An entrepreneur, a law enforcement officer, a world traveler, a successful business man, loving father and devoted husband, Dick Gaetaniello lost his battle with cancer on Oct. 25, 2014, at USC Keck Hospital in Los Angeles - one he fought bravely with dignity and positivity. He was born in Mount Kisco, New York, on July 15, 1940, to Arthur and Catherine Gaetaniello, raised in a loving Italian household in Connecticut, and spent his summers in Upstate New York with relatives. He started his lifetime goal to be a successful businessman by shining shoes at the early age of 8. This drive continued throughout his lifetime. His first adventure after high school was in the Merchant Marine serving as a cabin boy in the Caribbean where the ships picked up the nose cones from the space program. He was very proud to have served as a United States Marine. He then began his life of adventure by driving to California in a convertible sports car - top down the entire trip. There he met and married Kathleen Altic in 1963; they later divorced. Known for his strong work ethic, his career took him from California (Anaheim, Garden Grove, Fullerton, Carlsbad, Cardiff by the Sea, Encinitas, El Cajon, Big Bear, Martinez, Concord, Pacheco, Redding, Palm Desert ) to Kaneohe, Hawaii; Tampa, Hollywood, and Naples, Florida; and Washington (Bellevue, Greenlake, Maple Valley, Redmond, Seattle, Whidbey Island, Vashon Island, Bainbridge Island, Tonasket) - and lived aboard a houseboat and a cabin cruiser on Lake Union, Washington. Always up for a new challenge and escapade in life ... Highlights of his life were the years as a Newport Beach and Fullerton police officer and then as a California Highway Patrol officer. Then the opportunity to go into real estate in booming South California began his career of over 30 years as a commercial developer and broker. His love of travel took him to all 50 states (traveled across the U.S. eight times — twice in a motor home), Canada (from west coast to east coast) and 53 countries. He was always proud of walking the Milford Track in New Zealand. His magnetic personality attracted lifetime friends wherever he was, managing a business, preparing one of his fabulous Italian meals or traveling the globe. Dick will be remembered by his family, his many friends and business associates as a man who enjoyed life to the fullest. He loved to dance and perform at Karaoke and audiences loved to sing along to "Sweet Caroline." But his signature song should have been "My Way" because that's the way he lived his "BIG LIFE." Dick was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Catherine and is survived by his brother, James; his two beautiful daughters, Kellene (Jay Greenwood) and Nicole (Rex Bingcang); one granddaughter, Lyndsey; and his faithful wife and best friend, Sharon. Funeral service will be Friday, Nov. 7, 2014, at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 43-775 Deep Canyon Road, Palm Desert (arrangements through Forest Lawn Mortuary), with burial at Palm Springs Cemetery, 31-705 Da Vall Drive, Cathedral City. Reception will follow in La Quinta (details provided at service).
