Louis G. Damonte

1943 - 2018

Louis G. Damonte

Reno - Louis G. Damonte was born on May 21, 1943 to Ben and Eva (Curti) Damonte in Reno Nevada. He died peacefully on September 18, 2018 surrounded by loved ones, after a long and courageous battle with multiple health problems. Louis was raised and lived his entire life on the Damonte Ranch in South Reno. Even as a young boy his passion and love were for the ranching business and livestock. In 1953, he won Grand Champion Steer at the Nevada Junior Livestock Show as a 4H member. He attended local schools: the old Brown Elementary School up to the 8th grade and graduated from Manogue High School in 1961.

Louis had a very active and prosperous life to say the least. Despite health problems, which started at a young age, he never let anything slow him down! He worked hard, played hard and lived life to its fullest.

When in high school, he started his own hay hauling business and hauled hay for the Damonte Ranches as well as various other ranches.

In 1961, Louis joined the Nevada Air Guard and was honorably discharged in 1964.

He worked for his cousins, the Caramella family, at their business, Reno Disposal (now Waste Management), from 1964-1985 working his way up to becoming the general manager.

In 1968, on a piece of property of the Damonte Ranch, he developed and built Pioneer Hills Mobile Home Estates, still one of Reno's finest manufactured home communities and he, along with his brother, added Pioneer Hills Mini Storage and RV Storage in 1986.

He co-owned and operated L & P Construction Company from 1973 - 1980.

A rancher at heart he returned to his love of ranching and took over the Damonte Ranch operation when his father retired. Continually adding to the ranches, he purchased, with partner Dave Stix, part of the former Lucky Hereford Ranch in Sierra Valley California - a partnership lasting 30+ years at The D S Ranch in Vinton, CA. In 2003 Louis added to his holdings with D S LL in Lovelock, NV and soon followed with co-ownership of Western Nevada Cattle Feeders. The ranching enterprises also ran cattle on open range permits and leased several ranches in Nevada and California.

Along with his sons, he participated in the day to day operations of these ranching operations of raising beef cattle, alfalfa, grass hay & corn, up until his last days.

In 1989 Louie, along with his two siblings, opened Sage Hill Clay Sports on a piece of property on the back of the Damonte Ranch. They were proud to call "Sage Hill" Reno's premier sporting clays, trap, and skeet facility and ran world class tournaments as well as shooting for the public until 2013.

Louis and his family partnered up with Perry DiLoreto 31 years ago to develop the Damonte Ranch housing community in South Reno. Louis oversaw many aspects of the development which surely changed the landscape and future of the South Truckee Meadows as Reno grew from a small town to what it is today.

Louis and Theresa were together for eight years before marrying on 1/9/98, celebrating 20 years of marriage this year.

Louis was Past President of Washoe Co. Farm Bureau, Director for The Steamboat Ditch Co., Steamboat Creek Director, Director for The Last Chance Water Co., Director for the Last Chance Water District in Vinton, CA, and was on the board for the Federal Farm Credit Agency. He was a member of the Catholic Church, The Nevada Cattlemen's Association, The Elks Club, The Italian Benevolent Society, The Prospectors, The Knights of Pythias, The California Indians, and The Makaha Indians.

Louis was proud of his Italian heritage. He made seven trips to visit and tour Italy, but mostly to visit relatives. His love for his Italian/American heritage led him, along with several close Reno friends, to start the "Italian 4th of July Party", held every year on the Sunday closest to the 4th, at his home on the Damonte Ranch. It began in 1980 with around 350 people, and by 2003 when the group finally decided to end the function more than 2100 people attended the annual event. If you ever saw a white Fiat 500 buzzing around town, showing off the Italian flag's red, white and green, it was Louis out running errands!

Louie loved to cook, especially Italian food. He built a room onto his home for his wood burning imported Italian Pizza oven specifically to make Farinata, a chickpea type of pizza, one of his favorites from the Liguria region where Damonte family originated. He also built a room in his basement equipped to make pasta and ravioli. He loved to entertain and was known for his vodka pasta sauce, his good homemade wine, sausage and salami.

Louis loved to hunt and fish, not only in Nevada but he also traveled to Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and Canada to do so. He was an accomplished clay target shooter and annually attended the California Indians Shoots in Nevada and California. As a member of the Makaha Indians he traveled to shoots in Hawaii annually for 24 years. When Sage Hill closed he moved some of the equipment to his private trap and skeet shooting practice facility.

He also enjoyed restoring his 1975 Jeep Wrangler, after taking it down to the frame and building it back up to "show quality".

He was an avid fan of University of Nevada football and basketball as well as the San Francisco Giants and the 49ers. He also enjoyed cheering on his grandchildren with sports and rarely missed one of their games.

In 2010, he was fortunate enough to receive a liver transplant from Lori Ensenberger. He and his family will be forever grateful for her unselfish gift which gave him an extra 8 years of life.

Louis was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved Jack Russel Terrier, "Austin I". He is survived by his wife Theresa, his sons Louis Jr. (Audrey), Steve (Angie) and Darrin (Wendy), his six grandchildren: Louie III, Anthony, Joseph, Jenna, Eva and Dominic and his constant companion "Austin II". He is also survived by his sister Darlene Vopat and brother Ben Jr. (Pinkie), as well as five nephews, one niece, several great nieces and nephews, and numerous cousins.

His family would like to thank the many medical professionals who cared for Louis. From the Stanford Medical Center and The University of San Francisco Hospital to his local doctors Louis received the best medical treatment over the years. More recently, many thanks to Dr. Zavala and his home health care staff, you are too many to name, but please know your love, kindness and care are truly appreciated.

Per Louis's wishes, services will be held on October 30, 2018, at 10a.m. at Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 100 Bishop Manogue Drive, Reno, NV 89511.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to: Nevada Junior Livestock Show Scholarship Fund, P. O. Box 8026, Reno, NV 89507, Manogue High School or to your favorite charity.