John Paul GREGORI

John passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 8th, at home surrounded by his loving family after his year-long battle against cancer, which he fought with stoicism, humor, and a positive attitude. John was born on May 15, 1945 in Eureka, California to Domingo James Gregori and Jane Chamberlain Gregori. He graduated from St. Bernard's School in Eureka where he was recognized as an outstanding athlete in baseball, football, basketball, and track. Following high school, John moved to Santa Rosa and studied Business and Accounting at Santa Rosa Junior College where he played baseball for the SRJC Bear Cubs. John enjoyed a successful and rewarding career for over forty years in the mortgage banking industry, most notably as a District Manager for GMAC Mortgage for nineteen years. Prior to his retirement, John was the Branch Manager of Guild Mortgage in Santa Rosa. Over the course of his career John received numerous sales and management awards and felt truly fortunate to have worked in a field that he loved. John was also a member of the Lions and Optomist Clubs, always believing in the importance of service to the community in which he lived. John volunteered for many years as a youth baseball and soccer coach for his kids' teams as well as serving as a little league baseball umpire and a board member for the Rincon Valley Little League organization. He was a truly respected mentor to the young athletes he coached. John had such a passion for the game of baseball and took great joy in helping the kids he coached to realize their potential. John's greatest passions were time spent with family, coaching, his weekly golf games at Bennett Valley Golf Course (of which he was a member of the Men's Club), and watching his beloved Packers, Dodgers, Lakers, along with the UCLA Bruins, Notre Dame Irish and PGA tournaments. John is survived by his wife of 27 years, Debbie, his daughter Julie Cremin (Michael), his son Jason Gregori (Elaine Gallagher), his son Bryan Gregori, granddaughters Maria Cremin and Grace Cremin, brothers James Gregori and Jerrold Gregori, brother and sister-in-law Gary and Ruth Brown, nieces Liz Kassis (Chuck) and Kellen Gregori, nephews Richard Gregori, Michael Gregori (Andrea), Christopher Brown, and Ryan Brown, and grandniece Hannah Kassis and grandnephew Riley Kassis. John's greatest joy was seeing his children grow up to be happy, thoughtful, and successful adults. He demonstrated his values of love of family, loyalty, strong work ethics, generosity, care for others, and steadfast strength through adversity during his well-lived life. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. A memorial to celebrate John's life will be held on Saturday, May 31st at 1:30 p.m. at Daniels Chapel of the Roses, 1225 Sonoma Avenue, Santa Rosa, California. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that memorial contributions be made to St. Jude's Childrens Research Hospital, Make a Wish Foundation, or Memorial Hospice. DANIELS CHAPEL OF THE ROSES FUNERAL AND CREMATION SERVICES 707-525-3730