Mr. Ambrose Sontino Bottarini

In the early hours of May 24, 2014, Ambrose Sontino Bottarini passed away peacefully with his loving daughter Madeline by his side Ambrose was the devoted husband to the late Socorro (Sally) Bottarini for 39 years. Ambrose is survived by his children, Madeline (Larry) Lopez, and Al (Betty) Berg, extremely proud grandpa of Alex and Nathan Lopez, sister-in-law, Dolores (Leo) Belcher, nieces and nephews Lorraine (Ricardo) Colindres, Rita (Barry) Bottarini and Mario (Debbie) Bottarini. Ambrose is also survived by many other loving relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by Sally his devoted wife, his loving older brother Mario and sister-in-law, Leah Bottarini. Ambrose was born and raised in San Francisco's Excelsior district on November 1, 1923, to Angelo and Maddalena Bottarini from Italy. He lived his entire 90 years in the house he was born in on Athens Street, living independently there until only recently moving to Pacifica to live with his daughter and her family. As a young boy he worked with his father at the Mission Rock Quarry on Geneva Avenue before it became Castle Lanes Bowling. He was a proud veteran of WWII, serving as an airplane mechanic. He was 20 years old in 1943 when he joined the Army Air force branch and was a propeller specialist working on P-38's. His given name was Ambrose, but his friends called him Amb or Blackie, the name, as the story goes was given to him by a Native American Indian girl while he was in the service stationed in Oklahoma because he got so dark working on the planes in the sun. But his favorite name to be called was grandpa. He loved his two grandchildren more than life itself and was proud of their accomplishments, big and small. Because he was such a kid at heart himself, he and the boys experienced a bond that was unmatched. The boys loved their grandpa and knew he was always there for them should they ever need anything. In return, the boys took tender and loving care of him when he lived with them before his passing. He attended Cleveland Elementary and Balboa High School. Ambrose was a member of many organizations. He belonged to the Druids Alpine Grove #109 for over 30 years, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Improved Order of Red Men-Miantonomah Tribe #9, The PD of P #125, The Hitching Post, Marino Pieretti Group and the “SOB’s” (Same Old Boys Club). He worked in the window treatment industry, crafting woven blinds for commercial use. As a young man, he loved fishing and he outdoor and bowled for many years at Castle Lanes Bowling Alley. He loved his wife Sally. They had a love and respect for each other that is rare. He was the kind of guy who remembered her for everything birthday, Valentine’s Day, and Mother’s Day. They took good care of each other and he greatly missed her when she passed in 1994. When his grandchildren were born he loved babysitting and playing with them. Ambrose never drove a car. He got around the city on every evolution of public transportation in San Francisco from the street cars in the 30's and 40's to muni and BART. He was a great story teller. He loved to share wonderful stories as a kid about how he and his brother Mario taking street cars and cable cars with sacks of potatoes and sleeping bags to get to the Marin Headlands to camp with their friends as young boys and all the antics he and his friends would get into. In his later years you could find him watching his beloved westerns or spending endless hours doing his word search puzzles. He was quick to smile and always up for an adventure no matter where or with. He will be loved and missed by many of us, but he will never be forgotten. Friends may visit on Wednesday, May 28, 2014, after 4:00PM and are invited to attend a Vigil Servuce also on Wednesday at 7:00pm at Valente Marini and Perata and Co., 4840 Mission Street, S.F. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Thursday, May 29, 2014, at 11:00 at Church of the Epiphany, 827 Vienna Street, SF. Interment to follow at the Italian Cemetery, 540 F Street, Colma.

Mr. Ambrose Sontino Bottarini

November 1, 1923 - May 24, 2014