SANTO DeFAZIO, age 85, was born January 16, 1940, in Johnstown, PA, and passed away January 7, 2026, in his Temecula, CA home. Santo is survived by his beloved wife of 34 years, Joan Louw-DeFazio, as well as his son Christopher (Amy) of Omaha, NE. His daughter Angela Anderson preceded him in death in April 2024. Also surviving Santo are his step-children, Susan Popplewell (Larry) and Laura Bird (Jeff) of Menifee, CA; Preston Cort Eyerman of Youngtown, AZ, and Marshall Eyerman (Theresa) of Callahan, FL.. Santo was grandfather to Jacob and Rebecca Wall; Christopher DeFazio, Jr., and Amanda DeFazio; Matthew Freeman; Jennifer and Laura Popplewell; Felicia, Angela, and Preston M. Eyerman; Cameron and Kayla Bird; Ashli, Chris, and Mikhael Eyerman; and Amber Ceccola, as well as a great-grandfather to 15 special great-grandchildren.
Santo was a talented musician who began his professional music career while a teenager playing for fraternal organizations in Johnstown, PA. After moving to California in the early 1960’s, he continued playing polkas and ballroom dance songs for thousands of appreciative dancers until Alzheimer’s Disease forced his retirement. When not performing, Santo was also a machinist/owner of SJD Automatics in Hemet, CA and owner of DeFazio’s Restaurant and Dance Hall (formerly the Winchester Inn) in Winchester, CA.
Santo was truly a “people person” who loved interacting with his friends and followers as much as performing for them. He was a great dancer, a delightful storyteller and always a true gentleman to the highest degree. He was never prouder of his Italian heritage than when he visited Calabria, Italy and found his name on a house nameplate.
