J. MICHAEL born April 25, 1939, died peacefully at home on January 3, 2012, surrounded by his family, after a 2 year battle with brain cancer. He met this challenge, as with everything in his life, with courage, dignity, a never-failing positive attitude and a wonderful sense of humor. He was the son of Joseph D. Cerletti and Mary DeLu of San Francisco, CA. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Helen; his son, Roger and wife, Lorelee, and grandchildren Luciano and Olivia. He is also survived by his sister, Carroll Johnson of Sedona, Arizona, and her three children, Mary Wallace of Denver, Marty Gingras of Pacific Grove, Michael Gingras of Washington and their spouses and children. Mike also leaves a large number of extended family members in Italy with whom he maintained a close relationship. Mike attended San Jose State University and graduated with a degree in Industrial Management. He then entered the US Navy, where he was a Protocol Officer, and served for five years as a Lieutenant. Following this he established two restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area which he operated until coming to Santa Fe in 1974 as a consultant at La Posada de Santa Fe, where he became a managing partner. That led to other hotel management positions and partnerships, including Hotel St. Francis, Plaza Real and Rancho Encantado. He held the degree of Certified Hotel Administrator from the Educational Institute of the American Hotel and Lodging Association. Governor Bruce King appointed him the first Secretary of Tourism of the State of New Mexico, where he served from 1991 to 1995. He served for two years as the Director of the Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management Department at New Mexico State University. Governor Bill Richardson then appointed him General Manager of Expo New Mexico (2002-2004), and then as Secretary of Tourism, where he served from 2004 to 2010. Mike was on the Board of the Chamber of Commerce, United Way, Santa Fe Film Festival, Greer Garson Theater, Santa Fe Opera, St. Elizabeth's Shelter, the Sister City Committee, Los Alamos National Laboratory Community Council, the Santa Fe Fiesta Foundation, New Mexico Governor's Mansion Foundation, New Mexico Amigos, American Cancer Society, The Bruce King Library Association, the Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta, Santa Fe Lodgers Association, Ski New Mexico, New Mexico Restaurant Association, Santa Fe Lodgers Association, TRADE, Occupancy Tax Advisory Board, American Hotel and Lodging Association, SKAL Club International, Western States Tourism Policy Council, and the United States Tourism Association. Awards included Innkeeper of the Year, Tourism Hall of Fame, Citizen of the Year, and National State Tourism Director of the Year (2010). He brought fun and laughter everywhere he went and was dearly loved by all who knew him. A Funeral Mass will be said on Friday the 13th at 10:00 A.M. at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis in Santa Fe. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Santa Fe Opera, St. Elizabeth's Shelter, or the School of Hotel, Restaurant, Tourism Management at New Mexico State University. Arrangements are under the direction of Berardinelli Family Funeral Service 1399 Luisa Street Santa Fe, NM 87505 (505) 984-8600 Please sign our guestbook for the family at: www.berardinellifuneralhome.com
|
