Roy Ricci
September 1, 1921 – July 20, 2022
Roy Ricci, native Santa Rosan, passed away a few weeks shy of his 101st birthday, in the Ricci family home he built in 1950. Roy grew up on Pierson Street in Santa Rosa’s “Little Italy”. There, he was both hunter and gatherer for the family, adorning the table with pheasants, wild turkeys, Himalayan blackberries and trout from nearby Santa Rosa Creek.
Roy’s love of nature continued throughout his life. He mowed his lawns and spaded his yard well into his 90s. He was a prolific gardener, producing a wealth of flowers, fruits and vegetables. He believed that his 30 artichoke plants flourished because of Luther Burbank’s soil. The “secret”, too, was leaving one blossom on the choke, thus thanking and returning life to the mother plant. A kind and sensitive man was Roy.
Roy spent his 42-year-career with Codding Construction Company, building Coddingtown, Montgomery Village, residential homes, and commercial buildings throughout Santa Rosa. His cabinet shop was his castle. His crew and boss were his friends as were many of his clients. He loved his profession and craft.
Roy enjoyed a lifetime love of fishing, including the early days of steelhead fly fishing on the Russian River and trips with Hugh Codding to Alaska and Montana. He spent many summers camped on the Klamath River happily fishing for salmon and steelhead with family and friends. He was a mentor to fishermen and fisherwomen alike.
Roy served his country in World War II (1942-1945) as a Staff Sergeant for the United States Army Air Force. He served in China, Burma and India with additional service on Tinian Island. On Veteran’s Day 2021, a special American flag was flown over the US Capitol Building in his honor. Kudos go to the Pacific Coast Air Museum and the former and present US Capitol Police Chiefs for their efforts in this remembrance. Roy was very grateful and deeply moved to receive this recognition. “Why did they choose me?”, he pondered. Roy was a humble man.
Roy was preceded in death by his parents, Jenny “Gammy” Scinto Ricci and Anselmo “Sam” “Pops” RIcci; daughter Jan Ricci Cazier; sisters Carmella Furia and Bertha Cowart; brother George Ricci; and uncle George Scinto.
Roy is survived by his devoted wife of 74 years, Lois Bolce Ricci; daughter Cheryl Ricci Kopczynski; son-in-law Joe Kopczynski; sister-in-law Darlene Winters; grandchildren Kevin Cazier (Lilo) and Stacey Winckler; eight great grandchildren; seven great great grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews; and his “granddog”, Django.
Roy will be deeply missed by all including his closest friends who became his cherished extended family.
The family expresses special thanks to Roy’s caregivers, neighbors, doctors, hospice team, and the Sonoma County Veterans Service Office for their love and guidance. Roy wanted to live out his life in his own home; the village of support made his wish possible.
Roy attributed his longevity to hard physical and mental work and to accomplishing something every day, no matter how big or how small it was. His family knew his endearing daily diet of salami and candy added to the mix.
A Celebration of Roy’s Life will be held this September (date tbd) in his backyard: his sanctuary, pride and joy. There, stories will flow, salami will be savored, and favorite candies will abound in tribute to the sweet life Roy lived.
Published by Press Democrat on Aug. 14, 2022.
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