Lawrence Sambado

1938 - 2026

Lawrence Joseph Sambado of Linden passed away peacefully in his home with his devoted family at his side. He lived an inspiring, rich and long life surrounded by his loving family and many friends in a community that he cherished. Lawrence miraculously survived cancer in 2015, though years later he was challenged again by multiple strokes and died on January 22nd, 2026.

Lawrence was born on March 9, 1938 in San Francisco to Italian immigrant parents, Alex and Laura Sambado. He attended Linden High School, graduating in 1955. He then went on to study pomology at the University of California at Davis earning a Bachelor of Science degree. He often shared fond memories of his time in the Theta Xi fraternity and the lifelong friends that he made. Following his undergraduate degree, he proudly served his country in the United States Coast Guard.

Lawrence met Beverly Ann Boggiano of Linden in high school. He courted Beverly during their college years, taking many trips between Davis and San Francisco. They often shared entertaining stories with their family about how they "managed" Beverly's curfew at San Francisco College for Women Lone Mountain. Lawrence and Beverly were married at Holy Cross Church in Linden on April 24,1960.

Lawrence, together with Beverly, returned to Linden to raise their family and join Lawrence's father in the family business. Under Lawrence's direction, the agricultural operations of A. Sambado and Son expanded significantly. With the help of his sons Tim and Rich, Lawrence developed the business into one of the largest vertically integrated agricultural operations in California. Due to his dedication, passion and expertise in farming, he was recognized as a leader in the industry. He was honored as the Cherry Man of the Year in 1991 and inducted into the San Joaquin County Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2001. His interest in the history of agriculture in San Joaquin County inspired him to participate in an oral history project chronicling his family's contributions to farming in the region. His book at the Oral History Center at the Bancroft Library at UC Berkeley is titled "Lawrence Sambado: A Life and Business in California Agriculture."

Lawrence had many passions in life. He was an avid sports fan and a staunch supporter of Linden High Athletics, serving as President of the Linden High Athletic Booster Club. He traveled far and wide for major sporting events, including the Winter Olympic Games, several Super Bowls and many World Series games - sometimes arriving at the stadium without a ticket! Above all, he treasured being the number one fan at every competition involving his children and grandchildren. He was also deeply proud of his Italian heritage and supported efforts to promote Italian American culture whenever possible. Lawrence and Beverly greatly enjoyed traveling to Italy to maintain family connections, in addition to their many other international adventures. Professionally, Lawrence found deep fulfillment in mentoring and inspiring coworkers and young farmers. Over the past few days, many colleagues have expressed heartfelt gratitude for his guidance and encouragement in their agricultural pursuits.

Above all else, Lawrence loved his family: his wife Beverly of 65 years along with their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He never once missed a grandchild's graduation, whether from high school, college, or graduate school. Even two graduations on the same weekend across the country from each other could not break this record. His dedication to family has fostered a dynamic of unwavering support and loyalty to one another that will live on in the Sambado family.

Lawrence is survived by his wife Beverly and their children; Dorene (John), Tim (Marie-Josée), and Richard. He is also survived by his eight grandchildren: Samantha Sambado (Ian Monsma), Madeline Foley (Adam Daly), Alexander Sambado (Elena Sambado), Angela Foley, Nikolas Sambado (Camryn Jahelka), Katie Foley, Arianne Sambado, and Justin Sambado. He is also survived by his great granddaughters Annie Sambado and soon-to-be Chloe Daly as well as his beloved sister Josephine Sambado.

The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to Yvonne Stefani, Mila Lasam, Adela Alonzo, Julia Tirado, and Rosa Teves for their compassionate care of Lawrence.

A Catholic funeral mass will be held at the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Stockton at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, January 30th. A reception to celebrate Lawrence will be held after the funeral mass.

Memorial donations may be made to the Linden Athletic Boosters Club P.O. Box 121 Linden, CA 95236 or to the charity of your choice.