The family of Councilmember Mark Carnevale has finalized arrangements for a Celebration of Life service to honor his over a decade of dedicated service to Cathedral City and his impact on the community.
Service Details:
- Date: Monday, December 15, 2025
- Time: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Location: Mary Pickford Theatre, 36850 Pickfair Street, Cathedral City, CA 92234
The service is open to the public and will feature tributes from city leadership, community partners, family, and friends who knew Mark throughout his life of service.
For those unable to attend in person, the service will be livestreamed on the City of Cathedral City’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/discovercathedralcity. An overflow auditorium will also be available at the Mary Pickford Theatre showing the broadcast for additional attendees.
Light refreshments will be provided by New Leaf Catering following the celebration service.
Program Highlights:
The celebration, emceed by Stan Henry, will include musical tributes, video tributes showcasing Mark’s contributions to Cathedral City, and speakers representing the many facets of his life:
- City Leadership: Cathedral City Mayor Raymond Gregory will speak to Mark’s service and leadership
- Community Impact: Patrick Evans, KESQ Chief Meteorologist, and Scott Robinson from the Boys & Girls Club of Cathedral City will share Mark’s community involvement
- Personal Tributes: Family members Karrie and Nick Carnevale will offer personal reflections
- Special Presentation: Dominic Carnevale will read a letter from Mark’s brother, Michael Carnevale
Reverend Clinton Crawshaw of All Souls Church MCCCV will provide the opening prayer and closing message.
Mark Carnevale served Cathedral City with distinction for over 10 years, representing District 3 on the City Council and serving as Mayor twice. He was instrumental in the revitalization of Cathedral City’s Downtown Arts & Entertainment District and was a passionate advocate for smart growth and community development.
Through his family’s restaurant, Nicolino’s Italian Restaurant, Mark gave generously to countless community organizations and embodied the spirit of service that defined his life.
Donations in Lieu of Flowers:
The Arnold-Carnevale Family Foundation was recently established to unify the already-existing Chai Arnold Family Scholarship with the legacy of Councilman Mark Carnevale, whose decades of community involvement shaped and uplifted the Coachella Valley. The Chai Arnold Family Scholarship, established in 2024, awarded its first recipient at Cathedral City High School with a one-time $1,000 scholarship and now serves as the foundation’s starting point for its broader mission. The foundation’s mission is to continue Mark’s spirit of service by supporting local youth through scholarships, grants, and community-focused initiatives.
For those wishing to honor Mark’s memory, donations may be made by check to Arnold-Carnevale Family Foundation and mailed to P.O. Box 4242, Palm Springs, CA 92263.
The community is invited to join the Carnevale family in celebrating Mark’s life and legacy on December 15th.
Read the City’s full tribute to Councilmember Mark Carnevale
