Roland Renato Bianchi

January 29, 2024

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our beloved Roland Renato Bianchi. Roland was born to Renato Bianchi and Beatrice Campi in San Francisco. He attended Sherman Elementary School, Marina Jr. High, and Washington High in San Francisco where he was student body president.

He later attended U.C. Berkeley, followed by one year at Bolt Law School. Upon completing his first year of law school, he was drafted into the Korean war.

Following the war, Roland set aside his dreams of finishing law school and followed in his father’s footsteps by working at the Bank of America.

He married his first love, Janice Martin, who predeceased him in 1982. Roland and Janice had three sons, Russell, Ross (deceased) and Randall.

Roland remarried his second love, Dr. Judy Rogers. The couple was married for almost 40 happy years.

Roland is survived by his wife, Judy; his sons, Russell and Randall; his brother, Ray (Anne); his granddaughter, Catarina; his cousin, Jean Winter (John Curran).

Roland is also survived by many nieces and nephews, Becky (Colin) Klinesteker, Robbie (Erin) Bianchi, Eddie (Joelle) Bianchi, Julie (Nick) Solwick, Katie (Jeremiah) Zane, Camille Grant, Colin (Shawnda) Burnett, Doug Burnett, Elise (Tyler) Haladyna and Mark Haladyna.

Ro was loving, generous, loyal, compassionate, hardworking, and talented. He was a Renaissance man who enjoyed creating stained glass, sculpture, carpentry, and writing. He was a gifted speaker and a published author of five books about his family heritage and his time at Cal. Ro was a storyteller par excellence and was one of the “newscasters” for the Rotary Club of San Mateo. Roland had a deep love and loyalty for his family and for San Francisco.

As an avid Cal Berkeley graduate and football fan, Ro took pride in never missing a Cal home game, or “Big Game” since 1948 until recent illness prevented him from attending. He missed many family events (weddings, funerals, birthdays) as a result of this passion. Roland made friends everywhere he went, including the many organizations he participated in and held leadership positions. These organizations include, GWHS Alumni Association, Cal Alumni Association, Phi Kappa Tau, the Peninsula Italian Social Club, Rotary International, and the Serra Club.

Ro had a warm and engaging personality and was loved by all who were fortunate to know him.

The family would like to thank Roland’s wonderful doctors, nurses, and other personnel at Kaiser in Redwood City for their compassionate and competent care.

A Celebration of Life will be held at St. Bartholomew Church on Monday, February 12, at 11 a.m., to be followed by a reception in the church hall. Due to Roland’s passion for football, a Wake will not be held on Sunday the 11th. Ro would never want anyone to have to choose between an additional service for him or watching/attending the Super Bowl in which the 49ers were contestants. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to University of Cal. Football/band program, Samaritan House of San Mateo or St. Francis Center in Redwood City.

John Cavalli, a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully at his home in Rossmoor (Walnut Creek) on January 31. His longtime caregiver, Lila Niko, and her husband, William, were by his side. John was 101.

John was born in San Francisco on July 16, 1922 and grew up in the Mission District. He attended Mission High School, where he excelled in baseball and basketball. Upon graduation, he entered the Coast Guard and he was honorably discharged in 1944. He was then signed by the San Francisco Seals baseball team and he played professionally until 1949, ending his career in Victoria, Canada.

Following his professional baseball career, he joined the San Francisco Police Department, where he worked in the Juvenile detail and the Fraud unit as an Inspector. He was also the manager of the SFPD baseball team, which played an annual game at San Quentin against the prisoners and a very well attended annual season ending game against the San Francisco Fire Department.

On April 1, 1942, he married his high school sweetheart, May Nelson. She pre-deceased him in 2006. After retiring from the SFPD in 1978, he and May moved to Marin County and then to Sonoma. He went to work part-time at Sebastiani

Winery, giving wine tours. He also worked as a stand in for Cesar Romero on the TV show, Falcon Crest.

During his retirement, he obtained his Private Investigator’s license and did extensive investigative work for his son, Steve, and Steve’s law firm.

He was inducted into the San Francisco Old Timers Hall of Fame and the Mission High School Hall of Fame. He also coached American Legion baseball teams on which his sons, Bob and Steve, played. They won the California State championship in 1963. An avid golfer, he shot his age at the age of 87. John was pre-deceased by his brothers, Guy (Jane) and Tony (Eileen); his sisters, Mary (Ben) and Stella (Nick); and his son, Bob (Pam) (Barbara S.). He is survived by his son, Steve (Margaret); his grandchildren, Christa, Kevin (Noelle), Jen Douglas (Kevin) and Mike (Kae); his great-grandchildren, Makenna Douglas, Kate Douglas, Tyler Douglas, Sofie Cavalli, Gianna Cavalli, Kinleigh Cavalli, Charlie Cavalli and a third Cavalli great-grandchild due in August 2024.