Joseph Cattivera

Joseph Cattivera, 85, passed away peacefully at home in Davis, CA on July 20, 2026 from heart failure.

Joe was born in Monaca, PA to Hugo and Helen (Zultowsky) Cattivera on April 22,1941. Joe is lovingly remembered by his children Laura, Joe (Susan), Brian (Amy), and Rob (Amanda), nine grandchildren, many nephews and nieces, and his devoted dog Buster. He was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy, his infant son John, his parents Hugo and Helen, and his sisters Rosemary (Michael) and Jackie.

Joe was three years old when his family moved to Manhattan Beach, CA, where he lived most of his life. He grew up hanging out at the beach, surfing, and playing lots of sports, including playing basketball in high school. Joe graduated from Mira Costa High School in 1958 and started dating Dorothy Hesketh that summer, leading to their long romance and fifty-six year marriage.

By nature and purpose, Joe was kind, optimistic, and hardworking. After high school Joe continued his education at El Camino College and Pepperdine University, where he also played basketball. He began his career as a CPA before becoming an executive at investment firms including Morgan, Olmstead, Kennedy and Gardener and Angeles Corporation, as well as having had a few years' adventure at Horizon in North Muskegon, MI. Joe enjoyed his last job at Big Dog and The Walking Company, splitting his time at their Santa Barbara offices and his Manhattan Beach home office. Joe truly loved working hard and made long-lasting friendships with his colleagues and clients.

At heart, Joe was a family man. He threw himself into everything including cheering at his kids’ athletic events, coaching their baseball teams, doing household chores, and hosting kids and grandkids for pancakes on Sunday mornings. In recent years Joe’s deep love for food led him to cooking and baking delicious dishes of all kinds, including beautiful fruit pies. After gracefully caring for Dorothy in her final years, Joe moved to Davis, CA to be closer to his sons and grandkids. He made the most of Davis’s abundant bike paths, often riding miles before dawn, and made new friends of fellow dog owners at the neighborhood park. Simply put, Joe joined in for the fun, stuck around through the challenges, and maintained a positive attitude throughout. He is deeply missed.