First-born child of Italian immigrants Pietro Ferrarese and Isabela Logoluso Ferrarese, Tomaso Gaetano Ferrarese came into this world on December 03, 1914, in Fresno, CA.
As a young child, Tom accompanied his father while Pietro worked in the fields and vineyards around Fresno. Tom spent many hours playing with his brother and cousins in the orchards above Forestiere's Underground Gardens.
Tom attended Columbia Elementary in Fresno and Ripperdan Elementary School in Madera; attended Edison Polytechnic School in Fresno, and graduated from Madera Union High School in 1932.
Tom's parents owned a small house in Fresno, and acreage the Easton-Arcola District of Madera. As Tom grew up, he helped develop the vineyards on his father's ranch in Madera.
After graduation from Madera Union High School, Tom entered California Conservation Camp, known as CC Camp, and worked building roads in the foothills near Squaw Valley. It was during this period that Tom purchased his first guitar and taught himself how to play it.
As a young man, he worked at the Mochizuki Market on the corner of Avenue 7 and Hwy 145, and had plenty of stories to tell about the different types of people he met while working there. He also delivered vegetables to the residents of the foothill communities in Madera County.
Tom began to take notice of Frances Vived, a young woman from the neighborhood, whose parents owned a dairy. They were married on January 29, 1939.
Between 1939 and 1941, Tom held various jobs and lived in several locations in Fresno and Madera; while they were living in Fresno, their first daughter was born.
In 1941, at the start of WWII, both Tom's younger brothers entered the military: Jim was drafted into the Army, Frank joined the Air Force. Tom, being married with a child, was not drafted, so he stayed home to work the family ranch. Between 1941-1942, Tom built a little house for his family on his parents' property in Madera.
In 1945, Tom's youngest daughter was born. With the family growing, Tom purchased a small ranch adjacent to his parents' property.
During their early years of marriage, before TV, before computers, Tom spent leisure time visiting with family and friends, playing horse-shoes and cards, camping, fishing, dove, quail and pheasant hunting.
They were practical, hard working people, but they did enjoy attending an occasional dance in Madera, and rarely missed the opportunity to attend a New Years' Eve dinner-dance with their friends.
Around 1950, Tom left farming, entered the field of carpentry, and eventually plumbing. After purchasing a lot in the town of Madera, Tom built their new home, where they lived for several years, raising their two daughters.
Also in the 1950's, he purchased a 1932 Martin guitar, which he loved to play, and spent many hours over many years, picking at the strings of that guitar; he even composed a couple of songs.
Fiercely proud of his Italian heritage, Tom loved listening to Italian arias by Enrico Caruso, Mario Lanza, and later Carreras, Domingo, Pavarotti, and Bocelli. He also loved listening to flamenco guitar, his favorites being Sabicas, Segovia, Montoya, Pena and NovaMenco. He also enjoyed The Gypsy Kings....go figure! Tom tried to compel his passion and enjoyment of this music into everyone he could get to listen.
They enjoyed camping, so Tom fashioned a make-shift camper out of pipe and canvas for the back of his old red GMC pick-up. Many week-ends, holidays and vacations were spent in the mountains with family and friends, especially with Tom's childhood friend, Joe Giuliano and family.
In the early 1960s, most of Tom's work was in Fresno, so, in 1963, after their youngest daughter graduated from Madera High School, they sold their Madera house and moved to Fresno. Eventually, Tom obtained his plumbing contractor's license, and for many years worked on plumbing projects in Fresno.
As he grew older, Tom closed his plumbing business, worked for two local plumbing companies in Fresno, and became a member of UA Local Union #246.
Upon retirement from plumbing, Tom took over management of his parents' ranch; then purchased a motor-home, and spent several years traveling about the country, eventually limiting their roaming to Hemet in winter and salmon fishing in Oregon in summer; later replacing Oregon with trips to Snohomish, Washington to visit their grandson and his family. In his mid-eighties, Tom reluctantly retired from traveling.
Tom passed away peacefully in his sleep in Fresno on July 08, 2009, at the age of 94.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Pete and Isabela, and brothers Frank and James Ferrarese, all of Madera.
He was survived by his wife and soulmate of 70 years, two daughters, a son-in-law, two grandchildren and their spouses, six great-grandchildren, a sister-in-law, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
A Memorial Service was held at the Saint Paul Newman Center Hall, on Saturday, July 25, 2009.
