Remembering Mark Carnevale

First elected to the City Council in November 2014, Councilmember Carnevale represented District 3 and served the city with distinction for over a decade. He served as Mayor twice—first following the passing of Mayor Gregory S. Pettis in 2019, and again in December 2023.

A Lifetime of Service

Mark Carnevale called the Coachella Valley home since 1969. Alongside his wife Rhonda—his high school sweetheart of 50 years—he owned and operated Nicolino’s Italian Restaurant, a Cathedral City institution since 1985. The restaurant, serving fine Italian cuisine prepared by three generations of family members including his two children, Karrie and Nick, and 5 grandchildren, embodied Mark’s commitment to family and community.

Through Nicolino’s, Mark gave generously to countless local organizations, supporting the Cathedral City Boys and Girls Club, Cathedral City Evening Rotary, Cathedral City High School programs, Police Officers and Firefighters Associations, and numerous other clubs and foundations. The Chamber of Commerce honored Nicolino’s as both “Restaurant of the Year” and “California Small Business of the Year.”

Champion for Cathedral City

Councilmember Carnevale ran on principles that guided his entire tenure: being a careful listener to constituents, improving police and fire services, and increasing economic development opportunities throughout Cathedral City. He was instrumental in the revitalization of the Downtown Arts & Entertainment District, championing the development of the Cathedral City Community Amphitheater, the Agua Caliente Casino Cathedral City, and supporting the transformation of downtown into a thriving cultural and entertainment destination.

His leadership extended beyond city limits through extensive regional service, including:

• Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) Executive Committee

• CVAG Homeless Committee (7+ years dedicated to ending homelessness)

• CVAG Transportation Committee

• Riverside County Transportation Commission

• League of California Cities – Riverside County Division Executive Board

• Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Southern California Association of Governments

He is survived by his beloved wife Rhonda, their two children Karrie and Nico, and five cherished grandchildren. Mark often spoke proudly of having four generations working together at Nicolino’s, a testament to the values he instilled in his family.

His Legacy

In his own words, Councilmember Carnevale described his approach to service: “I pride myself on communicating, collaborating and working as a team with Council, staff, and residents to reach our shared goals. None of our accomplishments were done alone—it was always a team effort.”

His colleagues, friends, and the entire Cathedral City community will deeply miss Mark Carnevale’s leadership, his warm smile, his dedication to making Cathedral City a better place, and his genuine love for this city and its people.

The foundation's mission is to continue Mark's spirit of service by supporting local youth through scholarships, grants, and community-focused initiatives.