Joseph Frank Crivello

Joseph Frank Crivello, a lifelong Monterey resident, passed away on May 26, 2024 of respiratory failure. He was affectionately known as “The Bear.” Joseph was born on November 29, 1955 to Frank and Mary (Mancuso) Crivello. He grew up on “Spaghetti Hill” and attended Thomas O. Larkin Elementary, Walter Colton Junior High and Monterey High School. Joseph also attended Monterey Peninsula College where he received an Associate of Science degree in Political Science.

In his teenage years, he worked at Mission Linen Supply. Soon after, Joe worked a few years in downtown Monterey as a salesperson at the men’s clothing stores, Just Pants on Alvarado Street and Michael’s Fashions at the Portola Plaza. Joe had a good eye for fashion and an easy disposition with the customers.

As a young adult. Joseph began tending bar at The Cannery restaurant for the Spadaro family on Cannery Row. Besides being an establishment that was popular with the tourists, it was a finer restaurant that locals frequented. While the Spindrift building was under reconstruction, Joe lived in Seattle, WA for a couple of years and bartended at J&M Cafe and Cardroom. Once the Spindrift building was reopened, he resumed bartending at the newly renamed restaurant, Spadaro’s, for a total of ten years.

While working at Spadaro’s, Joe picked up a part time job in 1989 at Bargetto Winery Tasting Room on Cannery Row. He soon became enamored with wine and gave up bartending to begin a 35-year career with Bargetto Winery. Although he worked in sales, he diligently learned about the many facets of grape growing and the fermentation process as well. His knowledge and passion for wine along with his joy for visiting with people allowed him to be successful in sales. Loretta Bargetto Mujal described Joe as “the heart and steadiness of the tasting room throughout the years. We could always count on him.”

A significant part of Joe’s life was his relationships with his lifelong friends. He also valued his coworkers of many years and meeting people from different parts of the country and world.

Joseph was always excited for tasty food. He enjoyed the traditional Italian dishes he was accustomed to growing up but he was always one to read, explore and learn new concepts which brought him to experiment with new flavors and cuisines. Joe collected and cooked with cast iron pots and pans and mastered cooking paella on the open fire. He enjoyed grilling on the barbecue and making soups and stews.

Joe made many stops at garage sales and Goodwill. It thrilled him to find a good buy and old treasures. He would spark with excitement saying “I scored.” He knew when he found a quality item to grab it. If he couldn’t use it, he typically had someone else in mind and gifted it to family or friends.

Joseph had an appreciation for many genres of music and took pleasure in attending the Monterey Jazz Festival and Monterey Blues Festival annually with friends. He was an avid reader and enjoyed history and creative writing. He had a great deal of pride being a Monterey resident. He especially enjoyed reading John Steinbeck novels and visiting and learning about the Monterey Adobes. He also looked forward each year to Monterey’s 4th of July celebration at Colton Hall.

He stopped in regularly at Starbucks in the morning before work for coffee and visits with friends and many times stayed on Cannery Row for dinner before he ended his day at home. His friends on the “Row” referred to him as the “Mayor of Cannery Row” due to his many years working there and establishing friendships not only with Bargetto staff and wine members but with several other business proprietors and employees as well.

Joe kept current with many different sports but was truly a dedicated San Francisco 49er fan calling them “My Niners.” Like with most topics, his sharp, intelligent mind allowed him to always know the facts and statistics and be a strong conversationalist. Most importantly, Joe loved the camaraderie of his friends while watching football, cooking, eating and enjoying a mixed drink, a beer or glass of Bargetto wine together.

Joseph is survived by his brother, Reverend Peter Crivello of Pacific Grove and sister, Providence Crivello of Monterey. Joe will be dearly missed by family, friends and coworkers.

A Memorial Service will be held Thursday, June 27, 2024 at 10:30 am at St. Angela Merici Church, 362 Lighthouse Ave. Pacific Grove, CA.