Saturday, May 09, 2009

FIGLIO DELLA COSTA RICHARD RAFFIN REMEMBERED

THE LNOSTRA-COSTA BLOG IS A WONDERFUL THING. THROUGH IT I HAVE MADE CONTACT WITH JENNIFER RAFFIN FOUST, THE DAUGHTER OF RICHARD RAFFIN. IT WAS JENNIFER WHO SENT ME RICHARD'S REMEMBRANCE PUBLISHED BELOW.
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RICHARD F. RAFFINPosted by Picasa
Winfield Daily Courier
SAN DIEGO –Richard F.Raffin , 59, longtime resident of San Diego, died unexpectedly Aug. 14, 2003.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Sacred Heart Church, 655 C Ave., Coronado, Calif. Cremation has taken place. A private family service will be held later.
A memorial has been established with Sherman Heights Community Center, 2260 Island Ave., San Diego, CA 92102.
Raffin was born Aug. 18, 1943, in Santa Cruz, Calif., to Norma (Rocchi) and Federico Raffin. He attended schools in the Santa Cruz area.
In 1961 he moved to San Diego when he joined the U.S. Navy. After eight years of service, he settled permanently in San Diego. He was employed in dining services at the University of California.
Survivors include two daughters, Janell Maria Tatum, Burden, Ks, and Jennifer Renee Foust, Winfield, Ks ; their mother, Judy Patterson, Winfield Ks; a brother, Peter Raffin, San Jose, Calif; and six grandchildren.
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IVANO SAYS: As I write in my book, (LNC: P. 290), Richard was just three years old in 1947, when one of the most tragic incidents in the LA Nostra Costa Story occurred. Richard's father, Federico Raffin, shot and killed his wife (Richard's mother), Norma (Rocchi) Raffin. Richard's older brother Peter, who is still living, was just 10 years old at the time. Jennifer has agreed to partner with me in writing follow-up articles about this tragic event. The articles will be published on the LNostra-Costa Blog. Thanks, Jennifer.


2 comments:

Saratoga Sam said...

I was a young boy at the time, but I still remember the incident. It not only shock the Coast, but it also shocked all Santa Cruzans. Didn't Raffin try to kill his wife's father? SS

Ivano Franco Comelli said...

You are correct,Sam. According to my sources, Federico Raffin did make an attempt to kill his then father-in-law, Pietro Rocchi. I will be publishing (soon) a summary of the Raffin incident (which indeed shocked me and sent chills up and down my spine) for "Blagga" fans. It will include some corrections and updates to the version described in "La Nostra Costa". ivno