Back to the Recipes Marian Zurlo Crinella Marian Crinella was born in Los Angeles in 1904. From there, she moved steadily northward, as her father sought his fortune, finally settling in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County in 1912. Growing up in the strongly ethnic Italian community of West Santa Rosa, she enjoyed singing in the St. Rose's church choir and participating in sports. During harvest seasons, she, along with her siblings and friends, would pick cherries, apples, walnuts, prunes and hops, which were plentiful in the Santa Rosa area in those days. In the winter months, she helped her father in his store, and developed a good affinity for business. Like most of her schoolmates, she left school to attend business college. In 1922, upon receipt of her certificate she took a job at the Pacific Gas and Electric Company which she held until 1933. In 1925, she met Marino Crinella while attending a dance in Cotati. She was married, at age 29, on August 19, 1933. She continued to live with her parents in Santa Rosa, while Marino built their first home in Petaluma. Eventually, their Spanish style bungalow was completed, and Marian was able to join Marino. This became the home where they started their family. By 1947, Marian and Marino had transitioned into some new business endeavors, including car dealerships and land development projects. Marian focused on raising their two children while Marino dealt with day-to-day business. No longer able to compete in softball or basketball, Marian took up golf, in 1950, and played almost every day of the week until she was in her late 70's. In her later years, she rode around the course with her foursome, driving the electric cart and keeping score in her head for the group. She knitted all of her life--everything from sweaters to socks to afghans--and, of course, head-covers for golf clubs. When she died she was also a student at the Santa Rosa Junior College which she had attended more or less continuously for thirty years. To the time of her death, at age 90, she remained in contact with many of her childhood friends who also lived in and about Santa Rosa, and had also lived to a ripe old age.