Guido "Eddie" Nannini

FUNERAL HOME

CLOSED-Valente Marini Perata & Co.

4840 Mission Street

San Francisco, California

Guido Nannini Obituary

Guido "Eddie" Nannini Died peacefully on October 6, 2006 at the age of 65. Loving son of the Late Guido and Julia Nannini. Survived by his sister, Mary Eda Smith and his brother-in-law, Robert. He will be missed by his niece Jill Nordman and her husband, Carl; and grandniece, Caroline, and nephew, Clay Smith. He is survived by his uncles and aunt, John and Isabelle Nannini, and Edgar and Jane Nannini, and aunt, Mary E. Nannini; also numerous cousins and family as well as other family members, John and Mary Monahan. Retired city and county employee from City College. Member of Union Local Labor 261. He was an avid classical music buff. He loved opera, symphony and chamber music. He was great reader of the classics. He lived in SF for 45 years and in that time he was active in and president of many political groups: the San Francisco Federated Young Democrats - among the many members at the time, the Honorable Willie Brown, Phil and John Burton and George Moscone. He was active in many campaigns including that of Nancy Pelosi. He was a former elected member of the Democratic Central Committee, founding president of District 8, now District 11, and was still very active in politics. Guido was a generous, gentle giant to his friends and family and will be missed by all. Friends may visit on Thursday after 4:00 PM, and are invited to attend the Vigil Service also on Thursday at 7:00 PM, and the Funeral Service on Friday at 9:30 AM, from the chapels of Valente Marini Perata & Co., 4840 Mission St, SF, then to Corpus Christi Church for a 10:00 AM Funeral Mass. Burial to follow at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Colma. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Conservatory of Music, 50 Oak St., SF 94102, or St. Anthony's Dining Room, 45 Jones St., SF 94102.

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

Published by San Francisco Chronicle on Oct. 10, 2006.

Memories and Condolences
for Guido Nannini

12 Entries

Marta Silvia Solotar

October 29, 2006

I first met Guido 18 years ago soon after I met my husband Terry. At the time Terry was renting an apartment at the "Nannini Manor" at 2 Italy and he, Guido and Steve were regular dinner companions. Guido made me immediately welcomed into Terry's extended family.

Since then Guido has been a close friend and "family" to us sharing birthdays, New Years and other events including many dinners before the Opera or the Symphony with him and Mary, Claire or Joan.

Guido's heart, kindness, love and concern for human beings is only paralleled by the fierceness of his political beliefs.

I want to send a big communal hug to Guido's family and to all of us that had the privilege of knowing and sharing Guido's life.

Mike Ryan

October 25, 2006

Guido was a dear friend of my family and myself. My memories of him go back as log as I can remember,Sten grove,Pinochle,numerus dinners,and too many Synphonys and Operas.Ohya and walking precincts. He was a man of genuine kindness And love. thee world is a lesser place without him

Terrence Ryan

October 23, 2006

Guido and I met at the San Francisco Federated Young Democrats, probably in 1962, the training ground for so many of us who were proud to be part of the so-called “Burton Machine.” He was the leader of a group we laughingly called the Catholic Central Party. He would often say, “All things in moderation.” To which I would invariably respond, “Except those things for which you have a great appetite.”
We shared a mutual interest in politics, unions, history, cigars, eating, and drinking. After a while, he introduced me to the pleasures of opera and classical music. However, I never could get him to enjoy my other musical love: bebop.
While he was personally a gentle giant, he upheld his political beliefs with fervor. City College suspended him once for refusing to sign a no-strike pledge that he felt was unconstitutional, even though he was the only employee who refused to sign.
He was the most generous man I have ever met and I cannot count the times he hosted me and my family to different cultural events or did us favors. Once he had acquired ten free tickets to Fidelio at the opera house and invited ten guests. However, he forgot about a ticket for himself and had to buy one. He had a heart as big as the rest of him. Mary, Bob, Jill and Clay: it was an enormous pleasure to know and love him. We, who were lucky enough to be his friends, will never forget him.

Paul Rose

October 11, 2006

Guido, we will miss you. You were a great guy.

