Frank Anthony Scaroni

Frank Anthony Scaroni, 89, a lifelong resident of Southern Monterey County, died peacefully on Sept. 13, 2022.

The youngest of six children, Frank was born at the Scaroni home in San Ardo, Calif., on Jan. 15, 1933, to Frank A. and Mary Martin Scaroni. He attended San Ardo Union School and King City High School (KCHS). Frank was a member of the San Ardo 4-H where he raised market pigs and achieved an All-Star designation. At a young age, he was taught to hunt and fish, activities that supplemented the family's dinner table, with summers and free time spent working on the Bernard Ranch in San Ardo. In high school he played football and baseball for the Mustangs and was a member of the school's band and orchestra performing on the Bass Viol, Saxophone, Drums and, being of Swiss Italian descent, a little bit of the Accordion as well.

Prior to the end of Frank's senior year, his father, a pumpman for Southern Pacific Railroad, was relocated to Gaviota, Calif. Frank finished the year living with his adopted family, the Dughi's, on the Arnold Dughi Dairy Ranch in San Lucas, Calif., where he earned his keep by baling hay, milking cows, and driving trucks. After graduating from KCHS in 1950, Frank attended California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo where he studied Animal Husbandry. He began his post education employment farming hay in the Soledad Mission District with his brother-in-law Eddie DeCarli, shortly before being drafted by the Army Signal Corp in 1953. Frank spoke fondly of his time in the service, which allowed him to travel to other parts of the US during his training at Camp Hale in Colorado, Fort Riley in Kansas and Camp Polk in Louisiana. After an honorable discharge in 1955, Frank spent the next three years working in the oil fields of San Ardo and Taft as well as the oil platforms off the coast of Ventura, followed by a brief two-year job as a guard at the Soledad Prison. In 1960, Frank began his career with the Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner's Office, where he spent the next 41 years, a majority of that time, serving as the Deputy Ag Commissioner at the King City Branch, until his retirement in 1998. Frank loved his role and cherished his time with the Commissioner's Office as it gave him the opportunity to work with several of the farmers and ranchers he knew from growing up in Southern Monterey County.

In 1957, Frank was introduced to his future bride, Santa Perino, by his aunt, Edith Martin, who was Santa's supervisor at the Modesto, Calif., Credit Bureau. Over the next three years, Frank spent many of his weekends shuttling between King City and Modesto until their July 24, 1960 marriage. In 1961, with the help of their brother-in-law, Eddie DeCarli, Frank and Santa built what would be the family home for the next 61 years in King City. The couple filled the home with two sons, Paul Anthony followed by Mark Christopher.

Frank valued his time with his sons, doing his best to pass on his many talents and hobbies. He was the consummate teacher; patient, encouraging and a true example of the value of persistence. On many a random Saturday, Frank loaded the boys in his '52 Chevy pickup to accompany him to the Dughi Ranch to care for, and occasionally shoe, his mare, "Star" and her colt, "Sonny Boy," before giving his sons a riding lesson. Frank also shared his love of flying with the boys, letting them ride passenger in the J3-Piper Cub that was shared with his friend Gordon Rosenberg.

During his Ag Commissioner days, Frank looked forward to the Salinas Valley Fair every year as he chaired the exhibit featuring the vegetables produced throughout the Salinas Valley. He took pride in keeping the display pristine and the vegetables fresh. He later expanded into the Real Estate industry, obtaining his sales license in the mid 1970's. Frank was a member of the Swiss Rifle Club, St. John's Catholic Church where he served on the school board, and a past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus King City Council #3815. Frank enjoyed spending his spare time continually improving/maintaining the family home and tinkering with his 1952 Chevy pickup, later spending quality time with his three grandchildren.

Frank is preceded in death by his parents, Frank A. Scaroni and Mary Martin Scaroni; brother, Carl Scaroni; sisters, Margaret Berti, Edith DeCarli, and Frances Vorhees. He is survived by his wife, Santa; sister, Mary Rose Mahoney; his two sons Paul Scaroni and Mark (Heidi) Scaroni; three grandchildren, Alec Scaroni, Domenica Scaroni and Gabriela Scaroni; and numerous nieces and nephews. A celebration of life in King City, CA and Internment at California Central Coast Veterans Cemetery in Seaside, Calif., will be held on future dates.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the King City Blue Ribbon 4-H, attn: Alicia Crespo, 1315 Sussex Ct., King City, CA 93930; King City Rural 4-H, PO Box 2120 King City, CA 93930; and the Salinas Valley Fair Heritage Foundation PO Box 942, King City CA, 93930.

Published in King City Rustler · October 3, 2022