David Mezzetta

It is with deep sorrow that we share the news of the passing of David Mezzetta. Dave passed away on November 6, 2024 at his home in Goleta, California after a long battle with an illness. He was 73 years old.

Dave was born October 23, 1951 in Burlingame, California to Cesare and Pierina Mezzetta and spent his childhood in South San Francisco. He attended Serra High in San Mateo and then went to UC Santa Barbara where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics and Italian.

He took great pride in his Italian heritage. His father immigrated from Italy, while his mother, also of Italian descent, was born in California and raised in North Beach, San Francisco. The family cherished their roots and frequently conversed in Italian at the dinner table.

Dave had a deep passion for sports and was a diehard supporter of Bay Area teams throughout his life. He was athletically talented and loved basketball, which he played during high school and continued to play well into his late 30s. During his college years, he also enjoyed playing flag football.

Dave’s first big break was managing the S.B. County Bowl. He later went on to work in the restaurant business doing accounting. After connecting with Steve Ridgeway, he decided to take night classes to enhance his accounting knowledge and certifications while maintaining his day job. Soon he became a CPA and later a partner at Ridgeway and Warner, where he worked for nearly 40 years. He was dedicated to his profession and regularly put in long hours during the tax season. He took immense pride in his work and work ethic and, despite occasional complaints, found genuine enjoyment in what he did.

He met Maureen at UCSB, and they later married in 1979. They raised their two boys, Joe and Russ, in Goleta. Providing for his family was at the core of Dave’s life. He would do anything and everything to make sure his family had all that they needed. Dave and Maureen cherished the years spent watching and traveling with their sons for various sports including soccer, baseball, and basketball.

Dave loved animals, especially dogs. He had many collies throughout his life.

He was renowned for his dry sense of humor. His jokes never waivered. They were sharp and witty. He loved to make people laugh.

Dave was an avid reader with a deep enthusiasm and extensive knowledge of history, particularly the world wars. He enjoyed delving into historical biographies, mysteries, and suspenseful thrillers. His office was lined with bookshelves that held a collection of over a thousand books.

He is survived by his brothers, Robert (Karen) and Bruno (Linda), his wife, Maureen, his sons, Joe (Jessica) and Russ (Laurel), and his four grandchildren, Landon, Lyra, Zoey, and Cato.