Luigino “Gino” Mazzariol
March 3rd 1933 – May 23rd 2008
Luigino “Gino” Mazzariol was born in ODERZO/TV in Italy on 3/3/1934 the son of Riccardo Mazariol a baker from Oderzo and Maria Giuseppina a housewife from Ponte di Piave. Two sisters Bianca and Bruna and one brother Piero survive him, his sister Maria precedes him in death. His loving nephew, Franco and numerous nephews and cousins who reside around the world survive Gino. His son AJ Fardella, his daughter-in-law Lisa Della Rocca and five Grandsons Vincent, Anthony, Franklin, Nicky, Mason Enrico and one Granddaughter, Isabelle survive Gino. Gino was and is loved by so many people around the world including the Salamone, Passarella, Mafia, Cassara, Pardi and Ghilarducci families, Albert Basso and Pete O’Brien.
Gino passed away with his son AJ at his side ending a battle with cancer. Gino had several health problems related to years of smoking tobacco. Gino stopped smoking in 2006 after almost dying from Pneumonia and being in a coma for weeks. His recovery was happy although he was maintained by medicine. Five months ago Gino was diagnosed with multiple cancers. Gino had a rapid decline over the last 10 days of his life and because of that did not linger to suffer. He was aware and faced death with his eyes open.
Gino first traveled to North America in 1959 settling in Vancouver BC where he met his first wife an Indian Native named April. While in Canada Gino was a lumberjack, a cook for work camps, and then settled on being a waiter at fine restaurants. April and Gino moved to the San Francisco Peninsula in the early 60’s where Gino began working at the Villa D’Este in Atherton. For over 30 years Gino was a waiter at the finest establishments on the Peninsula including Barbarossa, L’Auberge and Cote D’Azur. Gino ended his restaurant career as the manager of Scotty Campbell’s restaurant in 1984.
In 1969 Gino married Deanna Whitney of San Francisco. Gino and Deanna ran a very successful Pet Grooming Salon called Carousel Pet Grooming in Redwood City until their divorce in 1976. Deanna’s son AJ Fardella and Gino never stopped their relationship as father and son despite the divorce.
Gino returned to his loving family in Italy for 2 years from 1989 to 1991. Upon his return to Redwood City he took up painting as a trade then started working as a painter at the Sequoias in Portola Valley from which he retired in 2006.
Gino had a tremendous sense of humor and a warm and loving nature. Gino spoke 5 languages fluently. Confronted with injustice or cruelty, Gino was the strongest man in the room, always protecting the weak, himself or his friends. Gino was around the greatest chefs of his time and learned quite a bit, preparing authentic Italian gourmet food for his friends and family. Gino would not let you leave after a visit without some homemade Italian delicacy for you to take home. He knew and loved the better things in life from friends to cars to clothes to food to women, Gino always had the finest.
A memorial Celebration of life and a Rosary will be held at the Mission Funeral Home. 22297 Mission Boulevard in Hayward California 94541 this Thursday, June 12 from 5 PM to 9 PM. Food will be served. The following week on Friday June 20th at 11AM a mass for Gino will be held at the Italian National Cathedral, St. Peter and Paul Church on Filbert Street in San Francisco.
Respectfully Submitted,
AJ Fardella
aj@fardella.com