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Dario Lodigiani Obituary

Dario Lodigiani Born in North Beach, San Francisco in 1916. Dario graduated Galileo High School as a five-letter athlete. As a quarterback he led his football team to its first championship over cross town rival Washington High. After graduation he started playing semi-pro baseball and was quickly signed by the Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League. After two seasons he was drafted by Connie Mack of the Philadelphia A's. Two and a half seasons later he was traded to the Chicago White Sox and played until his career was interrupted by World War II. Dario enlisted in the Army Air Corp and spent three years in a B-17 squadron in the South Pacific. After the war he returned to the White Sox and was leading the American League in hitting until a serious arm injury ended his season. After rehab Dario returned to the Pacific Coast League and again played for the Oaks under manager Casey Stengel. He helped them to a championship on the team nicknamed The Nine Old Men which included players such as: Billy Raimondi, Cookie Lavagetto, Ernie Lombardi, Mel Duezabou, and a young man named Billy Martin. After two seasons before being hired as a coach for Charlie Finley and the Kansas City A's. He also coached for the Chicago White Sox before becoming a scout for the team. He was still employed with the Chicago White Sox until his passing on February 10, 2008 in Napa. In 2006 Dario was inducted into the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame and joined his childhood friends Joe and Dominic DiMaggio. Dario is tied to the Bay Area's rich baseball history and enshrined among its great players. Dario was preceded in death by his wife Marie; parents, Carlo and Antoinetta; brother, Louis and sister, Rita. He is survived by his daughter Diane of Napa; granddaughter, Julie of Napa and her father Jon; brothers, Aldo of Petaluma and Eddie (Florence) of Orville; nephew, Louis (Lola); nieces, Noreen, Linda (Andy) and Christine (Harry); the Arrigotti cousins and hundreds of really great friends. God bless the many, many angels of the Queen of the Valley Medical Center and the 2005 World Champion Chicago White Sox. The Rosary and Vigil Service will be held on Friday, February 15th at 7:00 P.M. at the Claffey and Rota Funeral Home, 1975 Main St. Napa. The Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, February 16th at 10:00 A.M. at St. Apollinaris Catholic Church, 3700 Lassen St., Napa.

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Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Feb. 13 to Feb. 14, 2008.

Memories and Condolences
for Dario Lodigiani

16 Entries

Pete Gallagher

March 5, 2008

Diane, I am really sorry to hear about your Dad he was a very special person as was your Mother a warm and very special person. Hope your doing well and happy to hear there is a new Little Lodi!
You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Albert Parnis

February 25, 2008

I met Dario at the Oakland PCL Reunion. He was so friendly and acted like he had known me for ten years. I watched him play many times at L.A.'s Wrigley Field. He was a great competitor and a great man. He certainly will be missed. He as all of his family will be in my prayers.

Sincerely, Al Parnis PCL Historical Society

Dona Andreotti Ryan

February 19, 2008

Dear "Dianie" - Bob and I are so sorry to hear about your Dad. It brought back so many memories of our childhood, playing at your house and your Dad getting us tickets to all those baseball games. I know the heartbreak you are going through all too well after the loss of my parents. I am happy to hear you have a daughter, to see your parents through her eyes. Even though we have lost touch, I still treasure the times we had together and all the trouble we used to get into. I wish you and Julie peace and happiness.
Love, Dona and Bob

Rick Malaspina

February 18, 2008

Diane and Family -- I have just returned from lunch at the Colombo Club here in Oakland. It was announced that your Dad passed away. Billy Raimondi was there, also Lee Susman, a former colleague of mine at the Oakland Tribune and a high school classmate of your Dad's. I would see and talk with your Dad at the club when he made the trip down from Napa. He was there a few months ago for a baseball old-timers' get-together. I tool a photo of him and would be happy to send it to you, if you'd send me an email or street address. I'm a former newspaper reporter and write a column for the club newsletter. In a recent column I mentioned you Dad and the other Bay Area Italian old-timers who left their mark on baseball. Your Dad knew my mother (she was his age and died two years ago) and her brother (also desceased) from their days in Colma. Her name was Flora and her maiden name was Tambussi. She and my father moved from North Beach in the early 1950s to Burlingame, where I grew up. She was friends with Malfalda and her husband Dino in Burlingame. Your Dad an his brother would visit us from time to time in Burlingame.

I was wonderful reconnecting with him at the club. I didn't know he attended the lunches until one day last year when he was announced. I approached him, he instantly remembered me and my family, even my grandmother, and we had a good conversation.

He and others of his generation were a special breed -- good, kind, strong people. As I see it, we're forutnate to have had them as parents and friends.

My deepest condolences to you and your family. How good that your Dad was with you for so long and that you have so many wonderful memories.

