Roy Dominic Petri

Roy Dominic Petri  -- In Loving Memory - 1934-2017

Roy Dominic Petri passed away peacefully at his Sonoma, California, home on Sunday, November 26, 2017, at the age of 83, following a brief illness. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Marisa; his son, Michael; son Paul and wife Tammi, with their children, Daniella and Nicolas; and son Gregory and Serap Sevil, with their daughter, Angelia. He is also survived by his sister, Noemi Malanca, and husband Enzo, and their daughter Stefanie and family; brother Rico Petri and wife Joan, and their sons, Ed and Jerry Petri and family. Roy also leaves behind other relatives and many friends. He is preceded in death by his son Ron and his parents, Angelo and Delfina, who were immigrants from Lucca, Italy.

Born in San Francisco, California, on January 19, 1934, Roy was raised and lived for most of his childhood and early adult years in Fairfax, California, where he had the fondest of memories. His time spent with his sister, Noemi, putting on a carnival for the neighborhood kids or fishing the creeks with his brother, Rico, were special. The Italian picnics and barbeques, playing ball all day in the summers, family gatherings where his mother Delfina would play the accordion and sing, and all the friends he made along the way made Fairfax the small-town life he loved. Roy shared tales of his time caddying at the Meadow Club and working at the Marin Town and Country Club in his early years. He never tired of telling of the town's history and stories. He was so proud to be a Fairfax-ian.

Roy was also proud to be in the first graduating class of Sir Francis Drake High School, the Class of 1952. He then joined the U.S. Air Force and served proudly as an aerial photographer from 1952 to 1956, during the Korean War and following. After serving with the Air Force, Roy returned and worked with his father, Angelo, in the cabinetry and carpentry business, where he learned skills that he would value his whole life.

Roy met the love of his life, Marisa Malanca, in 1958 at a dance at the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club in the North Beach district of San Francisco. Soon after, in 1959, they were married at Saints Peter and Paul Church. For the first 5 years of their life together, Roy and Marisa lived in North Beach, where they started a family. From there they moved to San Anselmo, California, to continue raising their four sons. This was a homecoming for Roy, returning to the place of his youth. Marisa and Roy continued to reside in San Anselmo for the next 47 years. For their golden years, they enjoyed living in Sonoma.

Roy joined the Lithograph Union in 1959 and worked as a plate maker in the printing business until 1992. He was an excellent craftsman in the trade and worked at some of the best printing companies in San Francisco. He enjoyed his work immensely and had a great reputation in the industry, where he worked with many a friend. At one point, Roy began his own lithography company doing side work. He later started his own handyman business, his second career, doing general craftsman work, which became his next passion. He would work as a handyman all the way to age 80, as working was not his chore but something he loved to do.

Roy's first passion though, all the while, was his wife, his family, and the many friends he made along the way. He loved the outdoors, fishing, camping, and barbeques. He loved to coach and watch soccer and helped start the first soccer league in the area. At one time, Roy was the Drake High School soccer coach, coaching his son Greg there. He loved to garden and he loved his dogs, Bingo and Bonnie. He never missed an activity or event of his kids and grandkids, always their biggest fan.

Roy came to those in need and offered his help. He was a devout Catholic, faithful and dedicated to the church, and held God on high throughout his life. He also taught catechism for many years at St. Rita's Church in Fairfax. Always loyal and kind to his friends and family, was Roy. Always dedicated and responsible to his sons and his grandchildren, always a teacher, always a helper, never shedding responsibility, was Roy. And through all the years, Roy and Marisa's love stayed strong while enjoying their trips, their many dances together and social life, and especially times shared with their family. Roy's zest for life and living, his desire to not just talk to people but learn about them and make them a friend, and his doing good and right will always live in our memory and has left this world a better place.

A Memorial Mass will be held for Roy on Saturday, December 2nd, 2:30 p.m. at Saint Francis Solano Catholic Church, 469 Third Street West, Sonoma, California. A prayer session will take place at the church at 2:00 p.m. just prior to the Mass for those who wish to join in Rosary prayer.

The family asks that those who so desire make memorial donations in memory of Roy Petri to Hospice by the Bay, www.hospicebythebay.org.

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