Former Santa Rosa grocer William Ronchelli dies at 89

William Ronchelli, a retired Santa Rosa grocer, for years volunteered in soup kitchens and homeless shelters and worked with a variety of faith-based groups that served the needy.

Ronchelli, who had owned the former Farmers Market across the street from Santa Rosa High School, died Sunday at his Santa Rosa home of congestive heart failure. He was 89.

His family remembered him as a hardworking business owner, a gardening enthusiast and a man compelled by his Catholic faith to care for other people.

“He was a very opened-hearted, loving and compassionate ?person,” said his daughter, Margaret Roncalli, of Oakland.

Ronchelli was born in San Rafael but grew up in Santa Rosa, attending St. Rose School and graduating from Santa Rosa High. He went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Santa Clara University.

While living in San Francisco he met his future wife, Mary O’Leary, at a young adults group at Saint Monica’s Parish. The couple made lifetime friendships with some of the group’s members.

After serving for two years as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army, Ronchelli returned to the Bay Area and married his wife in 1953.

A year later they moved to Santa Rosa, and Ronchelli went into the grocery business with his ?father, Orlando Ronchelli.

His son, Ray Ronchelli of Santa Rosa, recalled his father leaving Santa Rosa at 4:15 a.m. on weekdays to buy produce from a major wholesale market in South San Francisco.

For three decades his dad spent six days a week at the store on Mendocino Avenue, serving retail customers and selling boxes of produce to wholesale clients.

Ronchelli was a patient teacher, he said, whether explaining long division, the art of managing a business or the secrets of growing vegetables.

“He made sure we knew how to plant a garden,” Ray Ronchelli said. “He took great pride in showing us all the little techniques involved in getting one up and running.”

Ronchelli sold the market in 1983 but stayed busy in retirement working with such nonprofits as the Catholic Worker, Catholic Charities and the Interfaith Shelter Network.

Ronchelli and his wife were involved with the Family Support Center for many years.

Mary Ronchelli died in 1990. In 2000 the Family Support Center renamed the child care center at the A Street facility in her ?memory.

A family tradition his wife and Ronchelli began was an annual summer retreat to the Sierra Nevada community of Graeagle, north of Truckee. Ronchelli enjoyed the gatherings for over a quarter-century.

His survivors include five more children, Denis Ronchelli of Penngrove, Barbara Ronchelli of Calistoga, Daniel Ronchelli of Petaluma, Maria Ronchelli of Santa Rosa and Owen Ronchelli of Portland, Oregon; a brother, Edward Ronchelli of Santa Rosa; and nine grandchildren.

An evening vigil service will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at St. Rose Catholic Church.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday at the church.

Arrangements are under the direction of Daniels Chapel of the Roses.