Richard Gambatese

Richard was born on February 28, 1942 in Cleveland, Ohio. His family moved to Washington, DC area a few years later where Richard spent his childhood.

Richard graduated from Bethesda Chevy Chase (MD) High School in 1960. He worked as a clerk in the FBI from 1962 to 1965 where he was preparing to be an FBI agent. This plan, however, was short lived.

In August, 1967, "The Summer of Love" was drawing young people to San Francisco and Richard wanted to be part of this emerging scene. After arriving in the San Francisco Bay Area he attended San Jose State University where he received both his B.A. and M.A. degrees in Psychology.

Richard spent ten years in the mental health field working with substance abusers in both Santa Clara and Contra Costa counties. He then embarked on a twenty-year career in pharmaceutical and biotechnology sales and sales management.

In 1986, Richard moved to the small town of Yountville in the Napa Valley. He cofounded the Napa Valley Jazz Festival and was active in the Yountville Bocce Club founded by his father, Joe. He was Bocce Club President in 2007 and founded the Yountville Invitational Bocce Tournament that raises funds for the Yountville Veterans Home.

In 2002, Richard retired from the large biotechnology firm, Amgen. He then pursued his passion for wine by working part time in the area of hospitality for a number of Napa Valley wineries including Schramsberg Vineyards where he met his wife, Connie, in 2006. Connie was from the Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX area. They were married at St. Apollinaris Catholic Church in Napa in 2007.

In 2009, Richard and Connie moved near Austin, TX where he enjoyed traveling and spending time with friends and their dog, Maggie. He was also very involved in their local Catholic Church and was an active member of the Knights of Columbus. during his time in Austin he continued his involvement with the Yountville Invitational Bocce Tournament.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Betty Gambatese. He is survived by his wife, Connie, of Bee Cave, TX; his brother, Roger of Davis, CA; two sons, Michael Miles of Leesburg, VA and Erik Gambatese of San Francisco, CA; daughter-in-law, Kim Miles; step-daughter, Chrissy McCandlish, her husband Drew McCandlish; and four grandchildren, Lauren and Daniel Miles and Colin and Lane McCandlish.

In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Richard Gambatese Knights of Columbus Council 14025 Scholarship Fund, c/o David Galvan, 16236 Zagros Way, Bee Cave, TX 78738.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2020 at Emmaus Catholic Church, 1718 Lohmans Crossing Rd., Lakeway, Texas 78734. Please join us in celebrating Richard's life by

wearing your favorite Hawaiian shirt.