Ralph Gambogi

<p>Former World War II ship fitter and Codding construction employee Ralph Gambogi died June 9 of congestive heart failure. He was 94.</p><p>Born May 15, 1915 in Santa Rosa to Annchise> and Anna Gambogi, he grew up on the family ranch in Glen Ellen next door to Jack London’s property.</p><p>“He remembered riding with Jack London behind him on a horse when he was a little boy,” said his daughter, Gayle Robothom of Santa Rosa.</p><p>He was a star athlete at Santa Rosa High. After graduating he played baseball for the San Francisco Seals farm team.</p><p>“He did football, track, everything. He held records for broad jump that stood until 1963,” said Robothom.</p><p>He married Teresa Togneri in 1938. They had been married 60 years when she died in 1998. </p><p>During World War II he worked at Mare Island as a ship fitter. After the war, he looked up his former classmate Hugh Codding, who became a key figure in Santa Rosa’s post-war building. Gambogi spent four decades building homes with Codding, including his own and others for family members.</p><p>A former member of the Russian River Sportsman Club, Gambogi enjoyed trout fishing, camping and duck hunting. He always kept a kitchen garden and planted bean seeds his family brought from Northern Italy, his daughter said.</p><p>“The things the green people do now, my father always did. He taught us to be frugal and to share,” said Robothom. “He gave his tomatoes away to half of Santa Rosa, I bet.”</p><p>Gambogi had outlived his brothers Albert and Tony Gambogi and his sister Isabelle Shaw. He is survived by daughters Gayle Robothom and Terri Jimenez, both of Santa Rosa, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. </p><p>No formal services will be held. Private inurement was at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Santa Rosa. Donations may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 844, Santa Rosa, CA 95402.</p>