Longtime Marin political force Gary Giacomini dies at 77

It is with great sadness I inform you that our friend and long time NBLC member, Gary Giacomini, passed away in his sleep Friday night.  An tribute to him is below.

Gary was a political force and a lion in fighting for what he believed.  He shaped the future of Marin and NBLC.  Gary always knew how to find true North and the way to make the right things happen.

He was my mentor and my friend.  I know we share this loss and will want to celebrate Gary’s life and contributions to the world, and NBLC.

Former Marin County supervisor Gary T. Giacomini, a lion-like defender of West Marin’s ranchlands against suburban sprawl and an outspoken champion in Marin’s defense of the Buck Trust bequest, died late Friday night at his home in San Geronimo Valley.

Mr. Giacomini, in and out of political office, was a political force in Marin for more than 50 years.

He died in his sleep, his son Andrew Giacomini said Saturday. He was 77.

The 52-year San Geronimo Valley resident is well-known for wearing a poppy pin in his lapel and for preferring cows over condos.

He is also known for his steadfast defense of planning protections aimed at keeping West Marin’s ranchlands free from market-driven growth.

“West Marin would have a four-lane highway right through it if it weren’t for Gary,” said David Freitas, a former business partner of Mr. Giacomini and a lifelong friend.

A 1,500-acre property in the San Geronimo area in West Marin was named the Gary Giacomini Open Space Preserve, honoring him for being instrumental in orchestrating the deal that saved the land from development.

Mr. Giacomini served on the Marin County Board of Supervisors for 24 years. He was the longest-serving county supervisor in the history of California upon his retirement.

In addition to his time served as a county supervisor, Mr. Giacomini served as a member of 25 other state and regional boards and commissions, among them the Golden Gate Bridge District board of directors and the California Coastal Commission.

Mr. Giacomini was born April 4, 1939, in San Francisco. He was raised in Marin.

His father, Noel Giacomini, served for many years as county clerk.

PRACTICED LAW

Mr. Giacomini’s childhood was spent in Belvedere, where he attended Belvedere School, until he transferred to Saint Raphael School in San Rafael when he was in fifth-grade.

He graduated from Marin Catholic High School, where he was a class and student body president.

In 1962, he graduated from St. Mary’s College, in Moraga, and he earned his law degree at San Francisco’s Hasting College of the Law in 1965 as an honor student.

Mr. Giacomini practiced law in Marin for more than a decade as a partner with the firm Freitas, Allen, McCarthy, Bettini and MacMahon in San Rafael. He was an associate with Roth and Thorner of San Rafael.

His political career was launched after he won a seat on the Lagunitas School Board in 1968.

In 1972, he was elected to represent Marin’s 4th District on the Board of Supervisors, where he served until 1996.

Mr. Giacomini was a progressive, conservation-oriented Republican when he ran for supervisor on a platform of fighting “over development” in Marin.

In 1978, he was the Republican nominee for Marin’s seat in the state Senate but lost to Democrat Barry Keene.

Mr. Giacomini changed political parties as a Democrat in the 1980s.

BUCK TRUST ROLE

In 1985, he was an outspoken critic of the San Francisco Foundation’s plan to rewrite the then-$500 million Buck Trust, bequeathed to Marin needs and programs by Ross philanthropist Beryl Buck.

The foundation sought to modify the trust so its multi-million dollar bequest could be split among several Bay Area counties.

The county took the foundation to court, challenging its right to alter the bequest of Buck and the foundation’s contention that the trust had outgrown Marin’s need.

Mr. Giacomini’s fiery defense of the so-called “Marin-only” provision in the will resulted in a 1986 settlement and the creation of the Marin Community Foundation. The newly formed foundation was named as the shepherd of the trust.

In 1991, Mr. Giacomini opposed plans to turn 1,254 acres of coastline property north of Dillon Beach into an ocean-front golf course and resort.

“I can’t countenance how we could ever forfeit several thousand acres of ag land into a golf course and start a domino effect up and down the state,” Mr. Giacomini said.

GLOWING TRIBUTE

In 1989, when Mr. Giacomini was named to the coastal commission, the IJ wrote: “Giacomini is a respected environmentalist. He has established himself as a politician with the ability to simultaneously represent the interests of Marin’s diverse agricultural community and preservationists.”

After Mr. Giacomini left office in 1996, he served two terms on the board of the Marin Community Foundation. He also served as the board chairman.

Foundation president Thomas Peters said Mr. Giacomini was “a mountain” of a man. “His wife has lost a loving husband; the family has lost a devoted patriarch; Marin County has lost its most fierce protector; and I’ve lost my best friend,” Peters said in an emailed statement. “He’ll always be remembered with respect and love.”

Mr. Giacomini called his 24 years in office “an unbelievable honor to be a steward for a wonderful place and people.”

Mr. Giacomini resumed his law career after he bowed out as a county supervisor. He joined the firm of Hanson Bridgett and helped establish the firm’s Marin practices.

A Marin Magazine story in 2007 named Mr. Giacomini on the list of the 13 most influential individuals in Marin County history.

GIANT IN MARIN

Gary Ragghianti, a former attorney for the city of San Rafael, met Mr. Giacomini roughly 40 years ago when the lawyers’ paths crossed.

Ragghianti said Mr. Giacomini will forever remain a part of the county he shaped so heavily.

“I think Gary was an absolute iconic giant in the history of the development of the county of Marin,” he said. “And the work he did over the years to save West Marin from development is and will remain historic. He just was a person who had a way with things. He’ll live forever here in Marin.”

Supervisor Damon Connolly said Mr. Giacomini will be missed across the county.

“I share our community’s sense of loss in the passing of a true legend,” he said in an emailed statement. “It is hard to overstate Gary’s impact on the history of Marin and the many aspects of our county that we cherish.”

Mr. Giacomini is survived by his wife, Linda, of San Geronimo; his sons, Andrew and Antony, both of San Geronimo, and grandchildren Rakanui, Giovanni, Dante, Nicolo, and Andrea. He is also survived by his sister, Roberta Powers of Larkspur.

His first wife, Andrea Giacomini, herself a Lagunitas School District trustee, died in 1978.

Giacomini’s daughter-in-law Susi Giacomini also served on the Lagunitas school board.

Services are pending.

For the article http://www.marinij.com/obituaries/20161203/longtime-marin-political-force-gary-giacomini-dies-at-77