Renato Tavecchio 
May 22, 1960 - June 4, 2026

Renato Tavecchio, 66, of Moraga, California, passed away in Italy on June 4, 2026 following a long illness.

    Born in Erba, Italy, Renato spent his youth in Saronno. Following the death of his father, Renato assumed responsibility of his father’s antique restoration business and was later joined by his younger brother, Mario. While living in Milan, he met his wife, Gabriella (Gabby) Zacco, when he was hired to restore furniture that was damaged in her move from New York. They soon married and they welcomed their boys, Giorgio and Marco, into the world. Due to Gabby’s career, Renato moved to the United States sight unseen to create new adventures in Shelton, Conn., Rome, Italy, Moraga, Calif., and Falls Church, Vir., before returning to Moraga.

    Renato made his mark everywhere he went.  An incredibly skilled craftsman and artisan, he worked throughout the United States with John Canning & Co. on projects big and small, restoring rooms at state capitol buildings, renowned colleges and universities and numerous historical landmarks. Beyond his occupational talents, Renato was famous for hosting impromptu block parties in the neighborhood and proudly cheering on the sidelines of Giorgio’s and Marco’s sporting events, often creating “game day menus” for each event. Renato will be dearly missed and always remembered. His passion for things he loved – his family and friends, his craft, his favorite sports teams and a good meal – was evident in all he did and his boundless energy was infectious. 

    Renato was predeceased by his parents, Ottorina Paredi and Giuseppe Tavecchio, wife, Gabriella Zacco, and in-laws, Renata and Pietro Zacco. He is survived by his sons, Giorgio and Marco Tavecchio, brother, Mario Tavecchio, sisters-in-law, Paola Antonelli and Paola Barry, brother-in-law, David Barry, his niece, Marisa Barry, and nephew, Matthew Barry.

    Services were held privately in Italy. Renato truly valued sitting around the table and enjoying a quality meal with those he loved. We encourage you to do the same with your loved ones and toast to Renato’s memory.

Lawrence Owen Monin 
August 8, 1942 - June 26, 2026

Lawrence (Larry) Owen Monin, 83, will be remembered as a devoted and loving husband and father. He was affectionately known as “BaBa” to his 7 grandchildren whom he joyfully watched grow. 

    Larry died peacefully in his Moraga, California home of 43 years surrounded by family after a 3-year struggle with metastatic esophageal cancer. He was born on Aug. 8, 1942 at 7:52 p.m. (eight minutes to eight on the eighth day of the eighth month). No surprise, his favorite number was 8. He was the eldest child of Lawrence George Monin and Catharine Ann (O’Connor). His first bed was a dresser drawer in their small apartment in Niagara Falls, New York.

    Larry graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo, where he was a track athlete and ran the 100-yard dash in 10.0 seconds flat. He went on to get a law degree at Harvard University during which he was a member of the Law Review. He then received a master’s degree at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He began his law career as an Assistant Counsel for Governor Nelson Rockefeller at the New York State Capital in Albany. Following this, he became a Deputy Superintendent in the New York State Insurance Department where his office was on the 82nd floor of the South Tower of the World Trade Center. After leaving government work, he had a successful career working in the insurance industry – first with Chubb and Sons, for which he managed their West Coast operations from Los Angeles, and later with Industrial Indemnity in San Francisco. He ended his career as a respected and sought after mediator/arbitrator. 

    With his wife of 58 years, Laura Ann DiMuro, he shared a love of travel (taking over 100 trips to countries around the world, including over 12 to Italy), sports (traveling as a child to watch the NY Giants baseball team with his father, who was a part-time umpire for Negro League games), and the performing arts (with 40-year subscriptions to the Berkeley Rep Theater and San Francisco Symphony). Into his late 70’s, he was still jogging the Lafayette-Moraga trail several times a week. Later, he greatly enjoyed his local bi-weekly walking group and coffee klatches.

    He was an avid follower of global and political news. As a progressive Vatican II/Popes Francis and Leo Catholic, he advocated for social justice and human rights.

