I have written before about my friend, mentor and employee Walt. Sadly, Walt passed away on Easter Sunday. He was 98 years old and lived an active life right up till the last week. He will be missed.
Below is the obituary for Walt, and below is that is unedited footage from a shoot my son Jedd did about Walt’s life. The video is well worth watching; a candid moment of reflection, with an endorsement for “a good doctor and tabasco sauce”.
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Walter A Rodoni, 98, was born on January 23, 1913 and passed away April 24, 2011 at his home in Sunol, CA comforted by family and friends.
Walt was very adept at working with wood and metal and had a superior mind for creating objects with whatever materials he had available building model ships, bird houses, wooden dolls and doll houses. Walt spent his middle years as the refuse contractor for southern Humboldt County California where he resided with his wife Dolores and raised his two sons David and Jim. When Walt started in the garbage business he designed his own waste truck with hydraulic compactor. While living in Garberville he built several houses and duplexes and was known around the town and community for his lively and accomplished whistling. He was friends to and loved by many people of Humboldt County.
Walt spent his senior years as a caretaker for Goble Properties where he was employed and befriended by Ernie Goble and later Ernie’s son Roy and his family. Walt spent the last 40+ years living at the Goble ranch. His handiwork can be seen throughout the ranch where he built or helped build barns, walkways, a covered bridge and other buildings. He loved his years on the ranch where he worked alongside his best friend Robert (Bob) Powell whom Walt considered a third son. Walt was grateful to the Goble family who were much more than employers. They took him into their lives and hearts and treated him as family. He was an easy man to be around and was eager to start up conversations with people he met. He was always willing to do what was needed to make things better. He loved his family unconditionally and was always there to help in any way he could. Walt looked at life as an adventure and enjoyed reading a good western and pulling slot machine handles at the local casino. But most of all he enjoyed the challenges of work on the Goble ranch. He lived a rich productive life and will be missed by many.
Walt was preceded in death by parents Walter Sr and Nan and half sister Katherine. He is survived by half sister Vivian Sebourn of Atkins, AR, son David Rodoni and wife Barbara of Windom, MN; James Rodoni and wife Michele of Custer, SD; granddaughters Jennifer Rodoni and Suzanne Rodoni; along with step-grandchildren Jerome, Michael, Brian and Angela Johnson. Also surviving are nieces, nephews, other family members and many friends.