Paul Rosenberg

October 11, 2006

During the John Burton for state senate campaign in the summer of 1967 I was in the basement of Hardy Hall stuffing envelopes. I wanted to move to the table where the folks with the transistor radio were listening to opera as I had a great interest in opera as well as politics. That is how I met Guido. For the next 39 years, we did music and politics. He was a remarkable man. He had a great love of learning. He must have read two or three books per week; history and biography books. He could converse on so many topics. He had a great desire to see things go well. He would dominate meetings through his parliamentary inventions. After he would satisfactorily conclude the meetings, he would take everyone out to dinner. He loved to eat and he wanted everyone around him to enjoy themselves likewise. Shakespeare would have dubbed him a ‘hale fellow, well met.’ He contributed greatly to politics in campaigns and, especially, on election day when we would go to San Francisco General Hospital and obtain ballots for those confined in the hospital. Often, we would be the only visitors for the folks for whom we would get the ballots. One of his greatest moments was when he appeared in Mozart’s The ABDUCTION FROM THE SERAGLIO in a non-singing role during the spring opera season of 1975. He excelled in his acting and the Chronicle review cited him though not by name. I gladly remember his retirement party and his magnificent speech on what a wonderful life he had enjoyed. He led a life of music and politics but will be known mostly for the friends who never will forget him.

Claire Zvanski

October 11, 2006

Guido was a legend in the Excelsior District neighborhood of San Francisco. He was also well known at the Opera House and Symphony Hall...and then at Herbst Theater and also at the Philharmonia Baroque and every other concert series in the Bay Area. But, more than that, Guido was one of my dearest and best friends and political mentors. GOTV in the old Supervisorial District 8 meant Guido's Garage! For the District 11 Democratic Club--reflective of redistricting in SF--Guido was a stalwart who kept us on track and never failed to remind us of our history and our political duty. He was also generous to a fault. Not only did the Democratic Club benefit from his generosity during our annual fundraiser, but many is the friend who benefitted from his caring and generosity--largesse, if you will. Guido understood the importance of sharing and mentoring so that students at City College, as well as his closest friends, became benefactors of concert tickets. Perhaps his fantastic book and CD collections will go on to benefit others for some time. He inspired his book club, too.
For many reasons, Guido was a memorable character. Most people were struck by his presence and size but most of us were struck by his incredible knowledge of history, politics and music. We were also struck by his willingness to share his knowledge and his advice. Concerts were more interesting because Guido would explain the context and add information about the composer and the times.
My life is forever impacted by my friendship with Guido. No one in the expanded Nannini family, especially, Mary, Bob, Jill and Clay will ever forget their dear "Eddie" and I fear that words are inadequate expressions of the sympathy we all feel for them at this time. I hope they know that they have been especially blessed by their relationship to Eddie/Guido. As we encounter people each day in the neighborhood, Davies Symphony Hall, the Opera House, City College campus, Kaiser Hospital, Blue Muse, Absinthe and other restaurants & cafes and all the other places that Guido frequented, people ask about Guido and it is with great sadness that we now must share the news that Guido is gone...but never forgotten. Farewell, my dear and most beloved friend.

Walter Ballin

October 11, 2006

Guido was a wonderful friend of mine going back 42 years. After moving out of town five years ago, whenever I took a trip to San Francisco, I would stay with him. I enjoyed very much going with Guido to the opera and to concerts, and also discussing the political situation with him. I will surely miss him. I'm so glad that I had a chance to see him one more time, last month. He was extremely generous and had a heart of gold.

Guido E. Nannini and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi 6-3-2005

October 10, 2006

Jim Wachob

October 10, 2006

Guido was an important friend of mine... he was my political godfather.. his sense of humor and delight in life was infectous, he had wisdom beyond his years and he was a true loyal friend not only to me but many others.. farewell friend....

Barbara Brookhart

October 10, 2006

I extend my sincere condolences to Guido’s family and close friends. His generosity of heart will be sincerely missed. I met Guido at Young Democrats in the 60s - and worked with him on various Burton, Willie Brown, Moscone, and "get out the vote" campaigns. I fondly remember attending many free Sunday concerts at Stern Grove with him and a group of friends in the 70s, including the free opera concert at the Grove, the Sunday after the opera’s season opening. We would go early to listen to the rehearsal, and then have lunch, drink Anchor beer, and play cards until the concert began at 2pm.

Rtchard Ballesteros

October 10, 2006

Guido,will be sorely missed by all
he was a great person,and a agood friend. my sympaty to guidos family
and our prayers are with you.

Patty Bartholic

October 9, 2006

Mary Eda, Bob, and family. So very sorry about the loss of Eddie....what a wonderful and loving man he was. So many wonderful memories from all the family gatherings.....a special memory of when he took Janice and I around SF when we were young - touring the City, riding the cable cars, checking out Ghiradelli Square, etc.....such a loving memory that will be with me forever. Love to all of you during this difficult time....Love always Patty, Steve, Danielle and Leanne.

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