Kathi
2006-12-18 08:26:56 UTC
My favorite line:
"He lived life to the fullest, had wonderful friends from all walks of
life and a sense of humor that was kind. He had a rich, rollicking
abundance, enough to give indigestion to ordinary people."
TESTA, LOUIS JOSEPH ("LUIGI")
Well-known for his artwork, golfing exploits and culinary expertise,
Louis Joseph Testa died peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday, November
28, with family and friends at this side, after a long and courageous
battle with cancer. He was 68 years old. Born January 24, 1938 in
Detroit, Michigan, Luigi - as he was known by most of his friends -
was a 1956 graduate of Grosse Pte. High School in Michigan and moved
to the Bay Area in 1962. After studying at UC Berkeley for two years,
he attended the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland,
where he graduated as an art major. He then began a 35 year career as
a park ranger and District Supervisor for the East Bay Regional Park
District, while earnestly continuing his artwork. His
artwork-sketches, charcoals, sculptures, iron works and canvas oil
paintings are well known throughout the San Francisco-Oakland area.
His most recent showing of "Cowboys" was on display in the Hayward Art
Center in the fall of 2006. Many of Luigi's works are displayed around
the Pacific Northwest and in Los Angeles, and his huge gift to the
city of Springfield, Oregon is one of the largest sculpture gifts to
be exhibited in that city. He surprised and delighted many of his
friends from time to time with gifts of art. Oil paintings, sculptures
and mobiles - made of bronze, steel and wire, or whatever materials he
was working with at the time - were highly coveted. Luigi was
continuously working on his art to expand an enormous collection of
works throughout his 40 plus years of producing paintings which often
caricatured his own facial expressions, reflecting his inner feelings.
In 1988, Luigi was one of the founders of the Pacific Rim Sculptors
Group, and organization of over 200 Artist Members throughout
California, formed to promote public and private sculpture exhibits,
education and outreach programs. Luigi was well known for his talent
as an amateur golfer, holding memberships in the Alameda, Tilden and
San Leandro Men's Golf Clubs for the past thirty years. Friends can
vividly recall his nerves of steel when it came to a crucial shot,
whether it be a drive down the middle of the fairway, a laser-straight
pitch shot or a 12 footer for birdie - he almost never disappointed
his partners. Luigi was very proud of his Italian heritage and hosted
many parties and barbecues at his Oakland Studio. The fare would
always include his famous dishes and a wide variety of wines to go
with the barbecued meats and other dishes of the day. He lived life to
the fullest, had wonderful friends from all walks of life and a sense
of humor that was kind. He had a rich, rollicking abundance, enough to
give indigestion to ordinary people. He is survived by his daughter,
Karrie Bendalin, who resides in Arizona, and a son, Anthony Lawlor
(Lisa), grandchildren Nicole, Blake, and Gino, all of Danville, CA, as
well as a sister, Marilyn Mudloff (Robert) and brother Robert Testa
(Judith), who resides in Michigan. All are welcome for a celebration
of Luigi's life to be held on Saturday, January 20, 2007, in his
Oakland studio, beginning at 1:00 p.m.
http://www.detroitnewspapers.com/deathnotices/print.cfm?id=132770
Published December 17, 2006 Detroit Free Press (w/photo)
(Sounds like that memorial service could turn out to be one heck of a
party!)
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"He lived life to the fullest, had wonderful friends from all walks of
life and a sense of humor that was kind. He had a rich, rollicking
abundance, enough to give indigestion to ordinary people."
TESTA, LOUIS JOSEPH ("LUIGI")
Well-known for his artwork, golfing exploits and culinary expertise,
Louis Joseph Testa died peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday, November
28, with family and friends at this side, after a long and courageous
battle with cancer. He was 68 years old. Born January 24, 1938 in
Detroit, Michigan, Luigi - as he was known by most of his friends -
was a 1956 graduate of Grosse Pte. High School in Michigan and moved
to the Bay Area in 1962. After studying at UC Berkeley for two years,
he attended the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland,
where he graduated as an art major. He then began a 35 year career as
a park ranger and District Supervisor for the East Bay Regional Park
District, while earnestly continuing his artwork. His
artwork-sketches, charcoals, sculptures, iron works and canvas oil
paintings are well known throughout the San Francisco-Oakland area.
His most recent showing of "Cowboys" was on display in the Hayward Art
Center in the fall of 2006. Many of Luigi's works are displayed around
the Pacific Northwest and in Los Angeles, and his huge gift to the
city of Springfield, Oregon is one of the largest sculpture gifts to
be exhibited in that city. He surprised and delighted many of his
friends from time to time with gifts of art. Oil paintings, sculptures
and mobiles - made of bronze, steel and wire, or whatever materials he
was working with at the time - were highly coveted. Luigi was
continuously working on his art to expand an enormous collection of
works throughout his 40 plus years of producing paintings which often
caricatured his own facial expressions, reflecting his inner feelings.
In 1988, Luigi was one of the founders of the Pacific Rim Sculptors
Group, and organization of over 200 Artist Members throughout
California, formed to promote public and private sculpture exhibits,
education and outreach programs. Luigi was well known for his talent
as an amateur golfer, holding memberships in the Alameda, Tilden and
San Leandro Men's Golf Clubs for the past thirty years. Friends can
vividly recall his nerves of steel when it came to a crucial shot,
whether it be a drive down the middle of the fairway, a laser-straight
pitch shot or a 12 footer for birdie - he almost never disappointed
his partners. Luigi was very proud of his Italian heritage and hosted
many parties and barbecues at his Oakland Studio. The fare would
always include his famous dishes and a wide variety of wines to go
with the barbecued meats and other dishes of the day. He lived life to
the fullest, had wonderful friends from all walks of life and a sense
of humor that was kind. He had a rich, rollicking abundance, enough to
give indigestion to ordinary people. He is survived by his daughter,
Karrie Bendalin, who resides in Arizona, and a son, Anthony Lawlor
(Lisa), grandchildren Nicole, Blake, and Gino, all of Danville, CA, as
well as a sister, Marilyn Mudloff (Robert) and brother Robert Testa
(Judith), who resides in Michigan. All are welcome for a celebration
of Luigi's life to be held on Saturday, January 20, 2007, in his
Oakland studio, beginning at 1:00 p.m.
http://www.detroitnewspapers.com/deathnotices/print.cfm?id=132770
Published December 17, 2006 Detroit Free Press (w/photo)
(Sounds like that memorial service could turn out to be one heck of a
party!)
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http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups
----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =----