On Oct. 14, 2022, Roy Camozzi passed peacefully,
surrounded by family, at the age of 90. Roy was born on Jan. 20, 1932, to Joseph and Olga Camozzi. He was raised with his older brother, Raymond,
in Bodega, California. He graduated
from Tomales High School and attended San Francisco State University where he ran
track and played baseball. Baseball was
a lifelong passion embraced as a player, coach, umpire, and fan.
Roy was an avid outdoorsman and especially enjoyed fishing
and hunting. As a young man, he sold
firewood, worked at a lumber mill, and for the Smith Brothers fishery in Bodega
Bay. Later, he worked for 30 years with
California Fish and Game. He especially enjoyed
driving tanker trucks filled with fingerlings to be released in wilderness lakes
and streams. He met many interesting
people along the way. Backpacking live
fish to remote high elevation lakes around Mount Shasta with his dog, Towser,
was a favorite memory.
Roy married June Santero on June 13, 1959, in Cotati, California. They
had five children and were married for life. Roy’s career with Fish and Game at various state hatcheries allowed his
family to live near some of the most beautiful and wild places in California –
Mount Shasta, Hot Springs (Mammoth Mountain), Moccasin (near Yosemite) and lastly
Mad River Fish Hatchery (near Blue Lake) – a very special place for him. After retirement, Roy and June moved to
Chico, California.
After working, Roy spent lots
of time visiting family in Tukwila, Washington, near Seattle. Seahawks, Mariners and Husky games were a
staple. His family also gathered in
Tukwila for annual summer reunions where Mariners games, horse races and family
poker games became a tradition.
Roy was preceded in death by
his parents, Joseph and Olga Camozzi, his brother, Raymond Camozzi, and his daughter
Lee Ann Marie Camozzi. He is survived by
his wife, June Camozzi; children and spouses, Sandy Camozzi-Dale (Steve), Trish
Camozzi-Ekberg (Allan), Kevin Camozzi (Kelly), Bryan Camozzi; grandchildren,
Karlin Ekberg-Van de Venter (Clinton), Melissa Camozzi, Erik Ekberg, Matthew
Camozzi; and great-grandchildren Savana, Benelli and Sawyer Van de Venter.
Roy leaves us a lifetime of
cherished memories – not to mention his favorite quote, “Watch out for
penguins!” He is and will be dearly missed.
We love you, Roy.
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