CHARLES EDWARD CARIELLO Charles Edward Cariello, Born September 9, 1957 in Forest Hills Queens, New York. Died November 15, 2004 in Laguna Niguel, California. Survived by wife Wendy; son , Charles; daughter, Marissa; Mother, Irene; Father Raymond; brother, Peter and sister, Patricia. Charlie grew up boating in the Atlantic Ocean, in an area known as The Great South Bay. His lifelong passion for seafood was deeply ingrained after many meals of lobster, clams and mussels. He and his siblings have been life long friends. The trio have shared a passion for music, especially The Grateful Dead. Between the three of them (true Deadheads), they have attended 256 “Dead” concerts! Charlie’s love for travel was developed as a teen after the family experienced a seven week European vacation, spanning seven countries, and four thousand miles of driving. After high school, Charlie attended St. John’s University and received a bachelors in Criminal Justice. He was the first in his family to obtain a college education. Charlie was a very athletic and sports minded guy. He was nothing short of fanatical about HIS New York Giants, Mets & Islanders. As an athlete, Charlie competed in numerous triathlons, until a bum knee and major surgery forced him to give up this endeavor. He was an outstanding golfer in his younger years, but parenthood took a toll on his once 5 handicap status. After sharing a pretzel with a beautiful young lady he had met at the Wantagh Health Club in 1990, Charlie was engaged to Wendy Sonnenfeld in 1992, and married in 1993. Wendy’s job promotion in 1995 caused the newlyweds to relocate to Orange County. Another job related transfer sent them back to the East Coast in 1999, only to turn around in August 2000 and return to the West Coast for good. Daughter Marissa was born in 1996 and their son Charles Anthony in 1998. Charlie had the good fortune to be a “Stay at home Dad”, spending huge amounts of time with his kids and volunteering for just about everything at St. Anne’s school where the children still attend. Charlie nearly got in a fight with Little League officials last season over the naming of the baseball team his children played on, and which he coached. The dispute came about over the meaning of the team, which naturally “had to be” the Mets. Charlie went on to receive coach of the year honors! In early July, Charlie was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. In October, Charlie wrote a note to his friends and family, which read: Please be encouraged by God’s word; never will I forsake you, the Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. God has never broken a promise, and I never will. I will continue to fight this cancer. Charlie fought hard, but finally went to be with the Lord. In October, Wendy and twelve of Charlie’s friends ran in a 10K race called “The Fila Cancer Challenge”, which is a fund raiser for the Hirsberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research. “Team Charlie” raised nearly $9,000 in honor of Charlie and to support this organization. The Hirsberg Foundation will be naming a research symposium in Charlie’s honor this coming January 27, 2005. His name will be spoken and heard. His children will be able to visit UCLA and see their father’s name next to promising research in the quest for a cure for Pancreatic Cancer. http://www.pancreatic.orgPublished in Orange County Register on Dec. 4, 2004