Richard Sergio Sacco

Richard Sergio Sacco passed peacefully in Grants Pass, OR on February 28, 2024 after a battle with advanced frontal temporal dementia.  He was 81 years old.  He is survived by his daughter, Alisa Irwin (John), his brother, Anthony Sacco, Jr., and many cousins: Richard Nielsen (Laverne Lund), Tina Nielsen-Felos (Tony), George Nielsen (Sharon), Karen Nielsen Weiss (Gary); Maryanne Ghilarducci Suzanne (George), Charlotte Ghilarducci Koszuta (Joe); Barb Baldi Stevick (Jim), Julie Baldi  Johnson (Jim); Jane Bondanza Morrissey, Michael Bondanza, Billy Bondanza, Charlie Bondanza, and Maria Bondanza. 

Richard was born August 1, 1942 in Pietrasanta, Lucca, Toscana, Italy.  At the age of 9 he was  adopted by his birth mother’s first cousin Lena (Baldi) Sacco and her husband Anthony (Tony) Sacco, Sr., in Chicago, IL.  The family moved to Sacramento, CA in 1963 and then to Los Angeles, CA in 1964. Richard served in the US Army for 3 years (1964-1967) and then returned to Los Angeles.  

In 1967, Tony Sr.’s niece, Kathy “road tripped” from Illinois to California with her girlfriend Judy in a shiny new Pontiac.  Kathy and Judy rented an apartment and this is where Richard met the love of his life, Judith (Judy).  

As the story goes, Judy tried to play “hard to get” and told Kathy to tell Richard she wasn’t home when he showed up for a date.  I think he knew she was there and instead of becoming upset, he calmly got back in his ’56 Corvette and started driving away.  Looking into his rearview mirror, there was Judy chasing after his car! He let her run for a little bit before pulling over, and the rest was history. They married in 1969 and had one child, a daughter, Alisa in 1971.  Richard and Judy divorced after 13 years of marriage, but they remained friends and kept the family unit together.

Dad lived in Long Beach, CA, for many years, living the “single life” in the 80s!  Later on he moved to Huntington Beach to care for his mother Lena Sacco.  He moved to Grants Pass, OR with his daughter in 2021. 

Richard was a wonderful, loving and devoted father.  He had a huge heart and he’d give you his last dollar and the shirt off his back if you needed it.  He was a funny, kind and sweet man, especially to those that he loved.  I have so many beautiful memories of him to cherish. 

Dad always referred to me as “The Kid” or “My Little Fella” even as an adult.  I will never forget the happiness in his voice and the light in his eyes when he’d say,  “Hey Kid” or “Hey Fella”.  

Dad had a big, happy, infectious laugh.  He was an amazing whistler.  Master of the BBQ.  He could fix anything. Always my champion and sworn protector.  

Dad was always up for some fun, just a big kid at heart.  I remember going to work with him as a young girl, listening to the radio.  Me singing and dad whistling and tapping his foot in the van.  He named us “Ritchie and the Floor Boards” – I thought that was so funny.  Dad loved music - Patsy Cline, Dean Martin, John Denver, Willie Nelson, Don McLean (Vincent – Starry, Starry Night), and all Italian music, especially Luciano  Pavarotti. 

As teenagers, my best girlfriend (Becky) and I spent many a summer with him in Long Beach (Belmont Shores).  We always has a such a blast with him.  Dad did all kinds of things with us to keep us amused (and to keep us out of trouble).  Such great memories of going to the beach on his white and candy apple red cruiser bikes, playing games on the beach and in front of his apartment, sailing on his Hobie 16 catamaran, blowing things up in the alley, shooting off fireworks from his rooftop apartment, BBQs at 2 am (rain or shine), horsing around and wrestling in the living room on his huge carpet pillow, Renaissance Faires and music concerts.  He took Becky and me to our first concert (Ozzy Osbourne) – I always  thought he was the coolest dad ever for doing that!

Dad loved to eat and he loved the holidays!  I’d always say to him, “Now Dad, don’t overdo it on the food!”  No matter what I said, he would always show up with enough food to feed an Army.  He always brought what he called “munchies”.  “Munchies” consisted of pounds and pounds of salami, mortadella, prosciutto, cheeses, olives, pickled garlic and veggies.  For Easter, always the biggest honey baked ham, and for Christmas, always a rotisserie filet mignon roast wrapped in bacon. 

I was completely devasted when we found out dad had dementia.  Cousin George learned we had moved to Oregon and he came to visit my dad often. He was a shoulder I could lean on for emotional support.  I am eternally grateful to George for all of the time he carved out of life to come visit, bringing photos, memories, stories, and great Italian sandwiches.   

I have included some of my favorite pictures of dad (and some of his favorites too).  Please add some of your own memories and photos of Richard. 

Love and Light ~ Alisa