Joann Marie Ritko Pozzi

Born JoAnn Marie Ritko in Petaluma, CA - on June 9, 1942 and passed January 11, 2018 of complications from flu like symptoms, at the age of 75.  Survived by her husband of 57 years, Natale Pozzi with one daughter, Andrea Pozzi (Guy P. Fairon) and her cocker spaniel Ms. T.

Preceded in death by her parents Willard and Esther (Swanson) Ritko and brother Stanley Ritko. She had a loving extended family in Italy and locally.

JoAnn graduated from Petaluma High School in 1960 and after getting into the Nursing School program which proved to not be a good fit, she went on to obtain her BA in Management and Finance from Sonoma State University and then advanced degrees with an MBA in Taxation and another in Accounting from Golden Gate University.  She obtained her CPA License in 1975.

She was a trail blazer for equal opportunity, becoming the first woman to open a CPA Firm in Sonoma County, the first to be elected as President of the Petaluma Area of Chamber of Commerce and she was among the first women leaders to be invited to join Rotary, something that is taken for granted today. She accomplished all of this and so much more, while running her respected tax and accounting practice until the day of her passing.

Her support of community, generosity, intelligence, feisty personality and fun yet always professional fashion sense will be missed.  She served on committees, boards and held many offices over the years.  She was still actively participating with Petaluma Valley Rotary, Petaluma Downtown Association, Business & Professional Women (BPW) and her high school Decade Reunion Committee, often donating services to manage and oversee financial oversite.  All of her travel had a business or philanthropic purpose, such as to India with Rotarians to do life changing surgery for children and women or Uganda to facilitate donations of agricultural training, supplies and animals to end the starving and create independence.  As elected International Finance Officer she travelled to South Korea and Egypt where she was conducting business for BPW.  She was a student of the Italian language and culture and was always planning her next trip there to see family and to garner information for her Geneology research.

Friends and Family are invited to attend services on Tuesday, January 23, 2018 at 1:00 pm at PARENT-SORENSEN MORTUARY, 850 Keokuk Street, Petaluma.  A visitation will be held January 22 from 11am to 8pm.  She will be laid to rest at The Cypress Hill Memorial Park, Petaluma CA in the Garden of Devotion. JoAnn has made a significant bequest to create the RITKO VOCATIONAL and EDUCATION FUND and donations in lieu of flowers can be made, c/o Rotary Club of Petaluma Valley - PO Box 2101 Petaluma, CA 94953 or to California BPW Education Fund, Inc, 21781 Ventura Blvd., # 330, Woodland Hills, CA 91364.

Visitation

Parent-Sorensen Mortuary and Crematory

Monday, January 22, 2018 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM 850 Keokuk Street Petaluma, California 94952 Directions Funeral Service

Parent-Sorensen Mortuary and Crematory

Tuesday, January 23, 2018 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM 850 Keokuk Street Petaluma, California 94952 Directions Graveside Service

Cypress Hill Memorial Park

Tuesday, January 23, 2018 2:15 PM - 2:30 PM 430 Magnolia Avenue Petaluma, CA 94952 Directions