Frank John Pizzinelli Jr.

Pizzinelli Jr

5/10/1926-1/28/2017

Frank John Pizzinelli Jr. died peacefully January 28, 2017 at the Westview Healthcare Center in Auburn. A native of Norwood, Massachusetts, Frank was born on May 10, 1926 to Italian immigrant parents Frank Sr. and Angelina.

Frank joined the Navy during World War II and served on the USS Aegir, a Sub Tender stationed on Midway Island in the South Pacific. The Aegir docked at Mare Island in 1944 and it was that year Frank met Gloria Garofalo, the girl he would marry, a connection made through his cousin Mike Fate. Frank took Gloria to her senior prom at Presentation High School in 1946. They married in 1950 and together raised three children in the Judah Street flat. For 28 years, Frank and Gloria hosted many wonderful parties for family and friends, complete with Frank's culinary creations including his famous "made at midnight" spaghetti sauce.

Frank started his career in construction with the Claude Lindsay Firm of San Francisco, and then the Mayta and Jensen Company. He began his own construction firms with Joe French and later, Charlie Simpson.

Frank was hired by the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency in 1968 to manage the transfer of heritage Victorian houses in the Western Addition to other locations in San Francisco. He became Director of the Redevelopment Agency and worked there until the tragic assassination of Mayor George Moscone which changed the political landscape of San Francisco.

Retiring from the Redevelopment Agency, Frank continued to work for the City of San Francisco as a Building Inspector. He later began his own business as a Plan Expediter for clients wishing to obtain permits to build in San Francisco.

Frank was an amazing cook and entertainer and had many friends in the restaurant businesses in San Francisco, including Fisherman's Wharf, North Beach and Chinatown. Frank had a special love for outdoor activities and spent many weekends and vacations hunting and camping. When he moved to Auburn, California, Frank became a wholesale distributor for the Homestead Ravioli Company of South San Francisco to restaurants in the Auburn area. He enjoyed cooking for his friends and would often pull a trailer behind his cherished truck to PG&E employee gatherings throughout the Southwestern states where he would barbecue for the attendees.

Frank enjoyed the companionship and camaraderie of many neighbors and friends while living on Picklebarrel Road and Crimson Court in Auburn. Their compassion and support of Frank during his illness is very much appreciated. The family would like to extend a special thank you to his companion of the last 25 years, Roberta Shanley.

Frank was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Angelina and his sister Loretta. He is survived by his wife Gloria and three daughters and son-in-laws; Fran and Nick Rozoff, Karin and Al Zeidler, Diane and Jim Preble. Known to his nephews as "Uncle Frankie," he is also survived by Jeffrey Bainbridge (Michelle) and children Scott, Megan, Ben and Susan and Steven Bainbridge (Anna) and children Norah and Taj. Frank was a loving grandpa to his ten grandchildren and their families, Carrie (Jeff) Pritchard, Dan (Solera) and Tony (Holly) Rozoff and Amanda (Mike) Moore, as well as Josh, Jennifer, Jessica, and Andrew Zeidler , Melissa (Chris) Carman and Courtnie Preble. Frank is also survived by his three great grandchildren, Jayden Zeidler, Peyton and Tanner Pritchard.

Frank lived life to the fullest and will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Family and friends are invited to a celebration of Frank's life at 2:00 PM on Thursday, February 23, 2017 at his house in Auburn. Frank was a lifetime member of the VFW, so in lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Veterans of Foreign Wars at vfw.org.

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Published in Gold Country Media Newspapers on Feb. 19, 2017

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Arrangements under the direction of Chapel of the Hills, Auburn, CA.