Maydell Pontecorvo's Obituary
Maydell Leialoha Pontecorvo was a beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother and greatgrandmother who passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by family on March 14th,
2023.
Maydell was born on May 21, 1932 in Honolulu, HI. She was the third oldest of nine children.
Growing up, Maydell's family had little means, and she helped care for her younger siblings
while her mother worked long hours to support the family. Life had it’s ups and downs, and
Maydell often shared stories of her youth from living in plantation housing, catching fish all day
at Ala Moana Beach, taking rides on her uncle’s motorcycle, and even witnessing the bombing of
Pearl Harbor when she was just nine years old.
Maydell was a smart and hard-working student who understood that education and tangible skills
were necessary to secure a better life. She graduated from W.C. Farrington High School in
Honolulu in 1950, where she was involved in the orchestra, Glee club, and was a Farrington
Greggite - Advanced Chapter, studying shorthand (and competing in shorthand contests,
accumulating various awards and accolades for herself and the school). Maydell was also
enrolled in the Future Business Leaders of America - Cooperative Office Training Class which
placed her in a part-time cashier position at May’s Market in Honolulu. She enjoyed her time at
May’s and continued to work there after graduating.
Maydell had dreams of leaving Hawaii after gradution and decided to join the Women's Army
Corps in June 1951. She left by boat for San Francisco shortly after and traveled by train from
California to Virginia, where she completed her basic training at Ft. Lee. She then enrolled in the
Stenography Course at The Adjutant General's School at Ft. Benjamin in Harrison, Indiana,
becoming a stenographer for the Army.
Maydell then went to Chicago and worked as a stenographer for the Army until the summer of
1952, when she chose a detachment in the Far East and was stationed in Yokohama, Japan for
one year. During her time in Yokohama, she met and fell in love with a young man named Jose
Pontecorvo. Jose was discharged six months before Maydell and returned to his home in San
Diego, California. After her time in Japan, Maydell returned to Chicago and not long after,
received a ring in the mail from Jose. Upon her discharge in 1953, she moved to San Diego to be
with her fiancé.
Maydell and Jose were married in San Diego in August 1954 and lived in what is now the Little
Italy community. Their first child, Lynn, was born in 1956 while they were living in Little Italy.
After Maydell became pregnant with their second child, Robert, they purchased a property in
Linda Vista and had their first home built. They moved into the house in 1959, and Robert was
born in August of that year. In 1965, they welcomed their third child and second son, Dale.
Maydell stayed home with her children when they were young but kept busy outside the home as
well. She was one of four women who founded the WAC San Diego Chapter, which brought
together active-duty and veteran members of the Women’s Army Corps to engage in
philanthropic work with an orphanage in Tijuana called Casa de Esperanza. In the early 1960s,
Maydell's husband Jose joined the San Diego Police Academy. In 1971, Maydell began working
for the City of San Diego as a City Clerk and Senior Legislative Recorder, a position she held
until her retirement in 1999.
In 1975, Jose passed away at 44 years young, leaving Maydell widowed after 20 years of
marriage. Wanting to secure a future for herself and her children, Maydell worked hard to
continually improve her life. When approached about building apartments on the property she
had bought with Jose, she saw it as a good retirement option. In 1989, her first home was
demolished and her 10-unit apartment complex was built on the property.
Maydell's goal was always to provide her children and family with a better life than she had
growing up, and her investment in the apartments helped her achieve that. She was financially
supportive whenever she could be and was extremely generous.
After retiring, Maydell spent many hours in her garden. She even built a more than 100 ft long,
multi-level rock wall planter in her backyard, filling it with beautiful flowers and plants.
Although building the wall was tiresome, she returned to work for the City Attorney's office
from 2000-2004 as a Deputy City Clerk. She also worked as a Deputy City Clerk 2 for most of
2006.
Maydell always enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, and greatgrandchildren. Over the years, she often hosted family gatherings at her home where her family
and friends would comfortably enjoy good food, conversation and fun. She loved reading crime
novels and watching her favorite TV shows. Additionally, she frequently returned to Hawaii to
visit her mother, siblings, and many nieces and nephews though never returning to live
permanently.
She is survived by her children, daughter Lynn Dorris and son-in-law, Cary Dorris (San Diego),
son Robert Pontecorvo (San Diego), and son Dale Pontecorvo (San Diego); grand-daughters
Leanne Thomas and husband Nathan Thomas (Phoenix, AZ), Jenelle Arvizu and fiance Billy
Hickle (Ramona, CA), Erika Pontecorvo and Erin Pontecorvo (San Diego), Victoria Pontecorvo
and Sophia Pontecorvo (Lucedale, MS); great-granddaughters Poppy and Wren Thomas
(Phoenix, AZ), Anela Orhan (Ramona, CA ), Stella Parker (Lucedale, MS); and great-grandsons
Hayden Hickle (Ramona, CA) and Beau Thomas (Phoenix, AZ); brothers Nicholas Hottendorf
(Kaneohe, HI) and Dennis Fernandez (Kona, HI).
She was preceded in death by her husband Jose Jesus Pontecorvo, her mother Harriet
Ku’uleialoha Fernandez and father Nicholas Kaunukapu Hottendorf; sisters Geraldine and
Lorraine, brothers Manuel, Vernon, Joseph, and Theodore.
Maydell was greatly loved and admired and will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
In lieu of flowers, please donate any amount to your local Salvation Army center as Maydell not
only donated monetarily throughout her adult life, but also benefited from their services as a
child.
A viewing will be held at Clairemont Mortuary on Friday, April 7th from 4-8pm. 4266 Mt.
Abernathy Ave. San Diego, CA 92117
Services will be held at Clairemont Mortuary on Saturday, April 8th at 11am. Burial services
will follow at 2pm at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery - 4470 Hilltop Dr. San Diego, CA 92102.
A celebration of life reception will follow at Marina Village - Marine Room 1936 Quivira Way,
San Diego, CA, 92109 at 4pm
What’s your fondest memory of Maydell?
What’s a lesson you learned from Maydell?
Share a story where Maydell's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Maydell you’ll never forget.
How did Maydell make you smile?
