12/18/2023
David Pedotti
Our patriarch, ever-supportive dad, grandfather, beloved husband of 53 years and friend to many, has passed. A great loss has been felt by us all. In recent years dad would often state to our mother “We’ve had a good life,” while recalling the many things they had accomplished together. The following just touches on a few of those things.
Dad spent the first 20 years of his life growing up on the coast of northern California, on the family’s ranch near Fort Ross with his parents Louise and Alex Pedotti. He had a soft spot in his heart for big trucks from a young age. He recounted his mother saying when he was a boy, “I wish I could just buy him a truck, so he would stop talking about them all the time.”
He would leave the ranch temporarily in the mid-60s and move to San Rafael where he worked for the state highway department, operating equipment and driving truck in Marin County between Bolinas and the Golden Gate Bridge. After a few years, he left San Rafael and headed back north to Sonoma County to haul logs, lumber and wood chips for another 10 years. He had many good truck-driving stories to show for it which we all had heard multiple times, but never got tired of. The best stories stemmed from chaining up a semi in the snow, coming off steep mountain passes with no Jake brake and “fading brakes” or pulling steep grades and shifting “two sticks” (in the old days, big trucks had two transmissions).
In 1970, he married the love of his life, our mother Renie Gleason. Five years later, in 1975, their first son was born. In 1978, with their second son on the way, his father Alex, who was running the family ranch by himself, asked if dad would come back to help him run the business. The timing was right as long hours of driving truck were taking its toll on him and he knew this would provide a good life for his young family. Our parents would eventually take over the 2,000-acre cattle and sheep operation from our grandfather, as well as a campground and a feed store. Large gatherings of family and friends were had on the ranch over the years which only added to the good memories.
During this time dad was on the school board and was our 4-H project leader. He spent countless hours of his own time for years successfully soliciting local businesses to buy 4-H and FFA project animals. He was also very involved in the local livestock industry, a member of numerous organizations and participated on multiple committees.
Our parents had long-term aspirations of moving to Oregon, someday, and in 1995, dad found just the right spot near the town of Oakland. A place they would call home for the next 30 years. Dad loved to sit out on the porch in the mornings and drink a cup of coffee, talk with mom, or just take in their view. Weddings, birthdays, holidays and summer barbecues were common here and dad enjoyed being the host. Time wasn’t consumed with these pleasures only.
In 1997, dad stopped by the former Dory’s Italian Restaurant in Sutherlin. On a whim, he asked the owner if she would be interested in selling her restaurant and as fate would have it, she did. The restaurant would soon become Pedotti’s Italian Restaurant. The name that would reside proudly on the outside of the restaurant for the next 20 years. It was hard work, much like ranching, but it was rewarding for them. Dad ran the kitchen and mom handled things out front. Dad always said he was a “cook” not a “chef” (he didn’t want there to be any confusion with that). Some might remember the comical ads he created with friends for the restaurant which aired on the local television station. Proof of his creativity and sense of humor.
Dad was well known for walking the restaurant and chatting with customers. It wasn’t something he felt he needed to do, he did it because he really enjoyed visiting with people. We often said that dad “had a gift for gab,” in the way that he could start a conversation with just about anyone.
People and community were important to him. He was a founding member of “The Purple Foot Gang,” an organization made up of local businesses which held regional triathlons, car shows and charitable events for the Sutherlin area.
Dad had a full life. He experienced and accomplished a lot in his 78 years on this planet. From trucker, to rancher, to restaurateur and all the friendships made in between. We would have very much enjoyed a few more years with him on this earth, but it wasn’t meant to be. We appreciate this more now than ever. Fortunately, he made a huge impact on those he left behind. He was a very caring and supportive father and a loyal and devoted husband to our mom. Together they led by example teaching family values, work ethic and respect for others. We will miss dad forever, but he has left us with his wonderful legacy.
David Pedotti is survived by his wife Renie Pedotti, son Luke (Nikki) Pedotti, Ty (Shawna) Pedotti and grandchildren Kayla, Rylan, Gavyn, Alexis, Jersey, Nolan, and great-granddaughter Madelynn who all affectionately call him “Grumpy.” For those who wish to donate in his memory, the family asks that you consider the Sutherlin High School FFA program.
