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Anna Maria Pierini

1949 - 2020

Anna Maria Pierini obituary, 1949-2020, San Francisco, CA

Anna Pierini Obituary

Anna Maria Pierini May 1949 - November 2020 A first-generation Italian American, Anna Maria Pierini always felt her most fulfilling blessing was to be an Italian born in America. She was born in 1949, in Reno, Nevada to Pete and Maria Pierini, natives of Lucca, Italy who kept the Italian language and cultures strong in the home. Anna Maria's youth was spent between Carson City, NV, Lake Tahoe, CA and Italy. At age four, she flew on Pan Am airlines for her first trip to Italy. She attended St. Theresa of Avila Catholic School ('63) and Carson City High School ('67). She moved to San Rafael, CA to attend Dominican College (BA '71), where she resided until her death at home, from a complex cancer complicated by a stroke, surrounded by her lifelong friends on November 19, 2020. After graduating from Dominican College, she began her first career of 19 years with Irwin Memorial Blood Banks in Marin and San Francisco, and the Alameda Contra Costa Medical Association (ACCMA) in the East Bay. During her tenue at ACCMA, she was invited to speak in Russia, Poland and Hungary, by the Dwight Eisenhower Ambassadorship Program, as an expert in non-clinical organization development in allied health fields. She earned her MS in Human Resources and Organizational Development (MS HROD) at University of San Francisco in 1989. In 1996 she became the tenth Executive Director of the Italian Community Services (ICS), dedicated to the Italian Community since 1916. It was to this position that she brought her organizational skills, management style, and Italian heritage. She felt deep pride in her work there. Under Anna Maria's leadership, ICS became a national model for Italian non-profits. Anna Maria was recognized as Citizen of the Year by UNICO (the largest Italian American Services Agency in the USA) National California District II in 2004. In 2010 she was awarded, in Lucca, Italy, the Medaglia d'Oro (Gold Medal) by the City of Lucca, for being an Italian who has distinguished herself abroad. Of the 15 honorees from around the world, she was the sole woman. In 2014, she was awarded a Certificate of Honor by the City and County of San Francisco, recognizing her dedication and commitment to serving the older populations and those with disabilities. Additionally, Il Cenacolo, an Italian Cultural Club founded in 1928, recognized Anna Maria as the 2017 Woman of the Year. It is said that she "broke the glass ceiling" by becoming one of the first women to be accepted as a member. She participated on many boards over the years, including the California Blood Bank Society, On Lok, and the Advisory Council to the San Francisco Department of Aging and Adult Services, where she served two terms as Council President. She was a polished media spokesperson, well-known and beloved in her San Francisco Italian communities. In addition to her many professional activities, she enjoyed tennis, walking, volunteer service, and gathering with friends for an Italian repast. Anna Maria will always be remembered for her signature red lips, quick quips, wonderful phone calls, a phenomenal memory, exciting world adventures, her genuinely caring service to others, a love of everything Italian and babies, and her effervescent spirit. She is survived by a loving circle of extended family and friends throughout the Bay Area, Nevada and Italy. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, no services are planned. Donations may be made to: Dominican University via dominican.edu/makeagift. Choose "Other" and enter "LAE Scholarship;" or The Santa Venetia Marsh Preserve, www.marincountyparks.org/about-us/donations. Fino a quando ci incontriamo di nuovo!

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Marin Independent Journal from Nov. 27 to Dec. 6, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for Anna Pierini

Sponsored by MarinIJ.com.

Not sure what to say?





Linda

November 20, 2024

You are always with me

Jack and Mark

November 24, 2022

We think and talk about Anna, often.
STILL reflecting on such wonderful magic moments with her.

Keven

November 23, 2022

You're in my heart every day, Anna, my forever friend and sister

Patricia La Sala

November 21, 2022

Yesterday. It was just yesterday my sweet friend. Ever with me.

Linda Silver

November 20, 2022

missing you still very much.
Cherish my many wonderful memories of you.

Keven Seaver

April 23, 2021

Missing you every day my dear friend/sister. I'm thinking you've met up with our family and friends, and toasting the afterlife! I love you!

Barbara G Dudley

April 21, 2021

Anna was my classmate at Dominican College. This past weekend, we celebrated our 50 years after graduation. It had been a long time since I last saw Anna, and I was looking forward so much to seeing her again. Learning of her passing shocked me.
I empathize with the family and friends that she left behind. As you all have said so eloquently, she shared her love and laughter wherever she went. She will be missed.

Kevin M.

December 13, 2020

Anna Maria was always so kind and accommodating of our group at ICS. It's painful to know such a lovely person is no longer with us, but it was an honor and pleasure to know her. Spero che, infine, ci incontriamo di nuovo. Addio per adesso.

