Corey John Tridente's Obituary
Corey John passed quietly in his sleep in the early afternoon
September 16, 2021. He had received excellent round the clock care by
his wife and daughter at home for the last several months. He was 74.
A native of Oakland, California Corey was born during the postwar
years to an Italian-American Catholic family. He was a middle child
out of 5 siblings and named after his Italian Uncle Corrado, on his
father’s side.
He is predeceased by his loving parents, Mario and Louise Tridente and
Mother-in law Marge Bugnatto. He is survived by his devoted wife
Madeline and loving daughter, Corrie, his 3 brothers; Sam from
Anderson, CA Frank from Oakland, CA, Joey (Dino) from Seattle WA and
younger sister Claire (Russ) from Santa Rosa, CA. There are also
numerous nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews from CA, Oregon
and Florida.
In his early years Corey grew to love jazz, playing both the clarinet
and Saxophone in school and private lessons along with his brothers.
He later was in various bands and played locally in some bay area
night clubs. Corey always talked about playing in this group or that
group. He said he auditioned for Gabor Szabo at least once (hoping to
get a permanent gig.) Unfortunately he didn’t get his big break.
Raised in the same home until his teen years in north Oakland, all 5
kids attended the same schools; Peralta, Claremont Jr High and Oakland
Tech, with the exception of his sister who went to HS in Livermore.
Typical and simpler lifestyle in the 50’s Corey and his brothers
played after school sports, farm life in the summers, cops and
robbers, cowboys and Indians, hide and seek, bicycles, going to the
movies, and playing ball in the middle of the street. And in the
evening there were always good and more than enough homemade Italian
meals where everyone sat around the table including any friends who
might stop by (which was often.) Conversation was always pretty loud
as in most Italians families and usually talked over each other...but
it was most amusing and fun!
In the late 60’s during the era of the Vietnam War, Corey volunteered
for the Draft to serve his country. He spent 2 long agonizing years
(for our mother) in Vietnam and happily arrived home safely. For
years, per Corey, he had denied any introspection of PTSD. He never
talked much of his time spent there. He always put up a front when
his team of VA clinicians would venture in that direction. When he
left the Army, the normal exit exam was bypassed (now required). “I
just wanted out. I refused the several hours of debriefing and
examination.” The exit exam might have uncovered and made the PTSD
diagnosis much earlier. So many dischargees were not properly
diagnosed. This all came out years later. With PTSD diagnosed along
with bouts of Depression, many more benefits were available to these
veterans.
Corey was an advocate for these veterans and helped many brothers get
their diagnoses years later. Corey was instrumental in helping vets
navigate the VA system for other resources as well.
In later years Corey became the primary caretaker for our mother
during the last 4-5 years of her life 1999-2003. He served both her
and Dad: doing the washing, cooking, cleaning, shopping, managing
hordes of medication, taking them both to medical appointments and so
on. He followed Mom’s instructions on food preparation and honestly
probably knows secrets to Mom’s greatest recipes! We will always be
eternally grateful to him for those years in caring for our parents.
Corey led a pretty simple life, enjoyed watching sports, the History
Channel, listening to rock and roll/Jazz and lifting weights.
He had a lifelong of ups and downs but with the love and support of
his family and especially his daughter, kept him focused and strong.
Husband, Father, Uncle, Brother, Friends... Corey. May You Rest in
Eternal Peace.
Please join us for Corey's Celebration of Life
2 pm on Fri. Oct 22nd, 2021 at the Chapel of Chimes in Oakland.
If you like in Lieu of flowers, Corey (and his family) would be happy
if you donated to either of the following Charities in Memory of him.
https://www.naturalhigh.org/donate/
https://nvf.org/veterans-donations/
What’s your fondest memory of Corey?
What’s a lesson you learned from Corey?
Share a story where Corey's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Corey you’ll never forget.
How did Corey make you smile?