Cupertinians who've been around town for awhile will remember his small-town store and his kindness and generosity. He was one of Cupertino's pioneers, and his store in Monta Vista provided more than food. It was one of those places people felt at home.

Photograph courtesy of Rich Rifredi Cupertino pioneer Charlie Rifredi, who lived to be 99, died in April. Rifredi's General Store was a cornerstone for the community and a source of help for customers when times were rough.

"The truck he drove was like a primitive minivan. It was the forerunner of Webvan, and the delivery was free," says Rifredi's niece Paula Quinterno, who used to help in the store. She lives on Adriana Avenue, which was named after Rifredi's wife. "He was just the nicest man you could imagine."

Rifredi had a strong build for his 5-foot-6-inch height and extremely broad hands. Quinterno says people liked going to the shop to chat with him.

Rifredi was born March 8, 1904, in Vignele, Italy. He was orphaned as a child and was later adopted by a farming family, who treated him as one of their own.

In 1921, Rifredi immigrated to the United States from Italy to live with his sister in Connecticut. There he worked in a brickyard while teaching himself English.

"My grandfather always urged us to go to college so we wouldn't work in a brickyard," says Rifredi's grandson Rich Rifredi, 39.

A few years later, Rifredi, lured by California's warm weather, moved to the Bay Area. He worked as a deliveryman for a Sunnyvale bakery. Children liked following his truck because he would let them steal a few cookies.

Rifredi's truck, loaded with baked goods, didn't only attract children. With sweets and cookies, he charmed Adriana Quinterno, who married him in 1929. Adriana was born in Torino, Italy in 1907. Her family immigrated to San Francisco in 1915.

Two years after they married, the Rifredis opened their grocery store, and Adriana quit her reporting job at the Los Gatos Mail-News to help with the bookkeeping.

"My grandfather was very grateful to my grandmother's family for lending them the money to open the grocery store," says Rich Rifredi. "It was not easy for him to ask for help, but he was confident that he would succeed."

He did. With his hard work, the mom and pop store soon grew into an enterprise with three butchers and eight clerks. When Rifredi retired in the 1950s, his son Robert "Bob" and Adriana's brother, Angelo "Cheet" Quinterno, took over and continued to serve the community until they sold the grocery store in 1978. The store later became the site of Monta Vista Market and eventually the Cupertino Post Office.

Rifredi attributed the success of his business to the help of Adriana's family. He felt the best way to show his gratitude was to help others start their businesses. The businesses he helped start in the Monta Vista area included Gordon and Nellie Quinterno Beckstrom's Stevens Creek Market on Foothill Boulevard; Paul Quinterno's Shell gas station, which was also located at the current site of the Cupertino Post Office; and Ron Rifredi's Monta Vista Rockery.

Rifredi was also a major force in developing the community.

The Rifredis helped develop the west side of Stevens Creek Boulevard with property that included a pharmacy, a hardware store, a barber shop, a cafe and a beauty salon.

Rifredi was also the founding member of the Cupertino Lions Club and a member of the Odd Fellows Club for more than 60 years. And he was a founding member of the First Valley Bank of Cupertino, which provided financial assistance to many local businesses and developers during the 1950s and 1960s.

During the 1950s, Rifredi allowed a local group called Dad's Club to use the land behind the grocery store as a baseball field and park. Later he rented the field to Cupertino's Little League for $1 per year.

"My grandfather helped Cupertino grow," says Rich Rifredi.

Rifredi was also the pillar of the family. Rich Rifredi recalled the family gatherings always revolved around food and were marked by Rifredi's loud belly laugh echoing around the dinner table. Every Easter after an egg hunt in their house in the morning, the Rifredis would start cooking a traditional Easter dinner. Grandchildren and friends were all invited. "They always made sure no one would go home hungry," Rich Rifredi says.

Russell "PeeWee" Smith, whose parents had known Rifredi since Rifredi was a deliveryman, says the Easter egg hunt and dinner was something he always looked forward to when he was a child. But Rifredi's generosity impressed Smith most.

"When my grandfather passed away in 1951, he came forward to offer financial help," Smith, 61, says. "Although we didn't need it, we were touched."

Even after the Smiths moved to East San Jose, they still did their grocery shopping at Rifredi's General Store. "Charlie always had a smile on his face and had nice things to say about people," Smith says.

Rifredi's strong work ethic and generosity are what he wanted to pass on to his grandchildren.

Rifredi was preceded in death by Adriana, his wife of 58 years, and their son Ronald. He is survived by his son Bob Rifredi of Cupertino, seven grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.

"My grandfather had a great life, and he was appreciative of that," Rich Rifredi says. "It's just so sad that a big piece of the family is missing."