Bonnie Tempesta

Missing Bonnie & her warmth. Jim Gade

I cannot believe it's been 8 years. I was recently talking about Bonnie and La Tempesta recently. Someone said the word "biscotti" and I just had to let them know I worked for the queen of biscotti and La Tempesta produced a superior cookie to any of them out there! Bonnie lives on because the stories live on. I have no doubt she's beaming with pride Daniela and watching over your beautiful family. Carolyn

Bonnie was the teachers assistant at the cooking school I attended in Cotati some years ago. During one of our classes, Bonnie had the whole class over to her lovely home where she performed a cooking demonstration. She was wonderful, caring, and so accomplished. I was greatly impressed by her and I loved her love for animals. Hope to see you again someday, Bonnie.

I met and became friends with Bonnie in 1981 at Confetti when we both worked there. She left such a lasting impression on me . . . I will never forget her. She inspired me to begin making my own Italian specialties, as we shared a love of the then virtually unknown Biscotti di Prato, and she introduced me to Pan Forte di Sienna which has led to a life-long passion. To see her dream of owning her own business flourish into such a success was incredible. What a beautiful soul she is, and...

I shall never forget Bonnie. She was a person I actually knew who took something small, her family's biscotti cookie recipe, and built it into an empire while a single mother struggling to live on her own. She and my aunt Shirley Coffaro were once good friends. Shirley met Bonnie's traditional Italian-American family when she used to hop on the bus to San Francisco to take Italian lessons in the 1970's. Before long, Bonnie was selling biscotti in my aunt's ice cream shop, La Moderne (French...

I never knew of your mom until someone sent me your story of taking over the Bakery. When I read her obituary I was touched that she had lived a life that left the world a better place.
Francine Ruvolo (Los Altos)

Daniela, I was so deeply saddened and heartbroken to hear of your moms passing. Although we hadn't seen each other in many years I have fond memories of times we enjoyed together as little girls, teenagers and adults. As a mom of 2 girls myself I know how much she loved you. There are no words to express the sorrow but I hope you can make all your beautiful memories your source of strength snd comfort.....and knowing that she'll always be with you. We wish to extend our deepest sympathy to...

Dear Daniela,
I am deeply saddened to know of your beautiful mother Bonnie's passing. I had the joy of knowing Bonnie during the year I worked at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art (2013-2014). Bonnie, who was on the Board of the Museum, was so genuinely kind and friendly to me whenever we met. Upon my arrival (on staff) in early 2013, Bonnie graciously threw a welcome party for me at her lovely home in Sonoma. It was the type of fun and generous gesture that she will be so well remembered...