Walter Fiorentini Jr.

June 13, 1936 - August 22, 2020

On the night of August 22, 2020, Walter Fiorentini, jr. passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer at the age of 84 in Temecula, California. Born the first of three children on June 13, 1936 in Waynesboro, Mississippi to Walter E. and Bernice Fiorentini, Walter grew up in Waynesboro and Gulfport, Mississippi. While attending the University of Southern Mississippi, he met Catherine Baricev and they married in 1956 and had five children together: Gina Wright of Hattiesburg, MS, Victor Fiorentini of Biloxi, MS, Elisa Esparza of San Diego, CA, Marisa Engh of San Diego, CA, and Walter Fiorentini of San Diego, CA. In the summers, he worked on his father-in-law’s shrimp boats in Biloxi to support his new family and pay for his education. He also learned to swear fluently in three languages. Throughout his life, he remained equally proud of his Northern Italian heritage and his Southern Mississippi raising. Upon receiving his BS in biology, Walter spent the next 24 years flying helicopters in the United States Navy. Throughout his naval aviation career, he took part in many historic events of the 60’s and 70’s including the Cuban missile blockade, NASA operations, and five deployments in Vietnam spanning from its early military stages to the end. Walter retired as a LCDR in 1981 in Coronado, Ca. While still on active duty, he earned a Masters Degree in Computer Science from USC and upon retiring from the Navy, worked as a systems analyst at Computer Science Corporation and DSC for the remaining 20 years of his career. Of all of the occupations he ever held, none meant more to him than his career as a United States Naval Aviator. In 2001, Walter retired from working full-time and married Alice Mussen on August 25. Remaining in Temecula, Walter and Alice spent their time together enjoying SEC and Washington State football, tending to their boxer rescue dogs (often bringing them to visit local nursing home residents), and volunteering at their dear friend’s veterinary clinic nearby. Walter and Alice fell short of their 19th wedding anniversary by 3 days. A devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and dogfather, Walter Fiorentini leaves behind his wife, five children, nine grandchildren, eight great-grand-children, and two very sad boxers, Max and Holly. In Lieu of flowers, please consider making a charitable donation to one or more of Walter’s favorite causes: The Humane Society https://secure.humanesociety.org/ St. Jude’s https://www.stjude.org/ Navy / Marine Corps Relief Society https://www.nmcrs.org/ Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. O Lord, your sorrowing Mother stood by your cross; help us in our sorrows to share your sufferings.