Raymond was born the First American to his Italian immigrant parents, Marino & Damocle Giampaoli, on March 31, 1932 in Merced, CA. Speaking only Italian, he attended Le Grand area schools where he mastered English and graduated from Le Grand High School in 1951. In 1960, he married Maria Bianchi and they together raised three children. And it was then that his lifetime of stewardship began.
Raymond’s childhood revolved around his family’s Le Grand based farming operation: then Giampaoli & Marchini; now Live Oak Farms. Raymond developed a passion for farming and “all things mechanical”. While the family’s tomato and bell pepper farming operation grew fruitfully under Ray’s direction, it was his dedication to Live Oak’s packing and shipping operations from 1963 until retirement that became his trademark. He loved designing, building, repairing and retooling produce packing equipment and successfully erected four produce packing operations which remain fully operable today. However, as the steadfast steward, Raymond always knew that the company’s ongoing growth and success was rooted in his employees and constantly expressed his appreciation for their diligent toil.
Beyond the borders of home and Live Oak Farms, Ray’s nurturing disposition lead him to a lifespan of community service as well. He served as a member and President of the Le Grand High School Board, President of the Merced County Chamber of Commerce, Member of the Italo- American Lodge, the Italian Catholic Federation, Merced Farm Bureau, the Le Grand Volunteer Fire Department, Western Growers Association Board and founding member/ director of the California Tomato Commission. And, amid all these, he remained an active and devoted parishioner of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Le Grand.
He is preceded in death by his father, mother and his brother, Elmo. He is survived by his wife, Maria; children, Bob (Jeanne), Donna Vaughan (Scott) and Sandy Del Real (Steve); six grandchildren, Dominic, Briana, Carlo, Natalie, Ethan and Aidan; his brother Dario (Josephine), as well as several nieces and nephews and other treasured family members and friends.
There will be a visitation on Thursday, September 27, 2018 from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church located at 13145 Le Grand Rd., Le Grand, CA 95333. Recitation of the Holy Rosary will start at 6:30. A Burial Mass will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, September 28, 2018 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church located at 671 E. Yosemite Ave., Merced, CA 95340. He will be laid to rest privately at Evergreen Memorial Park, Merced, CA.
Donations may be made in Raymond’s memory to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church Building Fund, 12731 E. Le Grand Rd., Le Grand, CA 95333, Hinds Hospice of Merced, 4101 W. Main St. St. #A, Merced, CA 95340-4822 or to your own desired charity.
