Cecelia Ieraci

Pat and Cecelia Ieraci, husband and wife of 60 years, both passed away the week of October 28, 2019. Pat on October 29th and Cecelia on November 2nd. They were long-term residents of Arcadia, California.
Cecelia was born on Long Island, New York on February 12, 1939, to Christopher and Marie Guzzetta. Her family later moved to Levittown, New York, where she graduated from high school.
Pat was born in Brooklyn, New York on September 17, 1936 to Vincent and Catherine Ieraci, where he spent his entire childhood and graduated high school.
Their love story could be straight from a fairy tale. After high school, Pat was drafted into the army where he met Johnny Guzzetta on a ship headed to Hawaii where they were to be stationed. Johnny showed Pat a picture of his sister Cecelia. Pat fell in love with the girl in the picture and immediately told Johnny, "I'm going to marry that Girl." Pat began writing letters to Cecelia and slowly won her heart.
They were married in New York on February 8, 1959, and spent their honeymoon driving across the country to Arcadia, California where Pat's parents had offered them a place to live, they never moved from that house.
After graduating high school, Cecelia worked for the telephone company in Levittown as an operator and in billing. Once settled in California in 1959, she began working for the local telephone company. In August of that year, she was pregnant with her first daughter, Donna, and decided to stop working. Donna was born in 1960. To be followed by Cathy in 1968 and Vicky in 1970. Cecelia loved to cook and dance to Italian music. She was an amazing Mother and Wife.
Pat had always been interested in the music business and took jobs at local record stores in the San Gabriel Valley. Willing to do anything to get into the recording business, he applied for a job in 1963 as a typist at RCA Records in Hollywood. He was the only man that passed the test and was the fastest of all the applicants. Because of his attention to detail, work ethic and charming personality, Pat moved up the ladder quickly.
By 1965, Pat had become assistant to the legendary recording engineer Dave Hassinger. It was during this time, RCA record producer, Al Schmitt was considering signing The Jefferson Airplane, a San Francisco based band. Pat was instrumental in convincing RCA executives to take a risk on the band that was known for its hijinks.
Pat soon became the band's right-hand man and was eventually given the title of Production Coordinator. By their fourth album, the band felt Pat's contributions were so important, they gave him published credit on every album thereafter. He also worked with Jefferson Starship, Harry Nilsson, Jose Feliciano, Paul Anka, The Monkees and many others. Credits on a total of 64 albums!
While Pat was working on his career, Cecelia was raising their children. The family would often spend the summers in San Francisco where The Jefferson Airplane would record their music.
Pat and Cecelia touched many lives because they opened their home and hearts to so many people. They will truly be missed. They are survived by three daughters and four grandchildren.
A funeral service is scheduled from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, November 18, 2019, at Douglass & Zook Chapel of the Foothills, 600 E. Foothill Blvd., Monrovia CA 91016.