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Robert Piccinini Obituary
January 21, 1942 - March 24, 2015
Robert "Bob" Piccinini, of Modesto, CA died on Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at his home. He was 73. He was born January 21, 1942, in Modesto and raised in Manteca. He attended Modesto Junior College, the University of San Francisco, and the University of the Pacific.
He was an entrepreneur, a visionary in the grocery industry and a leader in the community. Bob celebrated his 50th anniversary with Save Mart last summer and was credited with taking Save Mart from a homegrown, Central Valley chain to the regional competitor it is today.
He purchased Save Mart from the Piccinini and Tocco families in 1985 after working his way up through the ranks—box boy, truck driver, store manager, Vice President of Real Estate and onto President and Chief Executive Officer. At the time of his passing Bob was the Chairman of Save Mart Supermarkets.
Over the years, Bob heavily supported many Central Valley community organizations. In 1998, he helped rejuvenate the Modesto Relays through sponsorship and kept it alive and in Modesto for another decade. In 2005 Bob founded Save Mart CARES, a non-profit charitable organization that raises money to support the advancement of Community, Art, Recreation, Education and Sports in the communities that Save Mart, Lucky and FoodMaxx serve.
Bob was also passionate about sports; He was a minority owner of the Golden State Warriors and owned several minor league baseball teams over the years, including the Fresno Giants minor league baseball team from 1982 to 1987. His company's name has been on NASCAR's Sonoma stop - the Toyota/Save Mart 350 - for years. In his free time Bob enjoyed traveling, gin rummy and collecting automobiles.
Bob had a laugh that you could hear a mile away and a smile that could light up any room. He was a mentor and friend to many and will be greatly missed.
Bob is survived by his children Nicole Piccinini Pesco, Joseph Piccinini, Alexandria Piccinini, and Dominic Piccinini; and was preceded in death by son Michael Piccinini.
A memorial service will be held at the CrossPoint Community Church at 11:00 am on Saturday, April 11, 2015. Memorial donations may be made in Bob's name to Save Mart CARES or Save Mart Employee Association (SMEA) and mailed to P.O. Box 4278, Modesto, CA 95352.
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Memories and Condolences
for Robert Piccinini
Thom Cardoza
April 2, 2022
Bob was a lifetime friend who enriched my life. If you've you knew my Boss, My Buddy....you missed something really good. Rest in peace my friend and thank you for not only loving me, but also sharing your last hours in your life with me and only me. I will never forget that. Thom
Frankie Haney-Robirds
April 2, 2022
Bobbie, you are greatly missed by so many people. Your generosity and kindness duplicated your parent's own excellent qualities of character. To have had more than 40 years of friendship with you, John, Margaret and Mike remains a precious blessing in my life and the lives of my family. I pray for God to continue to ease your children's pain that comes from missing you.
Thom Cardoza
April 11, 2015
Those who only knew this gentle man from afar, missed a wonderful experience. I knew him as a true friend for some 50 years. In those 50 years I found a friendship that I will treasure and remember with tremendous gratitude. He was my friend, my confidant, and certainly my idol. His successes in the business world were only overshadowed by his qualities as a man and a friend. Rest in peace my friend, and know that you changed my life in more ways than you'll ever know.
Callie Patterson
April 11, 2015
Robert (Bob) Piccinini was a great man who touched many lives; his wealth and generosity changed the lives of many people. It brings sorrow to our hearts knowing he is gone. Our love and condolences go out to all his children and family members. His legacy will live forever in all our hearts and lives. He was a pillar to the community, his heart spilled over with the gifts he gave. There is never enough time on earth to be everything to everyone. His amazing and contagious smile will be truly missed. Many blessings go out to you Bob, and many thanks for all your kindness. May you enter heaven guided by angels; peace be with you, love
Callie & Eryka Patterson
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James & Hylee Griffith
April 11, 2015
Rest in peace.
Jack A. Griffith
April 10, 2015
Bob was a great Son in law. He blessed me with Three beautiful grand children.....Michael ,Nicole and Joseph. I will always have fond memories of are talks out at John Therman field back in the 60s and 70.. When Bob owned the teams....may he be as successful in heaven as he was in earth...may his journey be long and insightful .with the warmest regards, Jack Griffith
Frankie Haney-Robirds MSW
April 8, 2015
Bobbie and John first appeared in my memory when Mike (their Dad) brought them out for the day to spend with my Father, George F. Haney, at his private hunting club. Bobbie enjoyed our family very much but he wasn't feeling he had the time for hunting. He was already working full time at Save Mart. However, Mike would bring John up and leave him with us for the weekend. He lived to hunt and be around bird dogs and horses. That was in 1966. My Father would phone Bobbie and invite him up to hunt and he always visited over the phone with my Father but as much as he wanted to learn more about this sport, he was already work oriented, and most times felt he needed to decline. My Mother would always prepare her Southern Style Biscuits and Gravy when Bobbie joined us for dinner because he did find time occasionally to join John and our family if my Mother would bake her biscuits. As only a young man he had already developed a work ethic that would challenge any successful businessman. John would share with me that Bobbie was a born leader. John would say Bobbie had a wise old soul. John always praised Bobbie. He never had anything but admiration and respect for his older brother.
Through my parents and John, I got to be very close with Margaret. She loved her sons and she was always supportive of both of them. I spent many hours at her kitchen table discussing our lives. Her boys were her pride. I used to visit her when she would be painting. This was what gave her peace after Mike died. There were times Bob would stop in to say "hello" to his Mother while I was there. He loved his Mother and was so loving to her. John was as well.
When I was the Director of Ripon City Ballet, Bobbie generously supported our non profit organization. He would make all of these "anonymous" donations - thinking we did not know the money was coming from him. What he did not know and I never revealed until just now - I always knew who the anonymous donors were because their account # was the same as another # they had to have and I had access to those #s. I know that Bob and a couple of other friends were the ones making the anonymous donations. This went on for 12 years. Until I resigned as Director of the Company and returned to being a Mental Health Therapist.
Mike, Margaret, John and Bob Piccininni were four of the most generous persons I ever knew in my life and I have worked with a lot of non profits. They not only gave to charitable organizations but they gave generously to their friends and family - without expecting anything in return. God threw away the pattern after he made the four of them. Truly greatness and kindness walked among us when they were living. They will be forever missed by my family and I. Our hearts are already so heavy from hearing of Johnathan's death and now with Bob's death - it is truly a sad time of loss for us.
They are all together in heaven today and that is what eases the pain of loss I feel.
lydia Kanno
April 8, 2015
A Great Boss very happy to be a part of save mart family ,always took care of his employee R.I.P my condoles to his children's and all save mart Family .
Ralph Haas
April 8, 2015
Bob was a great friend and always enjoyed playing gin rummy at our tuesday nite get together. He was one of the best players, however he was only the second best player in our group. He always new who was number one.RIP my friend!
April 8, 2015
A great guy...a true Icon...He will be missed...R.I.P.
Lloyd Glasgow
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