David Thomas Farotto

1955 - 2025

BORN

1955

DIED

2025

FUNERAL HOME

Reis Family Mortuary and Crematory - San Luis Obispo

991 Nipomo Street

San Luis Obispo, California

David Farotto Obituary

Name: Memorial Gathering for David Thomas Farotto
Start: 2025-11-14T20:00:00.000Z
Location: Madonna Inn

David Thomas Farotto, passed away at his home in Atascadero, California, on October 29, 2025, at the age of 69, after courageously battling cancer. He was surrounded by his devoted wife of 46 years and their daughters.

David was born on December 6, 1955, in Santa Clara County to Vincent and Rose Farotto. He grew up in Gilroy, California, alongside his brother, John, and sister, Linda (Calvino). In his younger years, he enjoyed riding dirt bikes and playing baseball.

In August 1979, David married the love of his life, Mary Gabriele Farotto, after meeting during a root beer run to A&W, where Mary worked - unknowingly orchestrated by his mother. Together they built a beautiful life in Hollister, California, raising their two daughters, Felicia and Lisa.

David dedicated more than 47 proud years to his career. He started his career as a Technician at Teledyne McCormick Selph, and completed his retirement as a Quality Assurance Engineer at Pacific Scientific in Hollister. His meticulous work ethic and passion for aerospace engineering contributed to numerous NASA missions - a source of great pride and accomplishment. Even after retirement, he continued to consult as a highly respected expert in his field.

David found joy in many passions. Over the years, he restored several classic cars to their original glory. You could find him every Friday night at the Watsonville Speedway, watching the races with Mary, his sister Linda, and brother-in-law Jimmy. One of his cherished bucket-list memories was attending the Daytona 500 in Florida.

David was an avid fisherman, a tradition started in childhood with his grandfather and father, and lovingly shared with his children and grandchildren in later years. He loved exploring scenic back roads and streams, searching for peaceful beauty and the perfect catch.

Raised in an Italian family, David grew up with a passion for food. From an early age, he could often be found next to his mother as she cooked, offering his enthusiastic "notes" on dinner preparations. Whether he was savoring steak and lobster, or seeking out a hidden gem restaurant, he was always on the hunt for his next great meal.

In retirement, David and Mary moved to the Central Coast to be near their daughters and grandchildren. He enjoyed tending to his roses and vegetable garden, cheering proudly at his grandkids' sporting events, and continuing to explore his love of nature.

David is survived by his beloved wife, Mary Farotto; his daughters, Felicia Ulibarri and Lisa Traub; his sons-in-law, David Ulibarri and Jordan Traub; and his adored grandchildren, Austin, Mila, May, and Beau. His greatest wish was to make his family proud, and he far exceeded that dream through the remarkable legacy he leaves behind.

A Catholic Mass will be held on Friday, November 14, 2025, at 10:00 AM PST at Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, followed by burial at the Old Mission Cemetery and reception at Madonna Inn.

Funeral Mass:
Catholic Mass at Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa at 10am PT
751 Palm St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Graveside Service:
Old Mission Cemetery at 11:30am PT
101 Bridge St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Reception:
Madonna Inn at 12pm PT
100 Madonna Rd., San Luis Obispo, CA 93405

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (https://www.stjude.org/) in support of cancer research - a cause held close to David's heart and to those who loved him.

For more information about David's service, please visit Reis Family Mortuary.
https://www.reisfamilymortuary.net/m/obituaries/david-farotto/Memories

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

Published by Gilroy Dispatch from Nov. 4 to Nov. 21, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for David Farotto

Sponsored by Reis Family Mortuary and Crematory - San Luis Obispo.

1 Entry

Ronald Schowe

November 13, 2025

I was hired by John Glass as a Reliability / System Safety Engineer in 1987. John introduced me to Dave Farotto and Mike Maheu on my first day at Teledyne McCormick Selph (TMcS). Based on John´s leadership and the teamwork of the group we coalesced into an inseparable Band of Brothers.

My first assignment was to become Dave´s shadow. I basically became Dave´s assistant for the next 2 years as we worked through several high-profile failure analyses. His knowledge of propellent production processes, as well as manufacturing processes, enabled us to quickly focus on potential failure modes. As we spent time in the lab, we became friends.

Change is inevitable. I eventually left TMcS and joined Orbital Sciences Corporation. From there, I went to Nammo Talley. John eventually went to Florida. Mike left for other opportunities. Dave became the new "John Glass". He was the go-to guy when there was a problem. As the head of Quality at Nammo Talley, I was one of TMcS, and later Pacific Scientific´s, customers. I relied on Dave´s product knowledge and honesty to make critical decisions.

I remember his commitment to his family and his love of classic cars.

Fair Winds and Following Seas

Ronald R. Schowe
CAPT/USNR (Ret.)

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