Rose Parade pays tribute to philanthropist Henry Trione

A riderless chestnut horse, its empty saddle decorated with red roses and boots turned backward in the stirrups, led off the 121st annual Luther Burbank Rose Parade in sun-splashed downtown Santa Rosa on Saturday morning.

Five riders from the Sonoma County Trailblazers followed the horse, paying tribute to their fallen comrade, philanthropist and financier Henry Trione, who died in February at age 94.

Eileen Trione, his widow, and his son, Victor, wearing a red Trailblazers vest, were among the family members watching from the judging stand on Fourth Street.

“I know he would have been pleased,” Eileen?Trione said just before the procession started at 10 a.m. “He will be here; I guarantee it. His spirit will be right along with the horse.”

She shed tears when the horse passed by.

Henry Trione, whose civic works left a lasting mark on Sonoma County, served as grand marshal of the parade in 1982 and 2008 and stepped in as a major sponsor when the event needed financial help.

“I don’t think he ever missed one,” Eileen Trione said, wearing a red rose on the lapel of her jacket.

Vic Trione said his father “loved the parade. He was a big fan of the bands and the horses and really loved the community turnout.”

There was plenty of all that and more as the parade’s 150 entries rolled down closed-off streets for two hours with people of all ages lining the sidewalks.

“Out of a Storybook” was the parade theme, and Frank Chong, president of Santa Rosa Junior College, was the grand marshal.

The Montgomery High School Viking band and cheer team wore red T-shirts with the words “A clean sweep” on the back and the cheer team girls brandished brooms, representing their “Fantasia” theme. They won the sweepstakes award as best parade entry.

Peggy Houmis, who moved to Santa Rosa a year and a half ago, got a seat next to the reviewing stand, watching for her husband, Nick, to drive by in the 1960 Chrysler Imperial he’s owned since his days at Lincoln High School in San Francisco.

“We’re trying to get into the groove of things,” she said at her first local parade.

Alyssa Rodriguez, 12, of Santa Rosa was at her fifth Rose Parade, sitting on the curb of Mendocino Avenue at Old Courthouse Square. “I enjoy seeing all the people and what they are doing,” she said.

Matt Coon, a Santa Rosa native, said he’s been at about 30 parades, half as a participant with 4-H and Canine Companions as a youth and the other half as a spectator. “One year my brother and I were pooper-scoopers” bringing up the end of the procession, he said.

Alyssa, attending the parade with the Coons, gave it an A; Hayden Coon, 9, awarded an A-plus.

Simon Coon, the youngest at 8, would give it only a “good.”

Matt Coon videotaped the Matanzas School band as it passed by with his daughter Breanna, 12, bearing a flag.

Dan Maguire came from Sacramento with friends and relatives for his first Rose Parade. “We love it,” he said. “Better than the Rose Bowl (Parade) down in Pasadena.”

Neva Ramos, 4, from Healdsburg, got to bang a Shriner’s gong while seated on the shoulders of her mother, Jennifer. She seemed unimpressed, but lit up when mom handed her a pink cotton candy.

Brynn Bailey, 9, of Sebastopol sat on the pavement next to her father, Chris. Four weeks ago, she marched in Sebastopol’s Apple Blossom Festival Parade with her dog, Mochi, representing Almost Home Doggie Daycare.

Which parade was better? “That’s a hard decision,” Brynn said, showing signs of a career in diplomacy.

For those who missed it, the entire parade will be on YouTube, the announcer said.

You can reach Staff Writer Guy Kovner at 521-5457 or guy.kovner@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @guykovner