Anthony Joseph Bencivenga

Anthony Joseph Bencivenga
November 26, 1940
- November 15, 2022
Tony passed away peacefully in Santa Rosa on Tuesday, November 15th, 2022. He was surrounded with love by his daughter Jennifer, son-in law Jason, his son Marc, his grandkids Mason, Avery and Rex and to the sounds of bagpipes and drums earlier that same day.
Born in November 1940, Tony was raised in Corinth, NY, by his beloved mother, Rose Graziano, and father, Louie Bencivenga.
Tony's passion in life was music, and as a teenager, Tony played the bass and sang in upstate New York's most popular rock'n'roll band, the Electronaires. Tony continued with his music after high school to play in the Army Band (1962-1966) stationed in Heidelberg, Germany, where he met his future wife, Marguerite Baldauf. He often spoke of stories from his fun-filled Army band days that included performances in small European villages.
In 1968, Tony and Marge moved to the Bay Area, where they started a family. In the early '70s, Tony began playing in a jazz trio with Abe Battat at the Westin St. Francis, which turned out to be the longest-standing jazz gig in San Francisco's history. During this time, Tony had the opportunity to play for Luciano Pavarotti, Mayor Willy Brown, and many others.
Tony also loved Celtic music, and shortly after moving to Sonoma County in 1978 with his family, he joined the Sonoma County Sherriff's Pipe Band as a bass drummer. His two children learned the bagpipes and played with their father in the Prince Charles Pipe Band. Tony also played the bass drum in the Irish Pipers of San Francisco until 2006.
Tony will be remembered for his sweet heart, charismatically captivating storytelling, and warm demeanor to those who knew him in the community.