Arthur Manuel Verissimo

Arthur Verissimo

May 17, 1929 – December 14, 2022

Arthur Verissimo, a life-time resident of California, passed away on December 14, 2022 at the age of 93.

Arthur was born in San Jose and attended high school in Palo Alto and Morgan Hill.  He worked on the family dairy farm and orchards in Palo Alto and San Jose until he joined the United States Marine Corps in 1950, where he served both active and reserve duty until 1959.

Arthur married the love of his life, Aurelia Machado, in 1954.  In that same year they started their own pear and walnut orchard in San Martin which they successfully ran until 1968, when he made the decision to pursue a college degree. He received an Associate’s degree from Gavilan College and subsequently his Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural and Managerial Economics, with highest honors, from the University of California, Davis at the age of 44.  He accepted a position with the California Department of Agriculture (Market News) in Salinas where he steadily advanced his career, eventually becoming the Chief of Market News in Sacramento.

Arthur was an avid gardener who had an incredible green thumb, was a skilled carpenter and mechanic who could build, or repair, pretty much anything, was constantly expanding his understanding of technology and was a voracious reader with an appetite for United States and world history.  More importantly, Arthur was a kind, generous, humble and thoughtful man who always tried to do what was right. 

Arthur is survived by his wife of 68 years, Aurelia; two sons, Marc and wife, Laurel Verissimo, Greg and wife, Brigitte Verissimo; three daughters, Lisa and husband, Jeff Ira, Gina and husband, Charles Hall, Anne and husband, Gary Thelen; one brother, Henry and wife, Pat Verissimo and numerous nieces and nephews.

Arthur was a devoted grandfather of Britney Verissimo, Brendon Verissimo, Garrett and Chelsea Verissimo, Lauren and Kyle Perry, Emma Jedrzejewski, Tim and Melissa Bates, Nick Bates, Jennifer Bates, Joshua and JiaJia Ira, Julie Ira, Joseph Ira, Jessica Ira, Ryan Thelen and a loving great grandfather of four.

Arthur is preceded in death by his parents, Marie and Joe Verissimo of Hollister.

Arthur is buried at Tulocay Cemetery in Napa.

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