Remembrances may be made to the Saint Paul Newman Center 1572 E. Barstow Avenue, Fresno, Ca., 93710.
As a young child, Tom accompanied his father while Pietro worked in the fields and vineyards around Fresno. Tom spent many hours playing with his brother and cousins in the orchards above Forestiere's Underground Gardens.
Tom attended Columbia Elementary in Fresno and Ripperdan Elementary School in Madera; attended Edison Polytechnic School in Fresno, and graduated from Madera Union High School in 1932.
Tom's parents owned a small house in Fresno, and acreage the Easton-Arcola District of Madera. As Tom grew up, he helped develop the vineyards on his father's ranch in Madera.
After graduation from Madera Union High School, Tom entered California Conservation Camp, known as CC Camp, and worked building roads in the foothills near Squaw Valley. It was during this period that Tom purchased his first guitar and taught himself how to play it.
As a young man, he worked at the Mochizuki Market on the corner of Avenue 7 and Hwy 145, and had plenty of stories to tell about the different types of people he met while working there. He also delivered vegetables to the residents of the foothill communities in Madera County.
Tom began to take notice of Frances Vived, a young woman from the neighborhood, whose parents owned a dairy. They were married on January 29, 1939.
Between 1939 and 1941, Tom held various jobs and lived in several locations in Fresno and Madera; while they were living in Fresno, their first daughter was born.
In 1941, at the start of WWII, both Tom's younger brothers entered the military: Jim was drafted into the Army, Frank joined the Air Force. Tom, being married with a child, was not drafted, so he stayed home to work the family ranch. Between 1941-1942, Tom built a little house for his family on his parents' property in Madera.
In 1945, Tom's youngest daughter was born. With the family growing, Tom purchased a small ranch adjacent to his parents' property.
During their early years of marriage, before TV, before computers, Tom spent leisure time visiting with family and friends, playing horse-shoes and cards, camping, fishing, dove, quail and pheasant hunting.
They were practical, hard working people, but they did enjoy attending an occasional dance in Madera, and rarely missed the opportunity to attend a New Years' Eve dinner-dance with their friends.
Around 1950, Tom left farming, entered the field of carpentry, and eventually plumbing. After purchasing a lot in the town of Madera, Tom built their new home, where they lived for several years, raising their two daughters.
Also in the 1950's, he purchased a 1932 Martin guitar, which he loved to play, and spent many hours over many years, picking at the strings of that guitar; he even composed a couple of songs.
Fiercely proud of his Italian heritage, Tom loved listening to Italian arias by Enrico Caruso, Mario Lanza, and later Carreras, Domingo, Pavarotti, and Bocelli. He also loved listening to flamenco guitar, his favorites being Sabicas, Segovia, Montoya, Pena and NovaMenco. He also enjoyed The Gypsy Kings....go figure! Tom tried to compel his passion and enjoyment of this music into everyone he could get to listen.
They enjoyed camping, so Tom fashioned a make-shift camper out of pipe and canvas for the back of his old red GMC pick-up. Many week-ends, holidays and vacations were spent in the mountains with family and friends, especially with Tom's childhood friend, Joe Giuliano and family.
In the early 1960s, most of Tom's work was in Fresno, so, in 1963, after their youngest daughter graduated from Madera High School, they sold their Madera house and moved to Fresno. Eventually, Tom obtained his plumbing contractor's license, and for many years worked on plumbing projects in Fresno.
As he grew older, Tom closed his plumbing business, worked for two local plumbing companies in Fresno, and became a member of UA Local Union #246.
Upon retirement from plumbing, Tom took over management of his parents' ranch; then purchased a motor-home, and spent several years traveling about the country, eventually limiting their roaming to Hemet in winter and salmon fishing in Oregon in summer; later replacing Oregon with trips to Snohomish, Washington to visit their grandson and his family. In his mid-eighties, Tom reluctantly retired from traveling.
Tom passed away peacefully in his sleep in Fresno on July 08, 2009, at the age of 94.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Pete and Isabela, and brothers Frank and James Ferrarese, all of Madera.
He was survived by his wife and soulmate of 70 years, two daughters, a son-in-law, two grandchildren and their spouses, six great-grandchildren, a sister-in-law, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
A Memorial Service was held at the Saint Paul Newman Center Hall, on Saturday, July 25, 2009.
Remembrances may be made to the Saint Paul Newman Center 1572 E. Barstow Avenue, Fresno, Ca., 93710.
