Donald F. Baldocchi

September 28, 1922 to January 25, 2015

The son of immigrant parents, Narciso Federico Baldocchi of Lucca, Italy and Raquel Aguilar Trigueros of San Salvador, El Salvador, Don was born and raised in San Francisco, CA. Narciso was a creator and proprietor of San Francisco’s iconic flower shop, Podesta & Baldocchi, a historic landmark beloved by San Francisco’s citizens for decades.

Don graduated from George Washington High School and attended U.C. Berkeley. As a young man he was a passionate sailor, who at the time of his death was the longest standing member of the St. Francis Yacht Club. At the age of twenty he worked for Lockheed Aircraft Manufacturing in Los Angeles. During WWII he worked as a navigator for Pan American, contracted by the U.S. Navy where he served in Hawaii. After the war he began a career in industrial design with Cornelius Sampson Associates. At this time he developed a fire hydrant, innovative in its design, for the East Bay Municipal Utilities District, which was later exhibited in the Smithsonian Institution.

In 1953 he married Marilyn Reeves of Salinas, CA. Marilyn’s family ranch became Don’s “piece of heaven”. He remained an enthusiastic rancher over their 60 plus years of marriage. Don was a proud member of the riding group Rancheros Visitadores for thirty years.

He is remembered as a dapper world-class gentleman of San Francisco’s elegant past. In his words, his happiest moments were “being together” with his family. He is well known for his Old Fashioned cocktail recipe (no sugar!). His kindness and humor touched all those he met.

Don is predeceased by his parents and older brother Archie. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn, son Donald R. Baldocchi (Julianne Chase), daughter A. Raquel Baldocchi (Alex Reyes), grandsons D. Chase Baldocchi and William R. Baldocchi.

In lieu of flowers donations in his name may be made to:

San Francisco Botanical Garden Society 1260 Ninth Ave. San Francisco, CA 94122