June 20, 1928 – March 17, 2025
Albert Bardini
Albert Bardini, beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, trusted friend, and steadfast community servant passed away peacefully in his favorite recliner on March 17. He was 96.
Albert was affectionately known to friends simply as “Albie.”
“He was a wonderful, wonderful guy,” said E. J. Lorenzi, a longtime local businessman. “He was a few grades ahead of me, but I went to Catholic school with him, and also high school. We were very active in the Italo-American Lodge together.”
Albert Bardini was born on June 20, 1928, in Merced, to a third-generation farming family, Pete and Adelaide Bardini. He attended Merced High School where he played baseball and football. After high school, he attended St. Mary’s College prior to enlisted into the Air Force during the Korean War and was stationed in Tucson, Arizona.
It was during this time he married the love of his life Joanne McKim, whom he met at the Hopeton Festa during his high school years. They were married on June 25, 1950 at Our Lady of Mercy Church. They continued to live in Merced for the rest of their lives and were very active in the community.
After his service, he went into business with two of his uncles which became Bardini’s Yosemite Suppliers, the first wholesale plumbing and electrical supply in Merced. Their company was the first private company ever awarded to operate a supply store on an Air Force base by the Department of Defense.
When they sold the business, he went on to become a Merced County Supervisor. As a civil servant, he worked diligently on countless public works projects throughout the county, from water infrastructure projects to programs for seniors and youth. In addition, he was appointed to various state and local committees and councils during his career, demonstrating the confidence held by his peers in his abilities.
Throughout his life, Albert was greatly known for his fun nature, but also for his service to the community. He was always cooking for fundraisers for the many organizations he belonged to. He was a longtime member of the Merced Elks Club & Breakfast Lions. However, he primarily devoted his time and effort to the Italo-American Lodge, where he was a Life Member and where his grandfather was the first president in 1933. He was always willing to give the most precious resource he had, his time. He was a past president and a longtime financial secretary for the lodge. He also served as a past president of the Merced Golf and Country Club.
In addition to his civic contributions to the community, Albert with the help of his wife Joanne, raised four ambitious and successful sons, who all became engineers. Albert and Joanne enjoyed watching their family grow with many grandchildren beginning college, their careers, and families of their own. They also greatly enjoyed playing golf, traveling, and socializing with friends.
Albert was always regarded with great respect and admiration by his family and friends and later in life, he could be found at any gathering in a comfortable chair watching the game, supervising, giving commentary, and exercising his quick wit.
He is preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Joanne and his parents Pete and Adelaide Bardini.
Albert leaves behind his four sons, Richard (Nancy), Randy (Agnes), Gary (Laura) & Greg (Danielle), 9 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held on Monday, April 7, 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. at Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home 1490 B St., Merced.
Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be held on Tuesday, April 8, 10:30 a.m., at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church 459 W 21st St., Merced.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, April 8, 11 a.m., at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church followed by Interment at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery.
A reception will be held immediately following at the Italo-American Lodge 18th and “U” Streets, Merced.
Donations in his memory may be made to the Italo-American Lodge Building Fund or the Merced County Historical Society.