Fred Pasquini

Ferruccio “Fred” Pasquini, who emigrated twice on his way to America and, through hard work and self-reliance, established a foothold in this country which allowed his family to prosper, passed away in Visalia on January 17, 2017 at the age of 93. He was born in Spazzavento, Pistoia, Italy in 1923, one of four sons born to Maria Vannucci Pasquini and Giuseppe Pasquini. After ending his formal studies, he began training in furniture-building, a trade that served him well in work and leisure throughout his life. Around the age of 21, Ferruccio met a young woman who’d caught his eye. After a few years of courtship, he married Giuliana Pagni in 1946, and they began a life together that spanned three continents and more than 70 years. Post-war Italy presented few opportunities, so the young couple left friends and family behind for a fresh start in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1947. Their situation was different from the other immigrants’ on board the Mendoza because a few days into their journey, in the middle of a strong storm at sea, their first son, Henry, was born. In Buenos Aires, Ferruccio began work on the Argentine Naval Base of Puerto Belgrano, taught himself Spanish and made lifelong friends he would take his sons to visit 47 years later. While in Buenos Aires, Ferruccio explored the possibility of bringing his family to America and started to teach himself some English words in preparation for the move. Political instability in Argentina delayed them for two years, by which time Ferruccio had worked his way into a comfortable job. Still, when the opportunity finally came to immigrate to the United States, he seized it; the Pasquini family arrived in California in December 1957, settling in Visalia in early 1958. At the suggestion of relatives from the Bay Area, Ferruccio adopted the American name “Fred.” Upon arriving in Visalia, Fred and Giuliana both took on hard work to provide for their family, which grew with the birth of their son Mark in 1962. One of the first things Fred did after getting settled in Visalia was to subscribe to the newspaper as a means of learning more English along with the news of the day. As his English improved, he could apply for better jobs. He studied for and earned a contractor’s license, something that made him very proud. He worked as a cabinet maker through the 1970s and for Gottschalk’s in a similar capacity until his retirement. Much of what he built with his hands – tables and dressers, bunkbeds and china hutches – his family has used for decades. And they’ll last for decades more, as a result of Fred’s precise and often clever craftsmanship. He was skilled in the garden, too, growing tomatoes, basil, and green beans from seeds he had brought back from trips to Italy. Fred and Giuliana didn’t take “vacations,” but they traveled to Italy many times to visit relatives, and celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary there, surrounded by family. Fred was a member and Eucharistic minister at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, a past member of the Knights of Columbus and a member of the Sons of Italy for more than 40 years. He was known to all as a good and godly man, proud of his self-taught achievements, and proud of his family. He is survived by his wife of more than 70 years, Giuliana; two sons, Henry (Susan) and Mark (Kim); four grandsons, David (Monica), Daniel (Yvonne), Giancarlo, and Luca; and three great-grandchildren, Michela, Dominic and Louis. Visitation will be held Thursday, Jan. 26, from 5:00-7:00 p.m., followed by a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. at Salser and Dillard Funeral Chapel. Burial will take place at the Visalia Cemetery at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 27, followed by a Mass of Resurrection at St. Mary’s Catholic Church at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bethlehem Center, 1638 N. Dinuba Blvd., Visalia, CA, 93291. A memorial tribute may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com

Fred Pasquini

September 24, 1923 - January 17, 2017