Reynolds “Rey” John Ballotti, Sr. 12-11-1923 ~ 3-30-2014 Reynolds “Rey” John Ballotti, son of an immigrant Italian coal miner and 1942 graduate of St. Mary High School passed away on March 30, 2014 at the age of 91 in Santa Rosa, CA. His father told him to stay out of the coal mines and stay in school, and that he did. He spoke only Italian until first grade and gradually mastered the English language, assisting his father in reading and spelling to achieve citizenship. He joined the Navy in 1942 and was sent to Alameda Naval Air Station where he was trained as a Pharmacist’s Mate and assigned to the USS Winged Arrow, a ship designed to ferry troops to and from the war zone in the Pacific. At Arcata Naval Air Station he met the love of his life, Lorraine Hathaway, whom he wed in 1946. After the war, he furthered his education at Chico State College from which he launched a career in education that lasted until his retirement in 1980. Rey and Lorraine raised their three children with the virtues of honesty, integrity, humor, and respect. Rey was predeceased by
his parents Ettore and Rose Ballotti and his sister Margaret Ballotti. He is survived by one sister, Edna Crosson of Walsenburg; his son, R. John (Erin) Ballotti of Commerce, TX; two daughters, Rendi (Steve) Ballotti Straessler and Lisa (Gary) Bricker of Santa Rosa; grandchildren Erin and Nick (Krystal) Straessler, Chelsea and Loren Bricker and Brianna, R.J., and Sean Ballotti. His three sweet little great-grandchildren are Connor, Sadie and Easton Straessler. Funeral Mass was on April 26 at Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church in Santa Rosa, CA with interment at Santa Rosa Memorial Park.