First-born child of Italian immigrants Pietro Ferrarese and Isabela Logoluso Ferrarese, Tomaso Gaetano Ferrarese came into this world on December 03, 1914, in Fresno, CA.
As a young child, Tom accompanied his father while Pietro worked in the fields and vineyards around Fresno. Tom spent many hours playing with his brother and cousins in the orchards above Forestiere's Underground Gardens.
Tom attended Columbia Elementary in Fresno and Ripperdan Elementary School in Madera; attended Edison Polytechnic School in Fresno, and graduated from Madera Union High School in 1932.
Tom's parents owned a small house in Fresno, and acreage the Easton-Arcola District of Madera. As Tom grew up, he helped develop the vineyards on his father's ranch in Madera.
After graduation from Madera Union High School, Tom entered California Conservation Camp, known as CC Camp, and worked building roads in the foothills near Squaw Valley. It was during this period that Tom purchased his first guitar and taught himself how to play it.
As a young man, he worked at the Mochizuki Market on the corner of Avenue 7 and Hwy 145, and had plenty of stories to tell about the different types of people he met while working there. He also delivered vegetables to the residents of the foothill communities in Madera County.
Tom began to take notice of Frances Vived, a young woman from the neighborhood, whose parents owned a dairy. They were married on January 29, 1939.
Between 1939 and 1941, Tom held various jobs and lived in several locations in Fresno and Madera; while they were living in Fresno, their first daughter was born.
In 1941, at the start of WWII, both Tom's younger brothers entered the military: Jim was drafted into the Army, Frank joined the Air Force. Tom, being married with a child, was not drafted, so he stayed home to work the family ranch. Between 1941-1942, Tom built a little house for his family on his parents' property in Madera.
In 1945, Tom's youngest daughter was born. With the family growing, Tom purchased a small ranch adjacent to his parents' property.
During their early years of marriage, before TV, before computers, Tom spent leisure time visiting with family and friends, playing horse-shoes and cards, camping, fishing, dove, quail and pheasant hunting.
They were practical, hard working people, but they did enjoy attending an occasional dance in Madera, and rarely missed the opportunity to attend a New Years' Eve dinner-dance with their friends.
Around 1950, Tom left farming, entered the field of carpentry, and eventually plumbing. After purchasing a lot in the town of Madera, Tom built their new home, where they lived for several years, raising their two daughters.
Also in the 1950's, he purchased a 1932 Martin guitar, which he loved to play, and spent many hours over many years, picking at the strings of that guitar; he even composed a couple of songs.
Fiercely proud of his Italian heritage, Tom loved listening to Italian arias by Enrico Caruso, Mario Lanza, and later Carreras, Domingo, Pavarotti, and Bocelli. He also loved listening to flamenco guitar, his favorites being Sabicas, Segovia, Montoya, Pena and NovaMenco. He also enjoyed The Gypsy Kings....go figure! Tom tried to compel his passion and enjoyment of this music into everyone he could get to listen.
They enjoyed camping, so Tom fashioned a make-shift camper out of pipe and canvas for the back of his old red GMC pick-up. Many week-ends, holidays and vacations were spent in the mountains with family and friends, especially with Tom's childhood friend, Joe Giuliano and family.
In the early 1960s, most of Tom's work was in Fresno, so, in 1963, after their youngest daughter graduated from Madera High School, they sold their Madera house and moved to Fresno. Eventually, Tom obtained his plumbing contractor's license, and for many years worked on plumbing projects in Fresno.
As he grew older, Tom closed his plumbing business, worked for two local plumbing companies in Fresno, and became a member of UA Local Union #246.
Upon retirement from plumbing, Tom took over management of his parents' ranch; then purchased a motor-home, and spent several years traveling about the country, eventually limiting their roaming to Hemet in winter and salmon fishing in Oregon in summer; later replacing Oregon with trips to Snohomish, Washington to visit their grandson and his family. In his mid-eighties, Tom reluctantly retired from traveling.
Tom passed away peacefully in his sleep in Fresno on July 08, 2009, at the age of 94.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Pete and Isabela, and brothers Frank and James Ferrarese, all of Madera.
He was survived by his wife and soulmate of 70 years, two daughters, a son-in-law, two grandchildren and their spouses, six great-grandchildren, a sister-in-law, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
A Memorial Service was held at the Saint Paul Newman Center Hall, on Saturday, July 25, 2009.
