MADERA - Former Madera Unified School District board of trustees president Dino Petrucci died January 4th, 2016 in Madera at the age of 85. Petrucci dedicated a life time to the support of agriculture.

Dino was born on a farm in Madera where his family still lives on the property his parents cultivated while he was growing up. He attended Howard Elementary School, graduated from Madera High School in 1947, and earned a college degree in Crop Science from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

During his four years at Madera High, Dino was actively involved in student government and the Future Farmers of America. He was elected Student Body Vice President and Senior Class Speaker. He also served as Chapter President of FFA and won the FAA State Speaking contest.

Petrucci went on to hold numerous leadership positions in various organizations as a young adult. He was elected the State FFA President and was a National Public Speaker at the National FFA Convention in Kansas City. In addition, he served as President of the Crop Science Department at Cal Poly.

Mr. Petrucci was successful in his undertakings on behalf of these organizations and in his academic endeavors. He earned the coveted American Farmer Degree and co-authored a book that was used in school agriculture departments across the state.

After college, Dino began his teaching career in the Ag Department in Victorville. Two years later, he returned to Madera and embarked upon a 29-year career with the Madera High Ag Department.

In 1951 Dino married the love of his life, Peggy Hayes. During this time, Dino was actively farming a variety of crops with his brother, Enzo, and wife Peggy in the Howard District of Madera, where the family still lives today.

Many of his former students attest that Mr. Petrucci was a committed teacher, giving more hours than were required of him. For fifteen years, he advised the California Young Farmers and was instrumental in the Madera Chapter receiving recognition as "Outstanding Chapter" for many of those years.

Mr. Petrucci began the Madera Unified Student Training Center (ROP) and served as its Director for two years. This program was designed to teach vocational skills to the underprivileged to order to afford them better job opportunities

A difference of opinion with the district's administration would send Petrucci into retirement from education but Dino had different plans. Petrucci decided to try his hand at politics and was elected to a term on the district's board of trustees where he also served as president of the board.

While balancing a family and career, Dino made time for community involvement by serving as President of the Lion's Club, President of Madera Toastmasters, and President of Madera County Farm Bureau. He served as State President of the California Ag Teachers Association, and found time to serve as Chairman of the Livestock Department at the Madera District Fair.

He was named Senior Farmer of the Year in 1999 by the Madera District Chamber of Commerce

Famous for his Italian barbeque sauce, Dino created the sauce in 1977 for his catering service. The public couldn't get enough of the sauce and begged Petrucci to bottle his creation. Finally in 2000 the sauce and a line of meat rubs with the Petrucci name started hitting the shelves.

Early in the family's sauce enterprise, Petrucci could be found in grocery stores giving out samples of his concoction. At one point Petrucci said he had turned down offers from the larger manufacturing companies for his sauce because it was a family operation and family was the most important thing to Dino.

The catch phrase for Petrucci's Catering business was "The secret is in the sauce", now the secret was out and the general public ate it up. The sauce and rubs can still be found in stores through out Madera and Fresno, and through-out the state in many specialty shops such as Hollister's Casa de Fruita.

On the Petrucci Secret Sauce Facebook page his family and employees had this to say, "Yesterday we said goodbye to our founder, our boss, our cook, our husband, our dad, our Nonno, our teacher, our best friend. Although we are filled with sorrow during this difficult time, we also have hope & joy in our hearts because he is now watching over us from Heaven. We're sure he's already been bbqing, farming, and taking care of all the animals up there! Saturday's will forever be our favorite day of the week because the BBQ Pit will be our permanent reminder of his love for food, family, & friends."

Dino is survived by his bride of 64 years, Peggy Petrucci, his daughter, Dina Petrucci and Norman Harbison, his son, Vince Petrucci, granddaughter, Mika Petrucci, grandson, Lucca Petrucci, daughter-in-law, Dennise Petrucci, ranch foreman Julio and wife Veronica Cabrera, and caregivers Lupi Ledesma and Hector Romo.

A private service for Dino will be held at the direction of Jay Chapel. A Memorial will be held on Saturday, January 23, 10:00 A.M. at Madera South High School Cafeteria to honor and celebrate Dino’s life. In lieu of flowers remembrances may be made to Hinds Hospice, 2490 W. Shaw Ave. #101, Fresno, CA 93711 or Madera Adult Day Care, 322 W. 6th St., Madera, CA 93637.

Dino’s legacy will be carried on through Petrucci’s Secret Sauce, Petrucci’s Seasoning, and the BBQ Pit at the Old School House which will remain open on Saturdays 9am-3pm.

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Photos from Petrucci Secert Sauce Facebook page
Portions of story from the United States Congressional Record