THE TROPICS RESIDENT OF THE MONTH

33000 Almaden Blvd., Union City, Ca. 94587

Marie and Milton Checci

Reporter - Charlotte O’Donnell

The Checci’s live at 1 Palm Drive in a newer manufactured home with a well-maintained yard. Marie (her birth certificate reads that way, but her father always called her Maria) has been heading the park’s beautification committee and Milton was a director at large this past year. They have lived in The Tropics about eighteen months.

Milton was an only child, who was born in Oakland, attending public schools, he graduated from Oakland Technical High School. His father was one of the original owners of Columbo Bakery. His mother worked in the general store that was part of the operation until her health became affected from standing on the concrete floors. The area where Milton and his family lived was referred to as “Little Italy.”

In 1957 Milton began working in the distribution center for the bakery and retired from that job a few years ago. His father retired in the seventies when changes in the company were happening. Milton remembers when there were numerous French bakeries throughout Oakland. He is the father of five children who live in San Ramon/Dublin area and has several grandchildren who live in San Ramon/Dublin area and has several grandchildren.

Maria was born and raised in New York half way between “Hells Kitchen and Greenwich Village during the Tammany Hall Era. She claims what she saw and experienced during her youthful years would make a great book. She attended CCNY, married and moved to Hawaii for twenty years where she reared two children. Her daughter and two children live in Hayward. Her son and family live in Southern California. She lived in Wyoming for ten years where she worked as an accountant for a construction company that specialized in oil field products. Then Maria moved to California. She was a widow for a few years. She and Milton married June 10, 1995. They just celebrated his birthday June 13 and their anniversary with a party at The Ranch in Hayward, followed by a great trip to Reno. Maria works at that restaurant part-time as friends of hers own it. She is a hostess and coordinates banquets.

Maria has two grandchildren and two great grand children. She and Milton have a dog, Kukla. The name is the Greek name for dog. They enjoy their home, playing Bingo on Wednesday night and most of all their privacy. I thank the Checchi’s and all the people who generously have allowed me to interview them and write the Breeze articles.