David Michael Cerchio

David Michael Cerchio passed away on the morning of March 14, 2020 at the age of 82. He was born September 27, 1937 to Louis Neil Cerchio and Gilda Carbone of Newark, New Jersey. He was the eldest of four children, raised in Jersey City, New Jersey.
In his early teens, David contracted polio. At 17, he had surgery on both feet confining him to a wheelchair and causing him to miss a year of school. Despite facing health challenges from polio his whole life, he was never deterred from doing what he wanted in life.
David worked in the insurance claims business. He started working for Nabisco, then MGM in New York City. In 1967 he left the fifth floor of the Empire State Building for sunny Los Angles, California.  He quickly got a job with a small local company. A year later the company headquarters moved to Oakland, California and became the California Life Insurance Company.
While in Oakland he met the love of his life Catherine (Cathye) Sanborn. After four months of courtship they were married on August 15, 1970 in Alameda, California. On their honeymoon to New Jersey they visited New York City, and David finally made it to the Observation Deck at the top of the Empire State Building.
In 1972 David and his family moved back to New Jersey for better opportunities in New York City's insurance field. He worked on Wall Street at American International Group for 16 years. In 1976 the family moved "down the Jersey shore" to Barnegat, located 40 miles north of Atlantic City. In 1986, David was transferred to White Plains, New York, and the family moved to Walden, New York. After commuting 90 minutes each way for four years he found a company closer to home. David worked for Frontier Insurance Company of Rock Hill, New York for 16 years, retiring in 2008.
In January 2004 while living in Walden, David joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was the fifth Cerchio to join the church. While visiting their son David and Cathye where sealed in the Bountiful Temple on November 22, 2009. He loved to tell others what being a member meant to him. David served in various callings including: Elders Quorum president and counselor, High Priest Group counselor, and ward missionary. But, the calling he enjoyed the most was working in the laundry room of the Bountiful Temple.
In 2010 David and Cathye moved to Bountiful for good.  After slipping on ice and breaking his ankle he said, "Enough of these New York winters!"  Always looking to help others David became a Senior Companion.  He visited other seniors with the program for eight years. David continued to volunteer his time only leaving due to health issues two months prior to his death.
David is survived by his wife, Cathye; daughters Michelle Cerchio, Lake Placid, FL and Andrea (Mario) Malpica, Newburgh, NY; sons Michael Cerchio, Tampa, FL and David A. (Cybele) Cerchio Centerville, UT; 12 grandchildren: Nicholas, Brandon, Christopher, Michael, Davi, Adriana, Natalia, Michael, Alexander, Elizabeth, Ethan, and Lucas; and great-granddaughter Adalyn Belle; sister Gilda (Joe) Clader, Little Egg Harbor, NJ; brother Louis (Mary) Cerchio, Scotch Plains, NJ; many nieces, moved to Bountiful nephews, and cousins.  He is preceded by his infant daughter Kristie Jill, his sister Jeannette, and his parents Louis and Gilda.
David requested that his ashes be buried with his daughter, Kristie Jill in New Jersey.  A gathering for family and friends will be held March 20, 2020 4-6:30 pm at Park Meadows Ward, 950 N Main Street, Centerville, UT. On August 15th we will have a celebration and burial of his ashes in New Jersey for friends and family from New York and New Jersey; details to follow.