Stephen C. Martinelli was the third generation leader of Martinelli’s, and his impact on the family business and community of Watsonville will forever be remembered as one of his greatest achievements.

Stephen was born in 1930, three years before Prohibition ended and the company brought back its award-winning, original hard cider recipe. He grew up watching his dedicated and hardworking father carry the company through the trying times of the Great Depression and WWII.

Stephen Martinelli at 3 years old, standing next to the company’s soda truck in 1933

 

Stephen Martinelli during WWII, standing in the factory warehouse

After graduating from UC Berkeley and serving in the Navy as an Air Intelligence Officer, Stephen joined the company in 1955. The 1950s were a particularly rough era for Martinelli’s. After his father bought his siblings out of the business, there was little capital left to invest in the company. The sparkling cider business was barely surviving. Despite uncertainty in the company’s future, Stephen joined and worked with his father to keep it afloat.

Stephen in the Navy, circa 1952

After his father’s passing in 1964, Stephen became president of S. Martinelli and Company. By then, he had 10 years of experience under his belt. In 1968, he celebrated Martinelli’s 100th anniversary. The celebration was modest, as the business was still struggling. Yet, Stephen knew there were good things to come:

“So, as we celebrate our company centennial and take note of some memorable past events, we also look ahead to the future. The difference between 1868 and 1968 is almost overwhelming … It appears there may be some truth to the old adage, ‘The first 100 years are the hardest.’”

Stephen knew he had a legacy to uphold. With his appreciation for Martinelli’s tradition, or what he called its “basic business model,” the company thrived under his leadership for the next five exciting decades. It began when Stephen invested in rebuilding the East Beach plant in the 1960s, spurring a growth trend that continues to this day. When his son John Martinelli joined the company, they both oversaw the modernization of the production equipment, which helped facilitate production for the growing international demand of sparkling cider and juice. Though more battles were ahead for Stephen, his leadership helped the struggling family business grow and prosper.

Stephen is also recognized for helping build a relationship between the company and local apple growers. This was especially important when berries became a more popular crop in Watsonville and threatened the local demand for apples. The reason apples continue to grow in Watsonville can be attributed to Stephen’s acknowledgement of the value of local apple growers and how their crops were key to upholding Martinelli’s gold standard.

Stephen Martinelli, his son John Martinelli (right) and grand nephew Warren Sampson (left) pose with the Newtown Pippin, a local apple crop

Stephen was also a gifted artist and helped design some of the company’s labels throughout the years. John Martinelli’s personal favorite of his father’s designs is one called, “The Old Timer.” In the 1960s, Stephen created a label for the company’s hard cider, paying homage to the company’s Gold Rush roots and the original recipe created by the company’s founder. This product was discontinued in the 1970s, but it still holds a special place in Martinelli’s history.

martinellis-hard-cider-label

With such notable accomplishments and an incredible work ethic, Stephen left a storied legacy to pass onto future generations of his family and the company. As we reach this next big milestone of our 150th anniversary, we remember him fondly and thank him for helping us making it this far. Cheers to the next 150 years, and from all of us at Martinelli’s, we wish you a prosperous 2018!