Meet Our Staff 

Jeffrey Cruz

Managing Partner

Jeffrey Cruz was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. He began his career in funeral service in 1984; working for several funeral homes in the Denver metro area. He had also managed many funeral homes and cemeteries in Arizona and California before accepting this wonderful opportunity in Santa Fe.  

Jeffrey is looking forward to serving this community with the same compassion and respect that has been the cornerstone of his desire to pursue a career in funeral service 39 years ago.  

Jeffrey and his wife, Roni, enjoy traveling, cooking, golfing and exploring the culture and sites of Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico.

Rick Berardinelli

President Emeritus / Licensed Funeral Service Practioner

Rick Berardinelli, a lifelong resident of Santa Fe, served as our company President until early in 2016 and now works primarily in a public relations role. He has been affiliated with the Berardinelli firm since 1975. Rick attended Los Niños Kindergarten, Wood Gormley Elementary School, Harrington Junior High, the University of New Mexico, and Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute, where he earned an Associate of Arts in Culinary Arts as a Sous Chef. He worked in that capacity for three years then attended the San Francisco College of Mortuary Science in 1975.

Over the years he has held the positions of Vice President, President, CEO and Funeral Service Consultant. Rick has earned the credentials of Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP), a result of many years of education and activities related to his profession. Professionally, he has served as a member and chairman of the New Mexico Board of Thanatopractice, as a board member and president of the New Mexico Funeral Service Association, as a member and lecturer with the National Funeral Directors Association, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Office of the Medical Investigator for the State of New Mexico.

His community work has included serving as President of the Santa Fe Fiesta Council, President of the Santa Fe Fiesta Foundation, board member of the Santa Fe County Chamber of Commerce, board member of the Bank of Santa Fe (now Wells Fargo), Open Hands, Montezuma Lodge #1 A.F. & A.M., the City of Santa Fe Historic Design Review Board, City Personnel Board, City Parks and Recreation Commission, the Santa Fe Community Housing Trust, Bienvenidos Outreach and as a board member, Past President and current member of the Santa Fe Rotary Club. He is a member of La Union Protectiva in Santa Fe. He was instrumental in the creation of Gerard's House for grieving children and is a current member of their board. He is also currently serving on the boards of the Santa Fe County Chamber of Commerce and Coming Home Connection.

Gerald R. Rodriguez

Licensed Funeral Service Practitioner / Certified Crematory Operator / Pre Need Counselor

Gerald was born in Santa Fe at the “Old St. Vincent’s.” He is the son of the late Eliseo and Paula Rodriguez, also lifelong residents and world renound artists.

Gerald attended Cristo Rey School then went on to Santa Fe High School. He attended Highland University, Santa Fe Community College and The Amarillo College of Mortuary Science, where he earned his degree in Funeral Science.

Gerald was a Firefighter –Paramedic with the Santa Fe Fire Dept. from 1980 until his retirement in 1999.

His love for Funeral service and wanting to be of service to the folks of Santa Fe began at an early age. In 1972 at the age of 14, Gerald came to work at Berardinelli Mortuary under the tutelage of Robert Berardinelli, the founder of Berardinelli Mortuary. Even while working at the Santa Fe Fire Dept., Gerald “Helped out” on his days off at Berardinelli Mortuary.

After his retirement from SFFD, he has continued to work here at Berardinelli’s as a Funeral Director and Embalmer. He is still very passionate about being able to be of humble service to the people of Santa Fe, Pecos, Pojoaque, and Nambe’.

He is a member of the Perpetual Adoration Society at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Santa Fe, and a member of the choir at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Nambe’. He is a member of the Pilgrimage for Vocations

Gerald likes to garden and  play drums.

Dave Maestas

Funeral Director & Embalmer

Dave is a native of Northern New Mexico and has served as a Funeral Service Practitioner for over 30 years. He is from Las Vegas, New Mexico, and is a graduate of West Las Vegas High School. Dave received his funeral service degree from Central State University in Edmond, Oklahoma. He is a member of Sigma Phi Sigma and served in the U.S. Army National Guard. Dave enjoys listening to music, visiting with friends, and spending time at his ranch.

David Radman

Transfer Care Team Leader

Manuel Salas

Transfer Care Specialist

Hannah Crider

Transfer Care Specialist