Terry L. Wecker was born on March 25, 1946 in Carmel, California.
He is the second of seven children. His older brother is Richard (Rich), then younger siblings, Robert (Bob), Paula, Thomas (Tom), John Jr. (Johnny) and Michael (Mike). His father, the late John F. Wecker served in the United States Army for 23 years and retired as a major. John served in the Korean War and WWII and earned a Purple Heart. He then went on to work for New York Life for 33 years and was the head usher of the Carmel Mission for many decades. John also founded Gateway Center in Pacific Grove in 1963 to assist Terry's brother John Jr., who had Down's Syndrome and others with developmental disabilities. Terry's mother, the late Florence Snow, raised her seven children and also worked at Carmel Mission School as a teacher's aide.
Angela Wecker was born Angela Mangiapane on January 6, 1947 at the old Monterey Hospital on Hartnell Street. She has one older brother, Peter Mangiapane and a sister, Bella Cutino. Her father, the late Albert Mangiapane was born in San Vito Lo Capo, Sicily. He worked as local fisherman and also fished in Alaska for 27 years. Albert was well known in the Monterey community and volunteered his time for the ICF. Albert was the Grand Marshall of the Santa Rosalia in 1994. Angela's mother was Nancy Mangiapane (born Balesteri) who was born in 1916 in the very old Monterey Hospital which is now the Pacheco Club. Nancy worked at the canneries and the French Laundry where she ironed fancy tablecloths by hand. Nancy spoke and wrote in Sicilian fluently, leading many to not realize that she was actually born in the United States, not Sicily.
Terry's family being a military family, traveled to many parts of the world until settling back on the Monterey Peninsula where Terry attended Del Monte Elementary School, Fremont Junior High School, and Junipero Memorial High School where he graduated in 1964. Terry was a great athlete and played every sport but was extremely talented at baseball. Angela's family built a new home in Monterey when she was a little girl and she attended nearby San Carlos School, Walter Colton and then Monterey High School, graduating in 1965.
Terry and Angela met in 1962 during the early years of high school. The inside joke is that after they met, he spent more time at Monterey High then he did at Junipero! In 1965, Angela graduated from cosmetology school and received her cosmetology license. She started working as a professional hair stylist. In 1966, just before completing Monterey Peninsula College, Terry was drafted into the army. Before shipping off to Vietnam, he came home to marry Angela on her 21 birthday, January 6, 1968. Terry served in the military police force while in Vietnam. After being honorably discharged he returned home and joined the police academy and went on to serve as a police officer for the Pacific Grove Police Department for eight years.
Terry started his career in real estate 45 years ago. He is currently the operations manager of Custom House Realty & Property Management in Monterey. Angela has continued to work as a professional hair stylist and works part time in Monterey. The couple's daughter Nicole Amaral (Wecker) was born in 1978. They welcomed their son, Albert John Wecker (A.J.) in 1984. Angela volunteered as Room Mother for both children while they attended Monte Vista Elementary School. She taught the Tarantella dance to students at both Walter Colton and Monterey High School. Angela was a Tarantella dancer and parade participant for the Santa Rosalia (now Festa Italia), along with her mother, sister and daughter for well over 15 years.
Throughout their lives Terry and Angela have given a lot back to their community. They were members of the Monterey Jaycees for eleven years (Terry was VP for part of the time) and were actively involved with putting on the annual Pebble Beach Rugby Classic. Terry went on to join the Monterey Rotary Club where he served an 11-year stint as secretary, attended district conferences and both Terry and Angela play for the Monterey Rotary baseball team. They have hosted the annual Rotary bus trip to the SF Giants game for many decades. Terry has received Perfect Attendance for the Rotary Club for 39 years. When their children were involved with band at Monterey High School, Terry served as President of the Monterey High Band Boosters for eight years. Angela and Terry were unwavering in their tireless support of the music program and helped with everything from chaperoning, heading up meetings, concerts and fundraising. They helped to raise $40,000 for new marching band uniforms in one year!
Terry was a Babe Ruth League and Pony Baseball coach, manager and sponsor for many years. He is a current member of the Compari Club Monterey (served as President for two years) and Gold Coast Rods Car Club (served as President for eight years). Terry and Angela are also members of the Italian Catholic Federation and Festa Italia. They have hosted the Mayor of Monterey and City Council Members in their 1957 Chevy during parades throughout the years. Terry and Angela have hosted two group study exchange programs from Sicily for the Rotary Club of Monterey, serving them delicious salmon balls made special by Angela. They also hosted couple of students from Japan for the Rotary Club of Monterey and a couple from the Junior Wings Exchange Program.
Terry has served on the Gateway Center Board of Directors for almost twenty years. Terry and Angela have both always loved classic cars and music, so it made sense to put together an annual fundraiser for Gateway Center that features both. This past year marked the 15" Annual Monterey Rock and Rod Festival. Terry and Angela also hosted twenty years of another popular fundraiser car show, Rods on the Wharf. Each year hundreds of classic cars and thousands of attendees enjoyed these festivals that included vendors, bands and a major headliner.
Chris Shake, owner of Old Fisherman's Grotto, graciously sponsored Rods on the Wharf for twenty years and Rock and Rod Festival since the beginning of the event. Terry's brothers and sister have been heavily involved with the events and lent their support through many aspects of putting on the events. Terry has been instrumental in the car shows' success by heading up a board of directors and ensuring the entertainment, registration, souvenirs, 50-50 drawing, raffle, awards are all set. Angela serves as committee chair, assisting Terry in every way and putting on the Sock Hop, baking Sicilian cookies for 500 people and heading up the VIP Hospitality Room. Throughout the last couple of decades this wonderful family with their team have helped to raise over $400,000 for Gateway Center!
In 2018, Terry was awarded the Alton Walker Award by the Rotary Club of Monterey for outstanding community service. Terry's father John was also a previous recipient of this prestigious Alton Walker award, making them the first father and son recipients. Angela and Terry received the United Way Award this year (2022) for their outstanding service in assisting Gateway Center. Angela's sister, Bella and brother-in-law Bert Cutino have always been an inspiration to the family and great support. Bert nominated Terry and Angela for this award.
One of Terry and Angela's proudest moments was when their only grandchild, Brenton Demarco Amaral was born in January 2013 to their daughter Nicole and son-in-law, Mike. Brenton enjoys practicing baseball with his Nano and likes to sample his Nani's baking any chance he gets. Terry and Angela enjoy attending festivals, car shows, traveling and spending time with their family.
ITALIAN HERITAGE SOCIETY HONOREE 2022