Matteo P. Guccione

Matteo Pasquale (Matt) Guccione passed from this life on September 9, 2016. He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana June 28, 1920 to Leo and Isabel Guccione (Messina). The family moved to Los Angeles, California where he spent his childhood years, graduating from Fremont High School. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was stationed in Maui, HI.

Just prior to leaving the Navy, a cousin offered to introduce him to a friend from work, a cute little brunette who was just 5 feet tall with clear blue eyes. For Matt, it was love at first sight and he and Ruth (Cranston) celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary earlier this year. He adored her until the day he died.

Matt is survived by his loving wife Ruth; his children Elizabeth Howe (David), Leonore Swarz (Bill) and Leo Guccione (Charlene); grandchildren Katie Krell, Laura Garrett (Joseph), Sara Guccione and Matthew Guccione; and great grandchildren Nathan and Samantha Garrett.

Most of Matt’s career was spent in the grocery industry working in managerial capacities for several California based grocery chains. Upon his retirement, he and Ruth began their second careers as entrepreneurs in the “Swap Meet” business. For over 30 years you could find them most every weekend at Koby’s Swap Meet in San Diego staking out “Gucci’s Corner”. If they weren’t at the swap meet, they were traveling on their favorite Holland America cruise ship. They loved those “Dam Ships”!

Two years ago as the years started catching up with them, Matt and Ruth moved from their beloved San Diego home to live with their daughter Elizabeth and her husband David in Reno, Nevada. Very quickly they learned to love the beautiful mountains and activities of the area. Whether it was Hot August Nights, the Best of the West Rib Cook-off, or the Italian Festival, they loved being a part of it all. Matt made friends wherever he went. With his baseball bat cane and motorized scooter, he got around the local casinos and he was always ready for a game of pinochle with family and friends. It was always a challenge to try to beat Grandpa at pinochle! His favorite food was chocolate ice cream with sprinkles or chocolate pudding, or actually anything chocolate. He loved to bestow chocolate kisses on any lady he met, but he kept the real ones for Grandma.

Matt was very loved and will be sorely missed.

Arrangements under the direction of FitzHenry’s Funeral Home, Carson City, NV.