Robert J. Gianelli, Legendary Napa Architect, Dies at 87

ROBERT GIANELLI, DEVOTED FATHER AND LOVING HUSBAND OF SARAH GIANELLI FOR 63 YEARS, PASSED FROM LIFE’S JOURNEY MARCH 27 AT HIS HOME IN NAPA AFTER A FIVE-YEAR ILLNESS.

BOB WAS BORN IN TUOLUMNE, CA, ON MAY 2, 1925 TO SUSAN HALLOCK AND ERNEST GIANELLI. BOB WAS RAISED IN PITTSBURG, CA, AND UPON HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION IN 1943 HE ENTERED THE NROTC OFFICER’S TRAINING SCHOOL AT PRINCETON AND UCLA.

AFTER HIS MARRIAGE TO SARAH IN 1949, HE COMPLETED HIS DEGREE AT UC BERKELEY SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE IN 1950. HIS EARLY CAREER WAS INTERRUPTED BY ACTIVE NAVAL DUTY WHERE HE SERVED IN THE PACIFIC AS A LIEUTENANT DURING THE KOREAN CONFLICT.

UPON DISCHARGE FROM DUTY IN 1953, HE AND HIS WIFE SARAH MOVED TO NAPA TO RESUME HIS CAREER AND RAISE A FAMILY. HE WAS LICENSED IN CALIFORNIA IN 1954 AND OPENED HIS FIRM IN NAPA AND VALLEJO WITH JOHN BELAND AS BELAND, GIANELLI ARCHITECTS. WHEN BELAND RETIRED IN 1980, ROBERT GIANELLI ARCHITECTS WAS FORMED.

HIS 59-YEAR VARIED CAREER INCLUDED OVER 100 DESIGN PROJECTS, LOCALLY AND IN THE NORTH BAY AREA. BOB WAS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF SILVERADO COUNTRY CLUB SINCE ITS INCEPTION ENJOYING YEARS OF EXCELLENT GOLF AND TENNIS AND MANY FRIENDSHIPS.

NOT WITHSTANDING HIS MANY PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS, HIS GREATEST SENSE OF PRIDE WAS HIS BELOVED CHILDREN: STEPHEN (KATARINA) GIANELLI, SAN FRANCISCO; CHRISTY GIANELLI, NAPA, LAURIE GHOLSON AND SON-IN-LAW JIM GHOLSON OF NAPA. HIS JOY WAS MULTIPLIED BY FOUR GRANDCHILDREN, TREVOR, JORDAN, ALEXANDRA AND SCHYLAR

HE WAS PREDECEASED BY HIS BROTHER GORDON GIANELLI (SUE). HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS IMMEDIATE FAMILY AND NEPHEW, GARY GIANELLI OF CLAYTON.

THE FAMILY WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE LOVING SUPPORT OF SON-IN-LAW JAMES GHOLSON; THE FRIDAY COFFEE GROUP; BOB’S OAKLAND POSSE; THE DENNIS GROTH FAMILY; AND SPECIAL FRIEND, CLIFF SIMPKINS. THE FAMILY IS GRATEFUL FOR THE TENDER MERCIES OF LONG-TIME CAREGIVERS SONIA CLAUZEL AND LINDA SHAVER, AND RECENTLY KAISER HOSPICE VALLEJO.

BOB’S CHILDREN WOULD LIKE TO THANK THEIR MOTHER FOR THE COMPASSIONATE AND DIGNIFIED CARE SHE GAVE THEIR FATHER AT HOME.

OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, BOB AND SARAH TAUGHT THEIR CHILDREN VOLUMES ABOUT GRACE, STRENGTH AND TRUE LOVE.

A FUNERAL MASS WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY, APRIL 4 AT 10 A.M., ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC CHURCH, NAPA, OPEN TO ALL FRIENDS OF THE GIANELLI FAMILY.

THERE WILL BE A CELEBRATION OF LIFE AT A LATER DATE.

For more information, see the Claffey & Rota Funeral Home website.

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