    In addition to his wife, Laura, Larry is survived by their daughter Jennifer (partner Mark Jensen), son Daniel, daughter Juliana (husband Joseph Petta), and grandchildren Mag, Gianni, Nico, Leif, J
uno, Evelina, and Zeca. He is also survived by his siblings William (partner Bob Williams), Frank (wife Margaret), Kathleen, and his 12 nieces and nephews.
 
    A memorial mass will be held at Saint Mary’s College Chapel at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 16, followed by a reception to which all are invited.

    Donations can be made to niagararivergreenway.com.

Laurence Robert Evans 
February 7, 1943 – July 10, 2026

Laurence Robert "Larry" Evans, beloved husband, father, grandfather, Marine aviator, businessman, art dealer, storyteller, author, and lifelong seeker of knowledge, passed away peacefully at home in Moraga, California, on July 10, 2026.

    Larry was born on Feb. 7, 1943, in Kansas City, Missouri, and spent his early childhood on a farm near the McKenzie River in Oregon with his parents, Virginia and Jim Evans, his older brother Jim, and younger sister Jeanine. When he was 8 years old, the family moved to Portland, where he spent the remainder of his childhood.

    After attending Whitman College and later transferring to the University of Oregon, Larry set off on an adventure that would become one of the defining stories of his life. Leaving school between his junior and senior years, he traveled throughout Asia, India, Nepal, and Australia in search of what he often described as "the meaning of life.” While traveling in Australia, he became the subject of a nationwide search after a draft notice issued in Portland could not reach him. Following extensive correspondence and international publicity, he returned home, re-enrolled at the University of Oregon, and completed his degree in Economics.

    Upon graduation, Larry was accepted into the United States Marine Corps as an aviation candidate. After completing Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia, he earned his Wings of Gold in 1967 and began flying the F-4 Phantom II with VMFA 115 out of Chu Lai. During a 13-month tour in Vietnam, he flew 144 combat missions. He was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps with the rank of Captain.

    While on leave during flight training, Larry met a young stewardess named Joan on a flight from Portland to Chicago. After a couple months of exchanging letters and only a handful of dates, the two were married and began a partnership that would span decades. Larry often joked, “Joan was a stewardess and I was a complaining passenger – and not a lot has changed.”

    Larry later chronicled his experiences as a Marine aviator in Vietnam in his memoir, “Stand By,” preserving not only the story of his military service but also his reflections on a remarkable life.

    Following his military service, Larry entered the office furnishings industry, eventually serving as President and CEO of Rucker Fuller and helping lead the company to become one of the largest office furniture dealerships in the United States. Yet despite his success in business, his greatest professional passion was contemporary art. Inspired by Joseph Campbell's advice to "Follow Your Bliss,” Larry left the corporate world in 1989 to pursue life as an art dealer, opening Larry Evans Fine Art in San Francisco and building a respected career around his love of artists, ideas, and creativity.

    Larry was a man of deep curiosity and strong opinions. He loved spirited debate, thoughtful conversation, and asking questions that challenged others to think more deeply. Family dinners rarely ended when the meal was over; they often stretched for hours as Larry explored topics ranging from religion and philosophy to politics and current events. A good bottle of wine, a lively discussion, and people he loved were among life's greatest pleasures. He was also known for his humor, his storytelling, and his unforgettable jokes.

    Larry's passions included tennis, both as a player and devoted spectator. He loved the game throughout his life and remained an enthusiastic follower of the sport. Among his treasured memories was winning a tennis championship alongside his partner – and one of his flight instructors – the late Senator John McCain. 

    Larry is survived by his beloved wife, Joan McNulty Evans; daughters Laura (Mike Manatos) and Angie (Paul Traxinger) and his five grandchildren, Josh, Sienna, Andrea, Lucas, and Ryan.

    Larry spent much of his life searching for meaning – through travel, military service, business, art, books, friendships, and family. In the end, those who knew and loved him would say he found it in the life he built, the people he cherished, and the countless stories he left behind.

    A memorial service celebrating Larry's life will be held on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, at 2 p.m. at Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church in Lafayette, California.

    In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to  swords-to-plowshares.org  or  hospiceeastbay.org.