Peter Magrini Sr.

1942 - 2022

Peter Magrini, Sr.
June 8, 1942 - October 27, 2022
It is with much sadness and broken hearts that we announce the passing of our patriarch, Peter Alexander Magrini, Sr. Peter went to be with his mother on October 27, 2022, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Peter attended St. Rose Catholic School, Santa Rosa Junior High, and Santa Rosa High School. It was there that he met Judy LaFranchi, the love of his life and his future wife of nearly 59 years.
Peter played basketball and baseball while at Santa Rosa High School and again at Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC). As a pitcher on the SRJC baseball team, he excelled as the star hurler and earned a full scholarship to Santa Clara University. The success of the Broncos' baseball team led them to compete in the finals of the 1962 College World Series in Omaha, Neb. As a starter, one of his high points included striking out Willie Mays on three pitches in an exhibition game at Santa Clara University. Peter was scouted by several professional baseball teams and in 1964 was signed by the Minnesota Twins. That same year their first child and his namesake, Peter Alexander, Jr., was born. In 1965, he was traded to the Boston Red Sox and signed to a professional contract, and in 1966 he made the Red Sox major league roster out of spring training. He stayed with the Red Sox until traded to the New York Yankees, where he spent the last two years of his career. While playing for the Yankee affiliate in Toronto, Canada, the young family happily welcomed the birth of their second child, Lisa Marie.
Peter played seven years of professional baseball and in the offseasons sold cars at Zumwalt Chrysler Plymouth on Santa Rosa Avenue. When his baseball career ended, he worked at the dealership full-time. His competitive nature and strong work ethic propelled him from salesman to sales manager to general manager to co-owner. The car business became his second passion and Peter quickly developed into a well-known business leader, and he and Judy became local television personalities due to their popular homespun Zumwalt-Magrini Chrysler Plymouth Jeep commercials. His signature "On the Original Automobile Row" catchphrase could be heard on radios and TVs throughout the North Bay during the 80s, 90s and into 2000. Zumwalt-Magrini became one of the state's top Chrysler dealerships, sending Peter and Judy to Europe and Hawaii on multiple occasions. They loved to travel together, and were especially grateful to visit their ancestral homes of Switzerland and Italy.
Even as a local sports hero and thriving businessman, he first and foremost valued family. Attendance at weeknight dinners was a requirement for the entire family, complete with story-sharing and "what would you do" games that Peter Jr. and Lisa still bring up around their own children. They also fondly recall the yearly road trips to Disneyland and visiting their large extended families in Sonoma and Marin counties. Peter was behind the wheel for all of it.
Peter was born in San Francisco in 1942, soon followed by younger siblings Paula and Philip. His parents were immigrants; his father A.J. Magrini from Italy and his mother Dorothy Osheroff from Russia. The Magrini family presence was strong in Santa Rosa in those days and Peter's childhood was filled with many aunts, uncles, and cousins, as well as a large network of friends that he valued and enjoyed visiting with throughout his life. He had an especially close friendship with cousin Michael Osborn.
As he got older, Peter was content with the simpler things in life. If the sun was out, you could find him lounging in his beautiful backyard, sports talk or a Giants game on his transistor radio, drink in hand, and taking periodic dips into the pool, daring others to join him. An avid walker, neighbors would receive a loud hello from him and often a compliment on their yards as he made his rounds. Peter seemed to know a little bit of history of every house he passed, particularly in the Proctor Terrace neighborhood where his future wife Judy lived with her parents, Howard and Sally LaFranchi. Peter came to consider Howard and Sally his parents and developed lifelong bonds with Judy's siblings Susan, Cindy and Howie.
His loss was sudden and hard-hitting for all who knew him, but his family chooses to remember his overwhelming charm, infectious positivity, offbeat and hilarious sense of humor, and his true concern for those around him. He is survived by his wife Judith Ann (LaFranchi) Magrini; son Peter Alexander Magrini, Jr., daughter Lisa Marie (Magrini) Costamagna, son-in-law Joe Costamagna; brother Philip Magrini; sister-in-law Susan (LaFranchi) Peterson, brother-in-law Ron Peterson; sister-in-law Cindy LaFranchi; brother-in-law Howard LaFranchi Jr., sister-in-law Jane (Woods) LaFranchi; brother-in-law George Lentini; grandchildren Isabella, Cole, Kristian and Brandis Magrini, and Anthony, Nicholas and Tessa Costamagna; and many nieces and nephews. Peter was preceded in death by his father A.J., mother Dorothy, and sister Paula (Magrini) Lentini.
Peter's family will get together in early summer to celebrate his amazing life. Donations in Peter's name are greatly appreciated to the following: The Santa Rosa High School Foundation, Providence Memorial Hospice, or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.