Larry Pete Pistoresi Jr (75) = The city of Chowchilla lost a community pillar with the recent passing of Larry Pete Pistoresi Jr. At 75 years of age, Larry lived a rich, full life and passed away peacefully with family members by his side. He is preceded in death by his father Larry Pistoresi Sr and mother Bettie Pistoresi. Larry is survived by his stepmother Velma Pistoresi, stepbrothers Jerry and Kent Danieli, his loving wife of 47 years Linda Pistoresi, his daughter Laura Pistoresi and his sons Daniel and Bradley Pistoresi. Larry's legacy and zest for life will live on through his five charismatic grandkids ranging in age from three to eleven years old.
Born in Merced, Larry proudly embraced his Italian heritage representing the fourth generation of the Pistoresi family to call Chowchilla home. Larry grew up in the fertile fields of the Central Valley during Chowchilla's formative years when the city could have served as a Hollywood set for the television show Happy Days. He was a decorated letterman having played for both the football and golf teams before graduating from Chowchilla Union High School in 1959. He was a proud Redskin his entire life traveling near and far to support all of Chowchilla's youth and high school sporting teams.
Larry split his college years between Santa Clara University and the University of Washington during which time he developed a lifelong love of learning. A true patriot, Larry was a member of the college ROTC program and served as a sergeant in the United States Army where he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Service Medal before being honorably discharged in 1967. He fondly recalled being stationed in Germany and other foreign countries during his service in the armed forces that fostered a worldly intelligence that grew over the years into a genuine concern for global affairs and political issues.
Larry's life was inextricably tied to the car business and the Chevrolet brand. He was an accomplished drag racer driving his 1963 Corvette Sting Ray to a NHRA Regional Championship with an elapsed time of 13.57 seconds and a speed of more than 102 miles per hour. He eventually worked alongside his grandfather Pete, his father Larry Sr. and his uncle Monte for over two decades at Pistoresi Chevrolet Oldsmobile on the corner of Robertson Boulevard and Fifth Street, a favorite gathering spot for Chowchillans to watch both stampedes and parades. He inherited the Pistoresi work ethic as he became an award-winning salesman selling everything from family sedans to farming vehicles to luxury motorhomes while also working for both the family's towing and ambulance services.
During the second half of his professional career, Larry switched gears to the real estate development business playing an integral role in building new residential and commercial buildings in Chowchilla and the Central Valley. Larry dedicated more than ten years of his life to the construction of the Greenhills Estates neighborhood and the Pheasant Run golf course, the first nearly doubling the size of Chowchilla's city limits and the latter providing a much-needed recreational outlet for the community. The Pistoresi family held numerous weddings, reunions, birthday celebrations, holiday gatherings and family picnics at the golf course, and Larry loved strolling across his signature bridge to the island green on the fourth hole.
The Pistoresi family believes strongly in the ideal of service and Larry served as a shining example of putting one's church, city and community ahead of one's self. Larry held a long-standing seat on the Chowchilla Elementary School Board during which time he became well-known for his Hawaiian-themed luaus and pig roasts for the middle school classes. He was also an active member of the Chowchilla Chamber of Commerce and a multiple-term City Council member being named Mayor of Chowchilla from 1975 to 1976. Larry was passionate about the growth and development of the region which led him to serve on both the Chowchilla and Madera County Planning Commissions, the Industrial Development Commission and the League of California Cities. The true epitome of an involved and respected community member, Larry often served as master of ceremonies for special events and church gatherings including lending his recognizable voice as the announcer for the annual Chowchilla Fair parade.
Larry was an avid outdoorsman as evidenced from his days spent hunting doves and pheasants with extended family to his enjoyment of fishing local lakes and rivers with his sons. He often shared stories of family hunting trips for deer and elk in the mountains surrounding Jackson Hole, WY, an area he often frequented in recent years to fish the Teton and Snake Rivers where he regularly spotted moose and bald eagles. Larry also knew how throw a good party whether it be while captaining his houseboat on Lake McClure, serving frog legs to Joe Montana as part of team Bullfrog Chili or hosting friends and family for a traditional "Spaghetti-on-the-Board" Pistoresi family dinner.
More than anything, Larry was a family man who put his wife on a pedestal, provided for his kids and spent every available moment with his grandkids. He played an active, important part in his grandchildren's lives whether it be attending his oldest grandson Samuel's Boy Scout ceremonies, cheering on his middle grandsons Jackson and Noah during baseball games or throwing snowballs at his youngest grandkids Stella and Micah as they skied the slopes. An accomplished artist himself, Larry will forever be remembered for his larger-than-life birthday party posters, one-of-a-kind greeting cards and inspiring drawings for his grandchildren.
