Gino Peter Sordi

January 30, 1922 – February 12, 2017, Age 95.

– Leaving a legacy of beautiful wood carved artifacts.

Gino was born in Arcade, Italy, Provence of Treviso. He arrived with his parents Giuseppe and Virginia, at Ellis Island in the US, September 1922, at the grand age of 6 months. Gino was the oldest of 4 brothers, grew in the Lassen County town of Westwood, California. His parents became US citizens, Guiseppe, in 1936,Virginia in 1947, and Gino gained citizenship in 1948, the family lived a quiet life in the small Westwood community. Gino had many nicknames, his friends called him the “natural” as he was very good at all sports. His real love however, was the outdoors – hunting big game, waterfowl, and fishing, all over the California Wilderness. As a young man, he worked for the local Red River Lumber Company, and his free time was spent in the outdoors. He would hunt small game that he sold for a small amount of money to pay for shells, or donated the prey to those who could not pay, earning the affectionate title of “The Godfather”. He was interested in taxidermy, and became very skilled in creating life like bird and animal mounts. He was an Army Veteran, 1942 – 1946, and served in the 295th Brigade. In 1943, on leave, from the military, he married his sweetheart Virginia Cozzalio, also from Westwood. The family moved to Sacramento in 1958, raised 3 children, Chris, Eva, and John. Gino worked over 3 decades for Proctor and Gamble, as a supervisor in the Soap Manufacturing Group, at the Sacramento Plant., Retiring in the 90’s.

Gino had many other talents and hobbies; building beautiful furniture, camper shells, and eventually turned his interests to wood carving in 1975. He became a master wood carver and gained State and National recognition of his work with over 100 hand carved works of art, to include the Religious themes like the “Pieta”, the “Face of Christ”, “The Roman Chariot”; Western scenes like the “The End of the Trail”, “The Buffalo Hunt”; Animal scenes; “The Screaming Eagles”, “The African Kudu” “Galloping Mustangs”, to name a few.

He was very generous with his time and talent, designing/building, and donating church Altar’s Podium’s, Tabernacle’s to many local Houses of Worship.

Some Italians are thought to have a very gruff demeanor, he really didn’t want many to know, but his heart went out to many people, and he held a special place in his soul for Granddaughter’s Michelle and Bronte, with their special needs.

He was an active member in the Italian Cultural Society; California Carvers Guild; and the California Wood Carvers of Sacramento.

His wife, Virginia passed in 2006, his daughter Eva in 2014, brothers Mario, 2003, and Angelo, 2012, leaving his sole family sibling, youngest brother, Aldo Sordi, and his family.

Gino is survived by son’s; Chris, (wife - Mary Lou), John Sordi, and their families, that include 7 Grandchildren, and 8 Great Grandchildren.

Viewing and Remembrance Feb 23, 2017 4pm -7pm; Rosary 7pm Feb 23 – Nicoletti Funeral Home 5401 Folsom Blvd; Funeral-Mass - Feb 24, 2017 10AM - St Peters Catholic Church – 6210 McMahon Dr. Sac. Ca. – then St Mary’s Cemetery for Burial 6509 Fruitridge Rd, Sac, CA

Donations in lieu of flowers can be sent to Epilepsy Research Foundation, 401 Watt Ave #3, Sacramento, CA 95864

Arrangements under the direction of Nicoletti, Culjis & Herberger Funeral Home, Sacramento, CA.