Ron Cabral

February 16, 2008

Dario was one of the first players I saw as a kid attending games at Seal's Stadium in the late 40's and early 50's. Even thought Dario is known as a member of the Oakland Oaks he also played for a time with the SF Seals. He was a great ball player and I have remembered him all these many years. I saw him about 10 years ago at a PCL event at the Oakland Museum and he signed a book for me making me feel like a 10 year old kid all over again.

Emilie & Bob Serpa

February 16, 2008

Dear Diane,

It has been so many years since we have seen each other. I saw your Dad more than you thru the years but your Uncle Aldo, Linda and Noreen have always kept us posted on how things were going.

Our family always admired your Dad. Our girls always called him "Uncle" Dario. One day he was scouting at El Camino High School in S.S.F where Sandi and Susan were going to school. As soon as they saw him they ran over yelling "Uncle Dario." He was so happy they came over to see him. Sandi liked one of the boy's on the E.C. baseball team and she begged him to give him a try. He said he would keep an eye on him. The fellow played in the minors for awhile and then in the big leagues for a season or two. My kids swear it was because of "Uncle Dario."

Your Dad was truly a great player and good person with a wonderful sense of humor. We have lost another "good guy" and they sure are hard to come by these days.

Please know that you and Julie are in our thoughts and prayers. We are sorry we couldn't be there with you to pay our respects.

Much Love, "Auntie Emilie and Uncle Bob" San Mateo, CA

Barbara Leon Workman

February 14, 2008

Dear Diane and family,
My heart is sadden with the loss of dear Dario. I will always remember the love and kindness your Mom and Dad gave me as a small child and later into my teens. We lived so close together at 1401 Kearney I truly loved them very much and will always keep the love I have in my heart for them.
My Mom Inez and Dad Butch were very close friends and shared many happy times together. Much love to you and yours, Bobbie Leon

Julio Leon

February 14, 2008

I am so sorry to hear of Dario passing. My mother, Inez Leon was a good friend of Marie. She passed last year. Dario took me to one of his ball games and I sat with him in the dugout. He also gave me one of his gloves. The last time I seen him was at my step father's bar, "Nico's" on Stockon St. He was a great friend of my mother and Butch. May God bless him.
Regards, Julio Leon

geoffrey smith

February 14, 2008

A slice of San Francisco has gone missing. As a youngster growing up on the peninsula, I listened to Don Klein describe the exploits of Lodigiani and other members of the Seals, Oaks, and PCL teams. Those were great days. And the players seemed to be real human beings. We shall miss Dario but retain memories of gold.

Nancy McCarthy

February 14, 2008

Diane,
I am so sorry to hear of your dads passing. I know you and I haven't seen each other in years, probably since our Pres days, but I always think of you. Your dad was one of my dads (Jim Burke) good friends..My prayers are with you during this difficult time..
Nancy Burke-McCarthy

Fred Chin

February 13, 2008

To The Lodigiani Family,

I was saddened that my idol and hero has passed away. I went to school with his brother, Louis, at Garfield and he always talked to the class about his proud brother.
And also I delivered the San Francisco Call-Bulletin after school he was one of my customer. I never get tired on listening to his mother talked about his proud son. His performance and great attitude on the field had inspired me to take interest in baseball. Although I'm a San Francisco Seals fan, I always roots for him when his Oakland Oaks plays the Seals at Seals Stadium. Thanks for the memory, "Lodi". I shall never forget your inspiration that you shown me about baseball.

Bob Koch

February 13, 2008

As a kid in Oakland we lived a few doors down on 57th st frm the Charlie Arrigotti family so we got to see Dario quite a bit when he played for the Oaks. He was so good to us kids and we loved him. After the war I lived in Napa and was a friend of Pete Daglia a former Oak and White Sox pitcher and visited with Dario and he quite a few times. Dario was still great and wonderful to visit. My condolances to all the family.

Toni Candia NeSmith

February 13, 2008

Diane;
deepest sympathy on the passing of your father, you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Judy Jones

February 13, 2008

Dear Diane & Family
We were so sorry to hear about your Dad. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this very sad time. Your Dad touched so many lives with his baseball stories
Love Judy Callahan Jones (Linda's friend)

Gina Sierra

February 13, 2008

Dear Diane,
I'm so sorry to read about the loss of your Dad. He was truly a wonderful man.
I hope you are well. So happy to read that you have a daughter, bet she was the apple of Grandpa's eye. So did I, finally. She is now 16 years old. Hope all is well in your life. Take care and again, my deepest sympathies.
Gina Sierra

LES PIERCE

February 13, 2008

QUITE SIMPLY SAID, DARIO WAS A GREAT GUY AND ONE HELL OF A BASEBALL PLAYER. EVERYONE WHO KNEW HIM LIKED HIM. REST IN PEACE PAISANO.

LES "BUTCH" PIERCE

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