Fr. Giacomini

Rev. Salvatore Giacomini, SDB 1923-2012 Fr. Salvatore Giacomini passed away at San Francisco General on January 18, 2012 after falling in the stairs of the rectory of Saints Peter and Paul where he was in residence. Fr. "Jack," as he was affectionately called, was a Salesian of Don Bosco for 71 years and a priest for 60 years. He served in the San Francisco Province as a teacher, vice-principal, principal, director (superior of the community), and pastor. At the church of Saints Peter and Paul in North Beach, San Francisco, Fr. Giacomini was pastor- associate in the 50's and pastor in the 70's and served as an associate pastor from 2001 to 2011. Father Giacomini is survived by two sisters in Italy, Giulia Pula and Clara Succi, and nephews and nieces. With some adventure, Father Giacomini arrived as an immigrant in the United States at the age of 16 to begin his life as a Salesian of Don Bosco. He made the journey on small Italian liner right after WWII started. He began his Salesian religious life in 1940, and was ordained in 1951. In his last years he devoted himself to the service of the many Madonna devotions that Italian and Sicilians brought with them to San Francisco, among them the Madonna del Lume celebrations, the Madonna delle Grazie, the Madonna Addolorata, the Madonna dei Miraculi and the Madonna della Guardia organizations. When in Italy he traveled to these shrines to enhance their San Francisco celebrations. He had, of course, a special closeness as a chaplain to the Italian Christian Federation (ICF) and the Legion of Mary. Confessor to many, visitor extraordinaire to the sick, consoler of the sorrowful, friend of the young and the poor, Fr. Giacomini lived his priesthood and religious life courageously and with flair. Close to his heart were his many years as director of Camp St. Francis situated on the Monterey Bay where hundreds of young boys enjoyed summer activities and the sand wars. Fr. Giacomini was a lover of classical music and civic light opera. Bach was by far his favorite composer; Rogers and Hammerstein a distant second. Funeral arrangements for all services to be at Saints Peter and Paul Church: the Wake Service on Tuesday, January 24 at 7:30 p.m. and funeral service on Wednesday, January 25, at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow at the Salesian cemetery at Salesian High School, Richmond, CA. Donations in memory of Fr. Salvatore Giacomini can be made to the Becoming Towers of Strength Capital Campaign of Saints Peter and Paul Church.

Fr. Giacomini

August 21, 1923 - January 18, 2012