About Us

Bob Cellini

Bob Cellini is a Martinez native, born and raised. Lloyd, Bob’s father who immigrated from Italy to the United States when he was 4 years old, introduced him to baseball at a young age. During the summer of 1964 at the season ending team picnic, the young men were greeted by Joe DiMaggio and received a autographed baseball by the Yankee Clipper.

After graduation from Alhambra High School, Bob joined his father working at the Shell Oil Refinery until Lloyd’s untimely passing. Bob left his refinery job and opened an automobile restoration business which he and his wife operated for 15 years before taking a position with the City of Martinez Public Works Department. In 2006 Bob was promoted to Public Works Superintendent until his retirement in December 2019.

Bob coached Girls Little League and enjoyed playing adult softball for 41 years in Martinez, Concord and Walnut Creek. Bob and his crew were instrumental in the mechanical portion of the Joltin Joe boat restoration and has taken the boat to several wooden boat shows including one at Lake Tahoe for its maiden voyage in where it won an award for Best Non-Professional Restoration and Second Place in its Class.

Bob and his wife Tammy live in Martinez and they have two daughters, Rachel and Lauren, both residing in Martinez, along with five grandsons.

Rick Aldridge

Carpenter, Martinez resident for 35 years. Father of two Bulldogs, Volunteer.

Anne Mobley

Anne Mobley was born Renanne Vicini to first generation Italian and Croatian parents, Reno and Anni, in SF, attended eight years of Catholic grade school, and after high school graduation went to work for a chemical company for a year before beginning a long career in municipal government working for cities of Union City, South Lake Tahoe, Orinda, and Pleasant Hill, and retiring from Contra Costa Water District.

Anne has served as President of the South Lake Tahoe Business and Professional Woman’s Club, Vice President of the South Lake Tahoe Republican Woman’s Club, Secretary/Treasurer of the South Shore Utility Coordinating Council, Member of the Meyers Cable TV Franchise Review Board, member of various dance clubs, and was a recipient of the AAUW “Women Helping Women” Award.

Anne has owned White Rabbit (2004-2005) in Gardnerville, Nevada, owns and operates White Rabbit Boutique in Martinez since April 2005, served on the Main Street Martinez Board of Directors and founded the Downtown Retailers Focus Group, served as President of the Lamorinda Republican Women Federated (2012, 2013, 2015, & 2016), Secretary of the Martinez Lioness Club now Martinez Lady Lion’s Club, Newsletter Editor of the Diablo Valley Chapter of the Sons of Italy, Member of the Martinez Chamber of Commerce, Member of the Martinez Yacht Club and Martinez Senior Citizens, and for 35 years, provided secretarial and accounting duties for her late husband’s construction drilling business.

She lives with her poodle, Fancy, in Pleasant Hill and has two children, six grandchildren, and four great grandies.

Donna Allen

Donna worked as a land use planner for Contra Costa County for over three decades before becoming an independent planning consultant. She served 10 years on the City of Martinez Planning Commission and currently serves on the County Planning Commission. She helped establish and was a charter Board member of the Martinez Historical Society. With her husband, Ken, helped grow the Martinez Bocce Federation to a nationally recognized organization. Donna loves her retirement and traveling as well as helping to promote Martinez.

Franci Lucero

Franci Collins Lucero was born and raised in Martinez and is a cousin to Joe DiMaggio. Franci is the daughter of Katherine ‘Tina’ Collins who wrote the book Pioneer Italian Fisherman ‘Nostri Pescatori’. She is a member of the Martinez Historical Society, Martinez Yacht Club and is a committee member for the Alhambra High Decades Reunion. She has over thirty years of experience as a professional photographer. Franci Lives in Martinez with her husband Art and has three children and two dogs.

Joe Kelly

Joe Kelly is a Martinez native, born and raised. After graduating from college in San Diego, he returned to Martinez to work in the financial industry. He helps run this website, email and other technologies for Joe DiMaggio Hometown Hero Project.

Lara DeLaney

Lara DeLaney was born in southern California, the middle of three girls, and raised in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Lara finished high school in Ashland, Oregon and after attended college at U.C. Santa Cruz, studying Literature and finishing with Honors in the Major and Honors in the College. She then obtained a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Chicago in 1993.

After her return to California, Lara began her career in government with the San Joaquin Council of Governments as a Senior Regional Planner, working on transportation and land use policy and projects. In 1998, Lara was hired by Contra Costa County, where she presently serves as a Senior Deputy County Administrator, providing budgetary oversight of County departments and serving as the County’s Legislative Coordinator.

While tennis has remained a central activity in her life, having achieved a credential as a tennis professional and umpiring at the U.S. Open in 1997, Lara has also engaged in a variety of civic activities including membership in the Kiwanis Club and the Martinez Rotary. Lara was also instrumental in the establishment of the Joe DiMaggio Hometown Hero Project.

Lara was first elected to the Martinez City Council in 2002, where she presently serves as Vice Mayor, and is happily married to Eric Halverson, a general contractor and football coach.

Paul Kraintz

Anthony “Paul” Kraintz was born and raised in Martinez California. His Maternal family lineage dates to 1769 with the Portola Expedition from Mexico. Paul and his wife, Mary, raised two children who attended Martinez schools. Paul graduated from Alhambra High School, Class of 1971. He received his Associate Arts Degree from Diablo Valley College and his Bachelor Science Degree – Business Admin. Accounting from Cal State Chico.

During his youth, Paul worked at local gas stations and was a Reserve Firefighter for 5 years. He used his education working as a Staff Accountant/Auditor for a CPA and he has been the Senior Nutrition Program Accountant/Auditor for the Contra Costa County Health Department for their Senior Nutrition Program for five years.

Prior to his retirement, Paul worked for the Contra Costa County Public Health Department as Senior Nutrition Program Health Services Administrator for 37 years. After his retirement, Paul returned as part-time Retiree Annuitant bringing his service to the County a total of 42 years. From 1990 to the present time, Paul was the Co-founder, Secretary Treasurer of Meals on Wheels of Contra Costa, Inc.

Paul’s Affiliations include:

• President of America’s Best Local Charities,
• California Association of Nutrition Directors for the Elderly – Past President, Treasurer, Board Member.
• National Association of Nutrition & Aging Services Programs – Past Board Member.
• Martinez Historical Society – Vice President, Membership Chair, Past President
• Contra Costa County Historical Society – Past Treasurer & Board Member.
• American Political Items Collector – Member
• Diablo A’s Model A Ford Club – Member
• Northern California Model T Club – Member
• Nor Cal Packard Club – Member

Paul is the Co-Author: “Martinez – A California Town” and in 2017 he was the Martinez “Man of the Year.”