Nello Baiocchi
Obituary
105+ years … a life well lived!
On Wednesday, August 12, 2026, Nello Baiocchi passed peacefully and is now reunited with his wife of more than 62 years, Mabel (Ferrero) Baiocchi, who passed in 2006.
Nello was a lifelong Sonoma County native as well as a first-generation American. His parents, Marie (Toschi) and Nello F. Baiocchi, both emigrated from Italy in the early 1900s. They literally built their home and farmed a 40-acre property in Geyserville, California. Nello outlived his three older sisters Beatrice Trusendi, Josephine DelSarto and Rose Vasconi. He is survived by many nieces and nephews: Shirley Quackenbush and family, Barbara Skrepetos and family, Randy DelSarto, Debbie DelSarto, Pat Simmons, Lynn Simmons, John Rudolph, Larry Vasconi, James Vasconi, Gina McCoy, Joe Pasquini, Anna deLaney, Lori Wood and Dolores Brannon.
Working with his father on their ranch, Nello learned to grow grapes and make their family wine. Farm life taught him he could fix almost anything and he became quite proficient at electrical work, property maintenance and management. Later he oversaw tours and hospitality at the legendary Italian Swiss Colony winery in the village of Asti. Nello loved being the host and volunteered many years of fundraising in Healdsburg for St. John's Church and School using his family recipes for raviolis and cioppino. He was a life-time member of the Italian Catholic Federation and Knights of Columbus.
To know Nello was to love him. He had a positive attitude about life and wanted everyone to always enjoy themselves. Always forward, "sempre avanti" was a constant refrain. Nello and his fun-loving ways will be missed by all that knew him. Arrivederci!
A formal mass and memorial service will be held on September 18, 2026 at 2pm at St. John the Baptist Church, 208 Matheson St., Healdsburg followed by a reception at St. John the Baptist School, 217 Fitch St., Healdsburg at 3pm.
Published in Healdsburg Tribune · September 8, 2026