Pietro Lirio Brunicardi

December 9, 2020

Writing from Italy in name of all of our family, we will miss her a lot.
She was big part of our family even if we didnt see each other often, every time she came to Italy was a joy for all of us.
Never forget her smile, and her capacity to make others smile, even during hard times she always had the power to bring happiness.

The good memory that we share together are so many that is difficult to pick one, our trip all around Tuscany, and our holiday in California where Anna was such a great host.
My child grew up with Anna, and they took her as an example.
I wish we could spend together more time.

Ci manchi tanto Titti, pensiamo a te ogni giorno e non possiamo fare a meno di sorridere ogni volta ripensando agli splendidi momenti passati insieme.
So che ci stai guardando da lassù, ti abbracciamo forte, come eri solita fare tu.

Arrivederci, ti vogliamo bene.

Pietro Brunicardi and family.

Jane rounds

December 8, 2020

Amazing Anna, beautiful inside and out!!
Our 37 years connecting over the 4th of July, and our time at Gundlach Bundschu over Thanksgiving. Anna's "spark", her vitality, generosity, kindness, her presence will forever be felt. Her joy of living life was a gift to so many. I am grateful for our friendship, Anna blesses my life.
Jane Rounds

Jane Rounds

December 8, 2020

Amazing Anna, beautiful inside and out.
Our 37 years connecting during the 4th of July gathering. Our time together at the Gundlach Bundschu Winery over The Thanksgiving holiday. My two favorite holidays, time to visit with friends and family.
Anna and I didn't live close but her "Spark", her vitality, kindness, her presence will forever be felt. Her joy of living life was a gift to so many!!
Anna blesses my life.
Jane

Jayne Serba

December 3, 2020

I was in the costume shop below her while she worked in North Beach and treasured her friendship (and her fabulous personal aesthetic).

I’m so grateful to have had the pleasure of her in my life all those years.

Tina canepa

December 2, 2020

My mother who passed in April was very fond of Anna Maria as I was also. Speaking for both of us she was a very classy lady who always looked so nice and professional. My deepest sympathy goes out to her family and good friends. She will me missed around the Italian community of North Beach. My prayers go out to her and know she is resting in peace. May God bless her,
Tina Canepa
Vice President of Italian Community Service Auxiliary.

Group of 10 Memorial Trees

Lyndie Kahanek

Planted Trees

Sally Marie Torkos

December 1, 2020

Anna was a gracious, warm, authentic, generous, intelligent, kind, (I could go on) human being. She will be dearly missed by many. Though I am sad that she has gone, I'm sure she is growing her wings in heaven.

Jack Artz

November 30, 2020

We are still glowing after looking through photo albums of our Miss Anna or Auntie Anna to our Frenchie, Coco!
Although our hearts are broken that we’ll never get to go hiking with her on our daily walks, taking the train up to Truckee for her Birthday in the snow, or just having a cocktail or two or three at home, we know she’s looking back at us with fondness.
So many “Magic Moments” including the place many of us really glued together our long term friendships on Long Island in 1978.
We miss you, Anna!
Jack and Mark

Patricia La Sala

November 29, 2020

Oh my Anna Banana I will miss you so much. I am so fortunate to have 40 + years of stories and laughs with you. You dear, dear woman. I can still see you in your Heidi dress barely making the train to Hopewell Junction. Linda you and I were too busy laughing and almost forgot the time. Laughing. That's what we did a lot of. Kitchen table talks with Bufana swinging over head. Irish Coffee in Olema with the crew. Trip to East Hampton and our vacation house, " Magic Moments" and we had them. You are such a force of nature that I don't think I will ever refer to you in the past tense. Today starts Advent so we will be chatting more than usual. God bless your soul and watch over us if you have time. I will love you always. Patti

Linda Silver

November 29, 2020

Anna was my dear friend for 43 years.
We shared many life transitions , joyful as well as difficult.
We had great laughs and conversations and I miss her already.
She had a great mind, was a caring friend and did life her way!
I will miss her .

Francesca Gaspari

November 28, 2020

Cara Annamaria,

You will always be in our heart.
Thank you for your kindness, affection and generosity.
Francesca

miriam edelman

November 27, 2020

Anna I were fortunate to be paired up as we attended a Women’s Workshop. We shared some of early teenage year experiences. It is a very special memory in which we sort of had a chance to Grow-up together. Although this was more than 25 years ago our special bond remained. We loved each other and still do !

Marco Sozzi

November 27, 2020

Anna Maria was one of the sweetest, kindest and most gentle persons I have ever had the privilege of knowing. She died much too young. My condolences go to out to her family. May the hole in your hearts be filled with beautiful memories of AnnaMaria

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