Eugene Pozzebon
Eugene Pozzebon passed away in his sleep on May 3, 2024, one month before his 100th birthday. He was a long-time resident of Montecito and Santa Barbara. Born on a dairy in Bakersfield in 1924, he later moved when he was 13 years old with his parents Giovanni and Luigia Pozzebon to the Toro Canyon Dairy on the corner of East Valley and Toro Canyon Roads. They operated the small 32-acre dairy until 1955. Like many of the other small dairies in the Santa Barbara area, it was increasingly difficult to operate with the high costs of importing feed and competing with much larger dairy operations.
With the closure of dairy business, Eugene, or Gene as he was known by, was hired by the Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Department as a fireman. In his off hours while working as a fireman and later fire engineer, he converted the dairy into an avocado orchard. He also began operating an excavating and soil management business, which included supplying topsoil and manure, weed abatement, firewood procurement and delivery, and hay hauling. After seven years the 15-acre avocado orchard was flourishing as well as the operation of his business, Pozzebon Soil and Fertilizer. He left the fire department to work full time on his growing business which later became Pozzebon Backhoe Service with his son Dennis and grandson Anthony Pozzebon. Over the years he provided quality work to many of the properties and estates in the Montecito, Carpinteria, and Santa Barbara areas. He also partnered with a neighbor in a commercial tomato growing operation.
Never one to be idle, Gene, or Gino to his family, along with his wife Ida, were active gardeners and farmers. Growing and harvesting fruits, vegetables, cattle, chickens, turkeys, and others were important activities on the Pozzebon Ranch. Summers included raising sweet corn for the family vegetable stand on East Valley Road. He taught himself several skills such as carpentry, electrical and plumbing that enabled him to completely remodel one home and to build a dream home for himself and Ida that overlooks the valley and the Channel Islands. He also mastered auto mechanics, welding and was an excellent cook.
Gene’s hobbies included membership in the Santa Barbara Horticulture Society and the Italian Boot Club. He also actively supported the Carpinteria Future Farmers of America and was an avid hunter. With an extended Italian family, ranch reunion parties were often hosted. He also pursued wine making, enjoyed dancing, barbequing, and later traveling, especially to visit family in Italy. In addition, family and friends enjoyed his home-made tomato sauce, gnocchi, polenta, pickled cucumbers, cured and marinated olives, and venison jerky.
He is proceeded in death by his wife, Ida after 54 years of marriage, sisters Lucy Sanderson, Mary Villard, and Vera Marostica. He is survived by his four children: son, Lewis Pozzebon and his wife Liz; daughter, Nancy Pozzebon; son, Dennis Pozzebon; and daughter, Christine Henry and her husband, Phil; grandsons, Rian Pozzebon, Nick Pozzebon, Anthony Pozzebon, Chad Pozzebon, Tyler Henry; granddaughters, Julie Vanderzanden, Alley Henry and Analyssa Gauvin; great grandchildren, Rially Pozzebon, Dillon Pozzebon, Brody Pozzebon, Antonia Pozzebon, Trevor Vanderzanden, Kayley Vanderzanden, Mia Pozzebon,
Dacota Pozzebon, Lucas Pozzebon, Louie Pozzebon, Matteo Pozzebon, Lily Pozzebon, Ella Pozzebon; numerous nephews, nieces and friends, especially Edith Michalowsky. His tremendous love and support of family and friends will be dearly missed.
A memorial service is to be held at Mount Carmel Church, 1300 East Valley Road, Montecito on Monday, June 3, 2024, at 11 am followed by a celebration of life at Carpinteria Lions Club Lodge, 6197 Casitas Pass Rd., Carpinteria, from 1pm to 5 pm. Private burial at Calvary Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in memory of our father to the American Heart Association or the Italian American Foundation Scholarship Fund, Attn: David Peri, PO Box 22557, Santa Barbara, Ca 93121.