Mr. Paul Madonna

Paul Madonna was born In August 1939 at Mountain View Hospital in San Luis Obispo to Plinio Madonna and Mary Elizabeth Williams. He passed away in October, 2024. He attended schools in Cayucos and Coast Union High School in Cambria before heading off to college. He earned a degree from UC Davis in range management and a teaching credential from Cal Poly. While at UC Davis, he took classes at UC Berkeley where he began his lifetime membership in the Cal Band. He spent many years playing in the alumni band at many Cal football games, taking his sons along with him to share his passion for the band and football. He served in the U.S. Army after graduation, proudly playing with the band as they sent off soldier transport planes to the Vietnam War and greeting retuning soldiers. He and his lifelong Army buddies marched at the Rose Parade, the Salinas Rodeo and other parades. After his Army service, he taught for several years at different county schools but always helped his dad work the ranch. When his father passed away, he took over the family cattle ranch. He was a charter member of the National Cattlemen’s Association and a lifelong member of the Society for Range Management. He was one of the first farmers in SLO County to plant avocados, working alongside the Ag Extension service to plant multiple avocado varieties to see which ones would work best in SLO County. He was a president of SLO Farm Supply Company when they were just beginning their expansion into other local cities. He served on the board of directors for 50 years. He took on leadership of Cambria Parlor #152, Native Sons of the Golden West, and kept it going for close to 50 years. He played his baritone and/or tuba, with the SLO County Band and Morro Bay White Caps Band for as long as he could. When his sons started school, he began his journey with the SLO County Office of Education where he also served as president on and off over nearly 40 years. He was still serving on the board at the time of his passing. For a lot of you who knew him, you shared his passion for winemaking where he helped several local wine owners get started in picking, crushing and aging wine. He also was an expert in the art of sausage making, teaching all how to twist twine as you made links to hang in the wine cellar. His main joy in life came from riding the hills, checking his cattle and keeping the avocados producing. He is survived by his wife Kathryn, sons Ben (Esmeralda), Mark (Katie) and Peter (Lauren) along with six grandchildren Kendra, Calvin, Brooklyn, Madison, Austin and Bronx. Also surviving him is his brother John as well as many cousins. Private family services have been held. If you would like to donate in his honor, please consider the Cayucos Veterans Hall restoration fund. His wedding reception was there in 1974 and he spent many hours at the Vets Hall, playing music at the Portuguese Festivals. His family celebrated multiple events at the Hall from school programs and graduations to life celebrations including the one for his mother Mary Elizabeth and other friends. Gifts can be made online by clicking here: https://www.cfsloco.org/funds/cayucos-vets-hall-restoration/ or checks can be sent to The Community Foundation at 550 Dana Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. Please be sure to indicate the gifts are designated to Cayucos Vet’s Hall Restoration Project in memory of Paul Madonna. Reis Family Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Paul Madonna

August 28, 1939 - October 2, 2024