Otello Ascani got his wish of peacefully passing away in his sleep on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 around 9:15pm, and the age of 88-years-old, in the presence of his caretaker and family at his home in Redwood City. Seven months prior, in September of 2025, he was diagnosed with heart and lung failure and was advised to accept Hospice support to improve quality and comfort of life. Otello is known for living life to its highest potential with a vibrant, zestful, and willful energy. He loved his family deeply and always made sure to help bring family, friends, and colleagues up in the world.

Otello was born on January 28th, in Frontone, a small farming village in Italy, to Augustino and Adalgisa. In 1939, Otello and his mother traveled to New York City, by boat and then trained to San Francisco, California to reside with Otello’s fraternal uncle, Zio Angelo. Otello’s father joined the family and moved to San Francisco in 1940. In April of 1941, his brother Dominic was born. The family lived on Union St in the North Beach district.

In 1948, the Ascani’s moved to East Palo Alto and bought an established chicken ranch. After graduating from Menlo Atherton High School in 1956, he chose to serve in the Navy Reserve for eighteen months and was stationed at China Lake, CA. On completion of his time served, he moved back to East Palo Alto, attended some community college, and then went full time into the family trade; Construction. By 1960, the family moved across Highway 101, where the family lived permanently and ended up building three duplexes and twelve apartments on the west side of East Palo Alto.

Otello quickly moved up the ladder to become a Construction Project Superintendent. Some of his most prized projects include, The Ascani Apartments (Condos) in East Palo Alto, The Cross Roads in San Mateo, Plaza Romona University in Palo Alto, and The Sequia Station in Redwood. He worked in this role with passion, high esteem, commitment, an assertive style, and he was greatly respected in the field of construction.

Otello is survived by his three children, eight grandchildren, one brother, two cats, and countless family members in California and some in Italy. He was preceded in death by his wife and his eldest daughter. Otello’s priorities included working hard to support his family, spending quality time his family, enjoying delicious foods of all cuisines, dancing, drinking wine (and trying to make wine with cousins), attending and being a member at local Italian-American social clubs, skiing in Tahoe, grilling on the beach, and in the summer hosting adventures with family and friends on his house boat.

Please honor Otello by living every day to it’s fullest, and loving and supporting your family and friends with passion, joy, loyalty, and investing into their futures.

A Memorial Service will take place on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at 11am at St. Matthias Church in Redwood City.