In Memory
Private burial services were held Monday at Tulocay Cemetery for David John Passini, son of the late Bruno and Erma Passini, a longtime Napa business family. Dave was 66 years of age and died Oct. 14, 2008, at Queen of the Valley Medical Center’s intensive care unit, after suffering a heart attack. David was a larger-than-life hero to many, a Rocky Balboa. A man of simple pleasures, he most valued his family, friends, pets and any day he could take to the open road on his ‘79 Harley — ideally, with a finish at the Red Hen Cantina. He gave wise counsel, was a good listener and advocate, and brightened many a day for those he cared about. Until recently, he volunteered at the Napa Food Bank.
His father established B. Passini Distributing in Napa during the 1950s, a tri-county beverage warehouse for Napa, Solano and Lake counties. For nearly 10 years, starting in his teens, Dave was warehouse manager and drove 18-wheelers for his father, hauling loads from the Santa Rosa Pepsi bottling plant. They also distributed Regal Pale and other major brand beverages. During the Vietnam war, he enlisted in the U.S. Marines and served in the Reserves after training at Camp Pendleton.
He was born Sept. 17, 1942, in Vallejo, and attended St. John’s Catholic School after his family moved to Napa. He played football for Napa High School’s undefeated team and graduated in 1960. He also attended Napa College. In addition to football, he liked baseball, was an excellent bowler and enjoyed cards. He and his father established and maintained a local youth bowling scholarship fund for many years. Like his father, Dave was a sought-after dancer and loved the old-fashioned jitterbug and music by the Mills Brothers, the Ink Spots, the Doobie Brothers, James Brown, and Louie Prima and Keeley Smith.
He was a father figure to several young people in his lifetime including Laura Cochran, his companion of 19 years, with whom he made more than 30 motorcycle runs. He shared his enthusiasm for race horses with close friends Dave and Dennis Landucci, and loved to swim in the pool at the home of Bev and Mike Efishoff. Other survivors also include his former wife, Mary Wallis Bertolucci, as well as other lifelong friends Claudette and Sandy Dailey, Don and Sue Lemmons, Buzz and Mary Boyanich, Donny Hartman, Ron Lausen, and a cousin, Deanna Schmelling, all of Napa. A younger brother, Ted, predeceased him. Dave requested in lieu of flowers, donations in his memory be made to Clinic Ole, 1141 Pear Tree Lane, Napa CA 94558 or Napa Food Bank, 1755 Industrial Way, Napa, CA 94558
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