Richard Elia Faggioli
December 4, 1921– March 24, 2018
Richard E. Faggioli died peacefully in his Corralitos, CA home at the age of 96. He was the son of Bertha H. and Elia A. Faggioli. His wonderful wife, Georgiana Patty Faggioli, predeceased him in 2001. Throughout his long life, he was first and foremost devoted to his family. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was an accomplished professional and executive. He was also an inveterate world traveler and observer of the natural world. He was comfortable in any setting: from hiking in the Sierras, to working on his farm and ranch, to participating in board room decisions, to nurturing his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Born in Los Angeles in 1921, at an early age he sang and played the ukulele with the Meglin Kiddies, a group of performing children that included Frances Gumm, later to become Judy Garland. After graduating from Phoenix Union High School in Phoenix, Arizona, he began university at UCLA where he studied Geology and was a member of the Army ROTC. World War II interrupted his education He spent the majority of World War II in a specialized light artillery unit headquartered in Ft. Benning, GA. At the end of the War, he was deployed to Japan to assist in the reconstruction effort. There he learned to speak Japanese. He received his honorable discharge with the rank of Major.
Returning home, he married Georgiana Lorraine Patty in Menlo Park, CA. The couple first resided in Santa Monica, CA where Richard began his long and distinguished career with Humble Oil and Refining Company (now Exxon-Mobil Corporation) and completed his Master’s Degree in Geology at UCLA. He was the first West Coast Geologist hired by Humble. He played a key role in the discovery of many Southern California oilfields and the initial exploration of, and production from, the Santa Barbara Channel. Richard’s and Georgiana’s daughter, Marcia, was born in 1949. Their son, Justin, was born in 1951, after they moved to La Canada, CA. Richard’s career took him from California to Texas, Washington D.C., England, and ultimately New York, where he commuted for many years from their home in New Canaan, CT. He held executive positions in: domestic and worldwide exploration and production, government affairs, and corporate administration. Richard retired in 1985 as Vice President, Corporate Secretary of Exxon Corporation.
While living in England, Richard and Georgiana began a decades-long affinity for the United Kingdom, its historic homes and gardens, and its countryside. Before and after retirement, the couple traveled extensively to the UK, Europe, Asia, Africa and the South Pacific.
Upon retirement, Richard and Georgiana moved to their 200-acre farm in Corralitos, CA. On this bucolic property, aptly named Alto Corralitos, they built a beautiful home where they lived for the remainder of their lives. They created a CCOF-certified organic farm, leasing portions of the property to successful organic farming operations: Blue Heron Farms, New Natives and Blossom’s Farm. They also frequently visited their 3,000-acre ranch in the Sierras, Eshom-Kaweah Ranch. The farm and ranch were the scenes of wonderful times with family and friends, including 6 grandchildren and 6 greatgrandchildren.
Richard was the Chair and Trustee Emeritus of the Royal Oak Foundation (the US branch of the British National Trust) and was active in the San Francisco branch of the English-Speaking Union. He was a member of the Explorers’ Club (New York City) and the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. He was a graduate of the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program. He was a supporter and avid enthusiast of the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music and the UCSC Opera and Voice Program.
Richard is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Marcia and Fred Smith, their children Celestial Ibraeva (m. Janat Ibraev), Elise Perisho (m. Brian Perisho), Mega Boise (m. Jesse Boise), and Richard Smith; and by his son and daughter-in-law, Justin Faggioli and Sandra Donnell, and their children, Nathaniel Faggioli (m. Stacie Wang) and Claire Faggioli (m. Daniel Sternberg). Richard is the proud great-grandfather of: Katrina Ibraev, Nicolas Perisho, Bailey Perisho, Taylor Boise, Caelyn Boise, and Phoebe Sternberg (with, perhaps, more to come). He is also survived by his sisterin-law, Charlotte Patty; and Nephew David Patty and Niece Pam Tweet and their families.
The family expresses its deepest appreciation for the caregivers who provided him with exceptional comfort and care in his last years of life. They also thank Hospice of Santa Cruz County for helping to guide his final journey.
The family will hold a private service at a later date. In lieu of flowers and in commemoration of Richard’s life, please send contributions to the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music and/or Hospice of Santa Cruz County. Mehl’s Colonial Chapel was entrusted with the arrangements.