Remembrances may be made to the Saint Paul Newman Center 1572 E. Barstow Avenue, Fresno, Ca., 93710.
As a young child, Tom accompanied his father while Pietro worked in the fields and vineyards around Fresno. Tom spent many hours playing with his brother and cousins in the orchards above Forestiere's Underground Gardens.
Tom attended Columbia Elementary in Fresno and Ripperdan Elementary School in Madera; attended Edison Polytechnic School in Fresno, and graduated from Madera Union High School in 1932.
Tom's parents owned a small house in Fresno, and acreage the Easton-Arcola District of Madera. As Tom grew up, he helped develop the vineyards on his father's ranch in Madera.
After graduation from Madera Union High School, Tom entered California Conservation Camp, known as CC Camp, and worked building roads in the foothills near Squaw Valley. It was during this period that Tom purchased his first guitar and taught himself how to play it.
As a young man, he worked at the Mochizuki Market on the corner of Avenue 7 and Hwy 145, and had plenty of stories to tell about the different types of people he met while working there. He also delivered vegetables to the residents of the foothill communities in Madera County.
Tom began to take notice of Frances Vived, a young woman from the neighborhood, whose parents owned a dairy. They were married on January 29, 1939.
Between 1939 and 1941, Tom held various jobs and lived in several locations in Fresno and Madera; while they were living in Fresno, their first daughter was born.
In 1941, at the start of WWII, both Tom's younger brothers entered the military: Jim was drafted into the Army, Frank joined the Air Force. Tom, being married with a child, was not drafted, so he stayed home to work the family ranch. Between 1941-1942, Tom built a little house for his family on his parents' property in Madera.
In 1945, Tom's youngest daughter was born. With the family growing, Tom purchased a small ranch adjacent to his parents' property.
During their early years of marriage, before TV, before computers, Tom spent leisure time visiting with family and friends, playing horse-shoes and cards, camping, fishing, dove, quail and pheasant hunting.
They were practical, hard working people, but they did enjoy attending an occasional dance in Madera, and rarely missed the opportunity to attend a New Years' Eve dinner-dance with their friends.
Around 1950, Tom left farming, entered the field of carpentry, and eventually plumbing. After purchasing a lot in the town of Madera, Tom built their new home, where they lived for several years, raising their two daughters.
Also in the 1950's, he purchased a 1932 Martin guitar, which he loved to play, and spent many hours over many years, picking at the strings of that guitar; he even composed a couple of songs.
Fiercely proud of his Italian heritage, Tom loved listening to Italian arias by Enrico Caruso, Mario Lanza, and later Carreras, Domingo, Pavarotti, and Bocelli. He also loved listening to flamenco guitar, his favorites being Sabicas, Segovia, Montoya, Pena and NovaMenco. He also enjoyed The Gypsy Kings....go figure! Tom tried to compel his passion and enjoyment of this music into everyone he could get to listen.
They enjoyed camping, so Tom fashioned a make-shift camper out of pipe and canvas for the back of his old red GMC pick-up. Many week-ends, holidays and vacations were spent in the mountains with family and friends, especially with Tom's childhood friend, Joe Giuliano and family.
In the early 1960s, most of Tom's work was in Fresno, so, in 1963, after their youngest daughter graduated from Madera High School, they sold their Madera house and moved to Fresno. Eventually, Tom obtained his plumbing contractor's license, and for many years worked on plumbing projects in Fresno.
As he grew older, Tom closed his plumbing business, worked for two local plumbing companies in Fresno, and became a member of UA Local Union #246.
Upon retirement from plumbing, Tom took over management of his parents' ranch; then purchased a motor-home, and spent several years traveling about the country, eventually limiting their roaming to Hemet in winter and salmon fishing in Oregon in summer; later replacing Oregon with trips to Snohomish, Washington to visit their grandson and his family. In his mid-eighties, Tom reluctantly retired from traveling.
Tom passed away peacefully in his sleep in Fresno on July 08, 2009, at the age of 94.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Pete and Isabela, and brothers Frank and James Ferrarese, all of Madera.
He was survived by his wife and soulmate of 70 years, two daughters, a son-in-law, two grandchildren and their spouses, six great-grandchildren, a sister-in-law, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
A Memorial Service was held at the Saint Paul Newman Center Hall, on Saturday, July 25, 2009.
Remembrances may be made to the Saint Paul Newman Center 1572 E. Barstow Avenue, Fresno, Ca., 93710.
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