Diana Baker Hawthorne

Diana was born April first, 1935, in Glendale, California, the only child of Daniel and Ellen Razzaia. Her father was of Italian descent, and her mother English/French. Her mother died when she was only nine years old, and she lived for a few years with her father’s sister’s family until her father remarried. Her sister Sue was born a few years later.

She would marry Robert Ricciardi when they were both 18. She worked while he attended UC Berkeley to get his degree in Architecture. In 1959, the day after graduation, Diana gave birth to their first child, Dodd Ricciardi, and the young family packed up their VW Bug and moved to Palm Desert where Robert had been offered work. They would have three more children, Dawnelle, Dana, and Darren (Mario) while helping to establish a growing town. Diana was always an excellent seamstress and made a lot her own and her children’s clothes. She led cub scout and girl scout troops; she was in the Junior Women’s Club, and she volunteered with the National Charity League. She helped establish a local Episcopal church in Palm Desert.

Diana and Robert divorced in 1976, and she was introduced to Fred Hawthorne by mutual friends. They married in 1977 and she and two of the children moved to Encino near Fred’s work at UCLA. Over the years, she continued to volunteer with the National Charity League, eventually holding several local offices – Ball Chair, Treasurer, and President. She sometimes made her own ball gowns. Diana was a very creative seamstress and an excellent cook. She designed some of her own furniture. She loved travel, and she and Fred traveled to China, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Europe, where she fell in love with Italy. She and her family returned there many times, and she eventually applied for and received Italian citizenship.

In the early oughts, Fred retired from UCLA and was offered founding leadership of the International Institute of Nano and Molecular Medicine. Diana had lived in California her whole life but happily packed up the household and moved with Fred to the Midwest where she became involved in several social and philanthropic clubs including Ciao Bambini, and King’s Daughters. She also joined the congregation of First Presbyterian Church, who warmly welcomed her and invited her to become a deacon. She was thrilled and honored to accept and particularly loved her church family. The highlight of her week was going to lunch with special friends at Glenn’s Cafe. The church was an enormous comfort when Fred passed away in 2021, and her beloved neighbors and friends were also a great support to her.

Diana is survived by her sister Susan Razzaia; her four children, Dodd, Dawnelle, Dana and Mario Ricciardi; and five grandchildren, Patrick and Jenny Harrington-Ricciardi, and Noel, Asher, and Eden Ricciardi.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to World Central Kitchen, wck.org

Services honoring and celebrating Diana's life will be Tuesday, March 3, 2026, 1:00 p.m., at the First Presbyterian Church, 16 Hitt St, Columbia, MO 65201.