Romeo Barsi passed at Lucca Campo di Marte Hospital in Lucca, Tuscany at the age of 71. Romeo lived in Italy up until 1972 when he moved his family to Gilroy to be closer to his sister, Franca Barsi Filice and fulfill his boyhood dream of living in America. Romeo was a young boy during WWII and during the German occupation of Marlia, Tuscany his father was a cook for the German Army. He loved telling his grandchildren the stories of when the Americans liberated Italy and how he made friends with the US soldiers. The US soldiers took him under their wings and loved giving him American goodies such as chocolate. Romeo loved to travel and even when he lived in Italy he frequently took his family on trips to visit France, Austria, Switzerland, Spain and what was then Yugoslavia. He also loved to collect WWII Jeep vehicles. He loved to hike in the mountains and especially loved Gilroy and the surrounding hills as they reminded him of his childhood home in Tuscany. He made his living in California as a Teamster truck driver and owner of his own trucking business. Earlier this year, in his retirement, he moved back to Italy to be closer to his son and enjoy his retirement.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Francesco Barsi and Lauretta Paganucci of Marlia, Tuscany and his daughters, Franca Barsi and Franchina Barsi. He is survived by his wife, Arsenia, his daughter Lauretta Avina and her husband, John of Hollister and their sons, Isiah and Garrett Avina of Hollister, his son Claudio Barsi and his wife, Silvana and foster daughter, Elide of Gragano, Tuscany, his grandchild, Andrew Saguindel of Gilroy, his sister, Franca Filice of Gilroy and his nieces, Sharon, Cristine and Claudia and dear friend Maria Castora of Hollister. He also has many cousins in Tuscany and Toronto, Canada.
Funeral services will be held in Saltocchio, Tuscany and he will be buried with his parents. A memorial Mass will be celebrated on Monday, October 13, 2008 at 10:00 A.M. at Old Mission San Juan Bautista in San Juan Bautista, CA.
Donations are preferred to Mission San Juan Bautista in Mr. Barsi’s memory c/o Black Cooper Sander Funeral Home, 363 7th St. Hollister, CA 95023.
Condolences: www.blackcoopersander.com
