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Patricia (Trisha) Martin Pedroia, 58, of Occidental, CA, died unexpectedly on her ranch, Tuesday, November 23, 2010. She will be greatly missed by family and friends. Trisha was preceded in death by her husband Vince Pedroia and her parents Leo and Pauline Martin. She is survived by her stepdaughter Joelle Prather (Richard); and granddaughter Fiona; by her stepson Jason Pedroia and grandson Victor; her Chihuahua Sassy, horses Red and Andy; and a colorful tapestry of family and friends from around the world. Each of us a thread, captured by her smile, her laughter and unconditional love. Trisha was born December 15, 1951 in Highland Park, Michigan. In the 1970's she and a girlfriend loaded up her car with a few belongings and headed west to California. She worked for the University of California, Davis for 25 years, with her last 18 at Bodega Marine Laboratory as the Human Resources Manager. She retired April Fools Day 2006 with a friend and co-worker. They celebrated "graduation" with a two week trip to Hawaii and never looked back. Trisha and Vince "The Hat" Pedroia were married August 23, 1980 and celebrated their 26th anniversary shortly before his death May 29, 2007. Together they built their hill top home on Vince's family ranch; including a barn and a riding arena for Trisha's beloved horses. In 1996 they planted a small vineyard from which award-winning Sonoma County wines are produced. They shared a love of cowboy music and poetry, dancing and riding both horses and the rails. Trisha kept Vince's legacy of poems, cartoons and stories alive by publishing a collection in 2006 called "A Mano". Trisha's interests were varied and passionate. She was a gifted equestrienne, and after 15 years of high-level show jumping competition, she left the ring for the pleasures of trail riding in western Sonoma County with her friends. She was the consummate music enthusiast, who thought nothing of driving many miles to attend live shows by singer-songwriters. She supported emerging artists and was a vocal advocate for those she admired. This passion took her on some of her greatest adventures riding music trains in Canada, Mexico and the Southwest, and backpacking on horseback deep into national parks with the artists, poets, musicians, and fellow fans who became an extension of her family. Trisha was a gifted photographer with a keen and sensitive eye. Her photographs of nature and family celebrations are part of her legacy. She won several ribbons at the Sonoma County Fair. She loved to dance and met Vince in a dance class, where they were first students and then assistant instructors of California swing and ballroom. For the past three years, she enjoyed contemporary line dancing several times a week with close friends. Known by friends and family as a person of immense integrity and compassion, Trisha also had a glint of mischief in her eyes and a smile that lit up any room. She had a delightfully incongruent group of friends who got to know each other through the tales and music she shared from her adventures. Her story telling skills always left you feeling as though you'd been along for the ride. Trisha loved deeply and was deeply loved. Excerpt from Brethren by Vince Pedroia: Then we laugh. And go side-by-side. Blue sky as far as the horizon. Horizon as far as the sky. And roundness that lets us go on forever. Together. In lieu of flowers, please remember Trisha with a contribution to one of the organizations that was important to her: Sutter VNA & Hospice, 1110 N. Dutton Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95401 Humane Society of Sonoma County, PO Box 1296, Santa Rosa, CA 95402 Giant Steps Therapeutic Equestrian Center, P.O. Box 4855, Petaluma, CA 94955 Bravo! Common Men, Uncommon Valor, www.indiegogo.com/bravo!- common-men-uncommon-valor
Published Online in the Press Democrat from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2, 2010
