Matthew "Matt" DeLuna
(1909/1910 - March 29, 2004, Age 94)
Matt was known as "Mr. Knights of Columbus" in Council 971 and was honored as such by a proclamation at the California State Convention. Matt was extremely active in the Knights even in the years leading up to his death. Matt was very humble and engaging and had a way of making you feel as if you had always been a close friend.
The following is an interview conducted on Friday, August 27, 1999 by Kelly Robertson, SK for "Today's Knights" the bulletin of Council 971:
This week, I was lucky to catch up with Matt DeLuna at his home in Seabright.
Matt DeLuna, S.K.
Age: “More than ninety.”
Occupation: Businessman (ret.) and Familyman (not ret.)
Wife and Children: Wife Florence, for nearly 68 years. They have two living children, Dick and Barbara, and 26 grand, great, and great-great-grandchildren.
Question: Matt, how long have you been a Knight, and what degree do you hold today?
Answer: I’ve been in the Knights of Columbus for more than 56 years now, and have been in Council 971 for 37 of those years. I am a Fourth Degree Knight, a member of the Padre Palou Council. Hey, we’re installing the Officers for Padre Palou in Watsonville tonight! [Matt has also “sat” all of the chairs, is a PGK, and was Supervisor of the KofC credit union for many years.]
Q: Please name an event that occurred that made you very proud of this council.
A: Well, this goes back a number of years, now, but I recall a time when the Main Station of the Fire Department was in need of a pair of special protective suits. And geez, they were expensive for the day, about $2,000 apiece I believe. Well, anyway, our Council came up with the money and donated it to the Fire Department for those suits.
Q: What would be a significant accomplishment today for Council 971
A: Boy, wouldn’t it be something to hold a State Convention here? Aw, we probably don’t have enough hotel rooms in town, and it sure as heck is a lot of work, but that’d be a very nice thing to do.
Q: What kind of advice would you have for our Council today?
A: Boy, we used to love to get together for Father/Son and Father/Daughter activities, like dances and dinners. That was always good. I also remember that we used to send Knights on visitations to other Councils in the state. We sure did get a lot out of that.
Q: Do you have anything to add, Sir Knight?
A: God’s been good to Florence, and me and Florence and the kids have been good to me. I was told to slow down 21 years ago by my doctor, now I think I’m gonna start to slow down a bit. I’ve loved my life, and I’ve loved the Knights. Catholic men should be proud to be a Knight.
Published Obituary from March 31, 2004
Services will be Friday for Matthew P. DeLuna, who died Monday [March 29, 2004] at his Santa Cruz home. He was 94.
Mr. DeLuna was born in Utica, N.Y. The DeLuna family crossed the United States by train in 1920 and settled in San Jose. Mr. DeLuna attended St. Joseph’s grammar and high school.
Mr. DeLuna started his career at the California Pine Box Co. in 1923.
Before World War II he was active with the 730 Club, where he was president in 1942. He moved to Salinas the same year to manage the California Pine Box Co. He started DeLuna’s Furniture in 1948 in Salinas and, ultimately, in the 1950s managed Kersch’s Furniture, also in Salinas.
He was active in the Kiwanis Club, Italian Catholic Federation, Serra Club and the Appliance Dealers Association. He joined the Knights of Columbus, of which he was an active member for the rest of his life, in 1946. He served in all positions, including Grand Knight, in Salinas and Santa Cruz.
Mr. DeLuna was active at Sacred Heart Church and Palma High School of Salinas, where he helped found the Men’s Club in 1951. The family moved in 1961 to Santa Cruz, where his wife had lived since 1915 on Seabright Avenue before their marriage.
He managed General Furniture in Santa Cruz until 1989. In Santa Cruz he stayed active in the Knights of Columbus and SIRS, and his parish, Our Lady Star of the Sea Church.
His wife of 72 years, Florence, and son Peter died before him.
He is survived by daughter Barbara of Santa Cruz; son Dick of Woodside; brothers Pat of Denver and Marsh of San Jose; 11 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Friday [April 2, 2004] at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, 515 Frederick St., Santa Cruz. Friends may call at the church from 10 a.m. until service time.
Burial will be private at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Santa Cruz.
And just because Matt and Florence were inseparable, here is Florence's obituary as well:
Florence was born August 7, 1907 in Los Banos, California to Manuel and Barbara Affonso, the youngest of six children. Her parents were dairy farmer originally from the Azores Islands, Portugal.
In 1915, the family moved to her beloved Seabright Ave in Santa Cruz. During her younger years, Florence attended Holy Cross School. Upon graduation, she ventured to San Francisco where she attended millinery school. Later returning to Santa Cruz, she became an operator for Pacific Telephone & Telegraph whose reunions she has attended up until last year. Florence also worked for the post office, at that time was officially called Seabright California.
Florence loved to swim and always spoke of the great times at Seabright Beach (the castle), and dances at the Coconut Grove and Capitola, and drives of going to Holy City on the old Santa Cruz Highway. Florence fondly remembers taking the trolly from Seabright to Holy Cross School. As a young girl, you could find her and her sisters walking all over the Seabright area and going in and out of her brother in law's Tony Day's Market.
Florence married Matt DeLuna of San Jose in October of 1931. They lived in San Jose where her three children were born, Peter, Dick and Barbara. In 1942, Matt was transferred to Salinas where they raised their children and lived until 1961 and that year they returned to her beloved Seabright Ave in Santa Cruz.
Florence passed away on Wednesday, July 9th. She was preceded in death by her son Peter and is survived by her husband of 72 years, Matt DeLuna; her son, Dick and daughter in law Matilde DeLuna; daughter Barbara and son in law Loren Lazarotti; daughter in law, Joyce DeLuna; eleven grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren.
During her life, Florence loved to cook and knit. The Affonso family was also very active in the C.P.D.E.S Portugese organization. Florence was a member of the Young Ladies Institute in Salinas; volunteered as a Gray Lady in Salinas hospitals; a member of the Telephone Company Pioneers; and Native Daughters of the Golden West. Her and Matt have been active in Star of the Sea Church in Santa Cruz for many years.
The Holy Rosary and a Mass of Christian burial will be held at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church 515 Frederick St. Santa Cruz, Ca. Monday July 14, 2003 beginning at 11:00 a.m. Arrangements are under the direction of Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel 1050 Cayuga St. Santa Cruz, Ca. Interment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Santa Cruz, California.
Memorial contributions to Star of the Sea Renovation Fund or donors favority charity.
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