Angelo Panari

1936-2022

Passed away unexpectedly at the age of 86 in San Francisco on Friday May 6, 2022. Born in Sassuolo, Modena to Francesca and Eligio Panari, Angelo grew up with his sister Paola in the heart of the city. He proudly spent 2 years in Rome at the Fireman Academy during his military service. He then joined his father and their family business and began to cultivate his passion for engines and cars, and motorcycles and bicycles. In 1962 Angelo married Piera Silvestri and worked at Ferrari in Maranello, travelling throughout Europe as part of the racing team crew. He continued to pursue his career with Ferrari in North America moving to New York in 1964 and then on to San Francisco in 1965 with his wife and daughter Susanna.

Working in Fisherman’s Wharf on Hyde St. at the Ferrari dealership, enchanted by cable cars, Irish Coffees at the Buena Vista Café, and lunches at the Pantera Restaurant, he fell in love with San Francisco where his second daughter Giusy was born. Meeting wonderful lifelong friends, Angelino went to night school to learn English where he had a lot of fun meeting people from all over the world, kidding around and enjoying himself. Fascinated with the cultural hub that SF offered, and attracted by the artist vibe, beatnik movement and freedom of expression, Angelo embraced the beauty, creativity, and futurism that surrounded him and realized that he could continue to cultivate his work, dreams and build a future in the vibrant accepting environment, of which he was so fond.

A tireless worker, Angelo had the pleasure of meeting people from all walks of life throughout California, and the USA, spending 38 years serving customers via his repair shop on Hyde St. near City Hall. He embraced the dangers of the Tenderloin and navigated the neighborhood fearlessly, building friendships, bridges, and connections. Always so generous, Angelo always encouraged his family to share. He welcomed extended family and friends from Italy and all over the world, accepted and helped others in need and genuinely encouraged his family to persevere and pursue passions through hard work. The Panari home became a destination for visitors from Sassuolo travelling to California! Angelo was always so happy to take them on tours in his Lancia Flavia, Alfa, BMW or whatever car he was driving at that moment. He loved to spend his time in Tahoe in both the summer and the winter, driving in snow storms daringly with his small but reliable cars. On his frequent travels to Europe to see family, he made sure to see and reconnect with friends from his childhood and evidently was ever so excited to return to San Francisco with suitcases full of hard to find auto parts.

Unwilling to retire, he moved his shop to 14th St. where he embraced a new neighborhood and friends who were more than family! With their undivided support and help until the very end, they enabled him to continue to serve his favorite customers. A free spirited character, Angelo loved all forms of mobility, more recently taking a bus to his shop every day.

He loved sports and enjoyed watching Formula 1 very often in the middle of the night, and of course, was ever so proud of the Sassuolo soccer team finally in Serie A!

An extraordinary and honorable man who strived to live and let live, Angelo is survived by his wife Piera, his daughters Susanna and Giusy, his son in law Giacomo, beautiful granddaughters Charlotte and Nicole, his sister Paola, his nephews Marco, Paolo and Giancarlo and their families.

In addition to his family, Angelo is survived by lifelong friends in Italy, Argentina and the SF Bay Area he was so proud to have had the privilege to meet, and who truly loved him.

Funeral Mass will be held on Friday May 20th at 10:30 am with a brief viewing prior to the mass at St. Peter’s and Paul Church in San Francisco. For safety reasons attendees are required to wear masks.

Donations can be made in lieu of flowers to Doctors without Borders at: donate.doctorswithoutborders.org

Following the Mass there will be a reception with light refreshments at the San Francisco Athletic Club, 1630 Stockton Street., San Francisco, CA 94133

* Angelo's remains will be brought back to Italy for a private interment ceremony.