Angelo Panari

Angelo "Cicci" Panari
Passed away unexpectedly at the age of 86 in San Francisco on Friday May 6, 2022. Born in Sassuolo, Modena on April 3, 1936 to Francesca and Eligio Panari, Angelo grew up with his sister Paola in the heart of the city. He proudly spent 2 years in Rome at the Fireman Academy during his military service. He then joined his father and their family business and began to cultivate his passion for engines and cars, and motorcycles and bicycles. In 1962 Angelo married Piera Silvestri and worked at Ferrari in Maranello, travelling throughout Europe as part of the racing team crew. He continued to pursue his career with Ferrari in North America moving to New York in 1964 and then on to San Francisco in 1965 with his wife and daughter Susanna. Working in Fisherman's Wharf on Hyde St. at the Ferrari dealership, enchanted by cable cars, Irish Coffees at the Buena Vista Caf?, and lunches at the Pantera Restaurant, he fell in love with San Francisco. Fascinated with the cultural hub that SF offered, and attracted by the artist vibe, beatnik movement and freedom of expression, Angelo embraced the beauty, creativity, and futurism that surrounded him and realized that he could continue to cultivate his work, dreams and build a future in the vibrant accepting environment, of which he was so fond. A tireless worker, Angelo had the pleasure of meeting people from all walks of life throughout California, and the USA, spending 38 years serving customers via his repair shop on Hyde St. near City Hall. He welcomed extended family and friends from Italy and all over the world, accepted and helped others in need and genuinely encouraged his family to persevere and pursue passions through hard work. Unwilling to retire, he moved his shop to 14th St. where he embraced a new neighborhood and friends who were more than family! With their undivided support and help until the very end, they enabled him to continue to serve his favorite customers. A free spirited character, and an extraordinary honorable man who strived to live and let live, Angelo is survived by his wife Piera, his daughters Susanna and Giusy, his son in law Giacomo, beautiful granddaughters Charlotte and Nicole, his sister Paola, his nephews and their families. Angelo is survived by life long friends in Italy, Argentina and the SF Bay Area he was so proud to have had the privilege to meet, and who truly loved him.
Funeral Mass will be held on Friday May 20th at 10:30 am with a brief viewing prior to the mass at St. Peter's and Paul Church in San Francisco. For safety reasons attendees are required to wear masks. Following the Mass, there will be a reception with light refreshments t the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club, 1630 Stockton St. San Francisco, CA 94133. Angelo's remains will be brought to Italy for a private internment ceremony.
Donations can be made in lieu of flowers to Doctors Without Borders at: donate.doctorswithoutborders.org