Edward Ercolini

Edward “Dago” Raymond Ercolini was born on January 7, 1939, in San Francisco, California, to Angelo Ercolini and Irene Crimele. He passed away on July 12, 2026 in his home in San Jose, California. Leaving behind a lifetime of stories and a legacy that will continue through his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

 Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Angelo and Irene Ercolini; his beloved wife, Joan Ercolini; his sons, Frank Ercolini, Dennis Ercolini, and Roger Ercolini; his daughter-in-law, Kim Ercolini, his grandson-in-law, Sean Brockway; and his brothers, Ronnie Ercolini and Bill Ercolini.

 Ed leaves behind his son, Michael Ercolini, and his wife, Tammy; his grandchildren: Michelle Brockway, Karl Hanson and his wife, Katie, Cassandra Lecher and her husband, Andrew, Audra Golden and her husband, Matt, Jonathan Ercolini, Devin Brackett and his wife, Amanda, Cody Ercolini and his wife, Diana, Brianna Ercolini, Sara Ercolini, and Madaline Ercolini. 

He also leaves behind his great-grandchildren: Donovan Brockway, Connor Brockway, Roran Lecher, Isabella Brackett, Mia Cruz-Ercolini, Rhyan Golden, Quinn Golden, Oliver Brackett, Aleia Cruz-Ercolini, and Araceli Cruz-Ercolini.

 Each one of us carries a piece of him forward—his strength, his humor, his determination, his sense of adventure, and perhaps even a little of his mischief. His family was his greatest legacy, and his stories will continue to be told, laughed about, and passed down for generations. 

It is difficult to sum up a man like Ed in just a few words—mostly because he packed more excitement into his life than most people would think possible.

 He raced cars, drove in demolition derbies, built, restored and showed off his hot rods and classic cars (Mopar only for this man!), coached his sons Michael and Roger in baseball, and competed in bowling leagues alongside his wife Joan and son Michael. He was an active member of the Rod and Wheelers Car Club, where he shared his love of cars and proudly displayed the hot rods and classics he had worked on throughout the years.

 Dago didn’t simply collect and restore cars—he collected stories. 

He had the opportunity to appear in the 1979 movie Hot Rod AKA Rebel of the Road where they used one of his cars in the drag races and you even see him for a brief moment. He once had a beer with Elvis Presley in the back of Elvis’s limo. And, in what may be one of the most unusual and funniest story of all, he once dyed his hair red to escape the police. We are not sure whether the red hair actually fooled anyone, but it certainly gave the rest of us a story we will never forget.

Those stories remind us that Ed didn’t just go through life—he experienced it. He had adventures. He took chances. He worked hard, played hard, and left us with memories that sound almost too unbelievable to be true. But if you knew Ed, you knew they probably were true. 

For decades, he worked in the printing industry and was a proud member of the printers’ union. He was even involved in the bidding on the printing of California’s very first lottery scratcher. It was fitting that someone who spent so much of his life in printing would leave such a permanent impression on everyone around him. 

Some of our favorite memories are not necessarily the biggest or wildest ones. They are the ordinary moments spent with him—gathering in his garage, watching a race or a game, going to car shows, listening to his stories, laughing, and simply being together. 

His garage was more than a place for cars and tools. It was a gathering place. It was where our grandpa entertained. It was where stories were told, opinions were freely shared, and laughter was never far away. If a race or a game was on, you knew where to find him. If it was Friday night everyone knew to come on over—and there was always room for one more person to pull up a chair. 

Behind the race cars, demolition derbies, bowling leagues, hot rods, car shows, and larger- than-life adventures was a man who loved his family deeply. He showed that love by being present—coaching his sons, sharing activities with his wife and children, welcoming people into his garage, and creating the memories we are holding onto today. To know Ed was to know family. 

Ed experienced tremendous loss during his lifetime. He said goodbye to his wife, Joan, his sons Frank, Dennis and Roger, and other people he loved dearly. Yet, he continued forward, carrying them with him while remaining a part of the lives of the family still gathered around him. 

Today, we grieve because someone unforgettable has left us. But we also celebrate him.

 We celebrate the racer, the demolition derby driver, the coach, the bowler, the printer, the hot-rod enthusiast, the storyteller, and the man who apparently believed red hair was an effective disguise. 

Most importantly, we celebrate Dago. The husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend, and storyteller whose life touched more people than he ever realized. 

His legacy will not be measured only by the cars he raced, the trophies he won, the teams he coached, or the pages he helped print. It will be measured by the generations of family he leaves behind and by the stories we will continue telling. 

Every time we hear the roar of an engine, watch a race, gather in a garage, roll a bowling ball—or see someone with suspiciously bright red hair—we will think of him.

 Ed, Dad, Dago, Grandpa, Great Grandpa - thank you for the stories. Thank you for the laughter. Thank you for the memories, the lessons, and the family you helped create. But most of all, Thank you for being there for each one of us. 

Your race here may be over, but your legacy will keep moving forward through every one of us. 

We love you. And we will all miss you more than words can say.