A faithful servant of God, Larry Pete Pistoresi Jr will be laid to rest during a funeral mass scheduled for 11:00am on Saturday, February 18th to be held at St. Columba Catholic Church located at 213 Orange Avenue in Chowchilla, California. A celebration of his life and luncheon reception will immediately follow these services at the adjacent O'Loughlin Hall. In lieu of flowers, the Pistoresi family has asked for donations to be made in Larry's name to the Chowchilla Historical Society, an organization in which he served up until his unexpected passing
Born in Merced, Larry proudly embraced his Italian heritage representing the fourth generation of the Pistoresi family to call Chowchilla home. Larry grew up in the fertile fields of the Central Valley during Chowchilla's formative years when the city could have served as a Hollywood set for the television show Happy Days. He was a decorated letterman having played for both the football and golf teams before graduating from Chowchilla Union High School in 1959. He was a proud Redskin his entire life traveling near and far to support all of Chowchilla's youth and high school sporting teams.
Larry split his college years between Santa Clara University and the University of Washington during which time he developed a lifelong love of learning. A true patriot, Larry was a member of the college ROTC program and served as a sergeant in the United States Army where he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Service Medal before being honorably discharged in 1967. He fondly recalled being stationed in Germany and other foreign countries during his service in the armed forces that fostered a worldly intelligence that grew over the years into a genuine concern for global affairs and political issues.
Larry's life was inextricably tied to the car business and the Chevrolet brand. He was an accomplished drag racer driving his 1963 Corvette Sting Ray to a NHRA Regional Championship with an elapsed time of 13.57 seconds and a speed of more than 102 miles per hour. He eventually worked alongside his grandfather Pete, his father Larry Sr. and his uncle Monte for over two decades at Pistoresi Chevrolet Oldsmobile on the corner of Robertson Boulevard and Fifth Street, a favorite gathering spot for Chowchillans to watch both stampedes and parades. He inherited the Pistoresi work ethic as he became an award-winning salesman selling everything from family sedans to farming vehicles to luxury motorhomes while also working for both the family's towing and ambulance services.
During the second half of his professional career, Larry switched gears to the real estate development business playing an integral role in building new residential and commercial buildings in Chowchilla and the Central Valley. Larry dedicated more than ten years of his life to the construction of the Greenhills Estates neighborhood and the Pheasant Run golf course, the first nearly doubling the size of Chowchilla's city limits and the latter providing a much-needed recreational outlet for the community. The Pistoresi family held numerous weddings, reunions, birthday celebrations, holiday gatherings and family picnics at the golf course, and Larry loved strolling across his signature bridge to the island green on the fourth hole.
The Pistoresi family believes strongly in the ideal of service and Larry served as a shining example of putting one's church, city and community ahead of one's self. Larry held a long-standing seat on the Chowchilla Elementary School Board during which time he became well-known for his Hawaiian-themed luaus and pig roasts for the middle school classes. He was also an active member of the Chowchilla Chamber of Commerce and a multiple-term City Council member being named Mayor of Chowchilla from 1975 to 1976. Larry was passionate about the growth and development of the region which led him to serve on both the Chowchilla and Madera County Planning Commissions, the Industrial Development Commission and the League of California Cities. The true epitome of an involved and respected community member, Larry often served as master of ceremonies for special events and church gatherings including lending his recognizable voice as the announcer for the annual Chowchilla Fair parade.
Larry was an avid outdoorsman as evidenced from his days spent hunting doves and pheasants with extended family to his enjoyment of fishing local lakes and rivers with his sons. He often shared stories of family hunting trips for deer and elk in the mountains surrounding Jackson Hole, WY, an area he often frequented in recent years to fish the Teton and Snake Rivers where he regularly spotted moose and bald eagles. Larry also knew how throw a good party whether it be while captaining his houseboat on Lake McClure, serving frog legs to Joe Montana as part of team Bullfrog Chili or hosting friends and family for a traditional "Spaghetti-on-the-Board" Pistoresi family dinner.
More than anything, Larry was a family man who put his wife on a pedestal, provided for his kids and spent every available moment with his grandkids. He played an active, important part in his grandchildren's lives whether it be attending his oldest grandson Samuel's Boy Scout ceremonies, cheering on his middle grandsons Jackson and Noah during baseball games or throwing snowballs at his youngest grandkids Stella and Micah as they skied the slopes. An accomplished artist himself, Larry will forever be remembered for his larger-than-life birthday party posters, one-of-a-kind greeting cards and inspiring drawings for his grandchildren.
A faithful servant of God, Larry Pete Pistoresi Jr will be laid to rest during a funeral mass scheduled for 11:00am on Saturday, February 18th to be held at St. Columba Catholic Church located at 213 Orange Avenue in Chowchilla, California. A celebration of his life and luncheon reception will immediately follow these services at the adjacent O'Loughlin Hall. In lieu of flowers, the Pistoresi family has asked for donations to be made in Larry's name to the Chowchilla Historical Society, an organization in which he served up until his unexpected passing
