Emmanuel George Gonio

09/04/1927 – 04/15/2017

Emmanuel George Gonio died peacefully on April 15, 2017, from Aortic Valve Stenosis, surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Manchuria, China to an Italian father, George E. Gonio, and Russian mother, Galina P. Sudeikina. He was raised and educated in Harbin and Shanghai, China.

In 1949 he left Shanghai and immigrated to the United States. He enlisted in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and served his tour of duty in Germany, which allowed him to visit Rome, Italy, where his mother and sister were living at the time. When he returned to San Francisco, he enrolled into U. C. Berkeley, under the G.I. Bill, to study Nuclear Science. He also learned how to fly a plane.

In 1970 he married the love of his life, Teresa Butticci. He worked for 30 years for the City and County of San Francisco as a Chief Engineer in the South East Water Pollution Control Plant. He loved to travel and continued to travel extensively after he retired. His intellectual curiosity and adventurous spirit took him all over the world. A quick study in diverse languages allowed him to communicate with the local residents and make friends far and wide.

He had a brilliant mind and was a lifelong student, well versed in Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry, Anthropology, Art History, etc. He was an avid reader. He was kind, graceful, compassionate, inspirational, nonjudgmental and had a great sense of humor. He treated everyone with respect and consideration. He was an optimist, a peaceful man, who believed in the goodness of the universe and good intentions of the people around him. He loved life and lived it to the fullest.

He is survived by his loving wife of 47 years Teresa, daughter Kathy, granddaughter Emily and devoted sister Mila. His death leaves an inconsolable void in the hearts of all those who loved him and he will be greatly missed. He was buried in the Italian Cemetery and Mausoleum in Colma on April 20, 2017