Fellow. Personal Cortese is a Roman Catholic. He is married to Suzanne Donovan and has five adult children and nine grandchildren. In November, 2020, one of his sons, Dave, was elected to represent Senate District 15 in the California State Senate. Before this Dave served on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, the San Jose City Council, and trustee for the Eastside Union High School District. The family legacy was recognized when Dominc Cortese was proclaimed an Honorary Citizen during a citywide town hall meeting in his father's hometown of Trabia, Italy. The record of the event was read and recorded in the Assembly Daily Journal during legislative proceedings in Sacramento on Friday, January 12, 1984. Although the family transitioned into development under obvious pressures of growth, they farmed and operated family fruit stand in the Evergreen area of San Jose until very recently. As benefactors, Dominic and Suzanne Cortese are members of the Legacy Society of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, the Felice Foundation, created by Dr. Leo Buscaglia and The Italian American Heritage Association. Cortese is an Honorary Member of the Civic Club of San Jose. Dominic Cortese served on the Santa Clara University Board of Fellows. He was a member of the International Optimist and also the Elks Club. He served on the Board of Directors of Sunsweet Growers. Election history Elected to Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors 1968; re-elected in 1972,1976 Elected to the California State Legislature in 1980, Re-elected 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994 Reform Party Candidate 13th State Senate District 1996. Elected to Alum Rock School Board (his elementary school) in 1998 to four-year term. He chaired the Board twice. References External links Cortese Papers, Online Archives-State of CA Official Dominic L. Cortese Facebook Page Assembly Resolution Honoring Dominic Cortese 1932 births Living people Members of the California State Assembly People from Santa Clara County, California