don Pedro Antonio Bojorques, a member of Spain’s de Anza expedition which settled the San Francisco Bay in 1776.
Cardinalli was preceded in death by his parents, Ross, Sr. and Helen. He is survived by his wife Cecelia, their three children, Sean, Lauren, and Steven, and their six grandchildren, Samía, Macário, Ida, Euphemia, Aurelia, and Luz.
A public rosary and reception will be held at DeYoung Shoreline Chapel on Thursday, April 27 at 6:00pm. All are welcome to attend and celebrate his life.
Ross Cardinalli, Jr.
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