It is with great sadness that I inform you of the passing of Romolo Iavarone on August 17. Romolo Ceaser Iavarone, 93, peacefully passed away on August 17, 2015, after living a wonderful and full life. Romolo was born on December 5, 1921 in San Francisco to Louis and Lena Iavarone. He grew up in North Beach and attended Galileo High School. He met Lorraine, his loving wife of 64 years, while working in Mill Valley, and moved there permanently after marrying in 1951. He was a Partner in the Mill Valley Refuse Service for 44 years before retiring in 1996.
During his years picking up Mill Valley’s trash, Romolo’s basement filled with many useful (and some not so useful) items that he found, but didn’t have the heart to throw away. He sometimes lamented not being able to afford to go to college, which probably explains why his basement walls are lined with books he acquired over the years on a wide variety of academic subjects in which he had an interest. When anyone needed information on almost any topic, he knew he could find a book for them, and was happy to pass it along.
Like every old Italian, however, Romolo’s true passions in life were for family, friends, Italian food and, of course, vegetable gardening. His string beans, lettuce, tomatoes and zucchini were usually topped off with a dressing made with his zesty homemade vinegar. Romolo was an active member of UNICO (Marin Chapter), the largest Italian-American service organization in the U.S., and Italian Catholic Federation branch #161. He is survived by his wife Lorraine, sons John and James, their respective spouses Cindy and Bertha, grandchildren Jennifer and her husband Cody Miller, Justin Iavarone, Alexander Iavarone and his wife Lindsay, Rebeca Lavarone, Great Granddaughter Olivia Miller, and loving nieces, Lorraine Gogna and Catherine Cook.
Pleasekeep the Iavarone family in your thoughts and prayers.
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