Terri R. Orsi-Weishaar

April 2, 1949 - October 13, 2016

Oakdale - Terri R. Orsi-Weishaar, a native Californian, died peacefully on October 13, 2016 at her home in La Jolla with her husband, Franklin Weishaar, by her side.  She was born on April 2, 1949 to Bette and Renso Orsi in San Jose, California.  She grew up on a prune ranch in nearby Campbell.  There she discovered her life-long love of animals, especially horses.  As a young girl, Terri had a pony, named Silver and an American Saddlebred, named Rum, that she rode English style in competition at the Cow Palace.  Terri was an avid downhill skier.  After attending her freshman year at the University of Nevada, Reno, where she studied microbiology and competed in many skiing competitions, she decided that she wanted to become a stewardess.  She was accepted by Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA), and after training in San Diego, Terri was based in Los Angeles, where she flew for 6 years. After leaving PSA, Terri returned to San Jose and worked as a travel agent where she met her husband, Franklin.  The couple moved to Oakdale, the Cowboy Capital of the World, where she founded a non-profit organization called Hold Your Horses!, which allowed children and adults with disabilities to ride horseback.  Disabled early in life with multiple sclerosis, she used her love of horses to assist others utilizing therapeutic horseback riding. Terri was extraordinarily kind, compassionate, and generous.  She did many things purely out of the goodness of her heart.  She enjoyed membership in the Oakdale Golf and Country Club.  As her multiple sclerosis progressed, life was difficult for her in the hot valley summers.  She moved to La Jolla to enjoy the excellent summer climate.  Terri and her husband enjoyed the convenience of traveling by cruise ship to many parts of the world.  Her favorite destination was Alaska, where she enjoyed  visiting the sled dogs that raced in the world famous Iditarod.

Terri is survived by her loving husband of 23 years, Franklin Weishaar; and her sister, Jackie Mazzone, and her husband, Barny “Butch” Mazzone.

A Celebration of Life for Terri is planned (date pending) to be held at the Oakdale Golf and Country Club.