Steve Minutoli

Steve Paul Minutoli of Petaluma died on Oct. 7, 2023, at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, following a heart attack. He was 77.

Born June 17, 1946, he was the second of three boys born to Joseph and Marcella Minutoli of San Francisco.

His parents soon planted roots in Marin County, where their boys attended local schools. Steve was a star football and baseball player at Larkspur’s Redwood High School. He continued those at College of Marin until an injury ended his athletic career. He later attended Golden Gate University.

He graduated from Redwood High in 1964. On Aug. 27, 1966, he married his high school sweetheart, Sandi Weitzel. They had two children, Stephen, born in 1969, and Mechelle, born in 1972. Originally settling in Corte Madera, they raised their family in Novato, then moved to Petaluma in 1992. They were married 52 years when she died of gallbladder cancer on Dec. 25, 2018, at age 73.

Known for his work ethic and affable nature, Steve had a long and successful career in construction management. It included restoration work at the Palace of Fine Arts, construction of the Vaillancourt Fountain in Embarcadero Plaza, seismic retrofitting of the San Francisco Ferry Building, Pier 35 and the Chinatown Library, and expansion of Shields Library at UC Davis. Work began in his family business Travertine Marble and Stone Works. Later, he was general manager at Sheedy Crane & Rigging, and Reliable Crane & Rigging. Steve went to work with his brother Ray in 1999, and formed Matrix Construction. He retired in 2007.

Steve had a passion for the outdoors, and loved to camp, hunt waterfowl, fish and snow ski. He and Sandi enjoyed traveling, especially to Italy and Hawaii. He had a passion for cooking Italian food, making his own pasta sauces and vinegars, and drying herbs from his garden.

Family and friends remember Steve as a man of powerful words. He regularly acknowledged his love and gratitude for those close to him, and helped remember and honor those lost before him. Among his devotions were his Labrador retrievers and the San Francisco 49ers.

He was a longtime member of Ignacio Rotary Club, serving as president and other board roles. After retirement, Steve dove into this service work, which included traveling to Mexico annually for 13 years, leading building projects for the poor and mentoring teens with the Be2Live organization.

Steve is survived by his son Stephen Minutoli and his wife Bridget of San Anselmo; daughter Mechelle Moser and her husband Todd of Mancos, Colo.; grandchildren Tyler and Kylie Moser, and Sophia and John Minutoli; brothers Ray Minutoli of Novato and Rebel Minutoli of Ashland, Ore.; two sisters-in-law; cousins; and several nieces and nephews.

The family planned a celebration of life in early November.

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