Rick Guasco
In loving memory of Rick Guasco, a Marin Native, cherished husband, devoted father, doting grandfather and loving uncle, who peacefully passed away surrounded by family on December 6, 2023. Born at Ross Hospital to Peter and Patricia Guasco, he attended Wolfe Grade School, Kent Middle School, Redwood High School (1970), College of Marin, and San Francisco State University. He later graduated from Sonoma State University with a degree in Sociology and Meteorology. Rick worked for his family's business, Guasco's Market in San Anselmo, for many years and served as a regional Produce Quality Control Inspector at Whole Foods Market for two decades. Retiring in 2018, Rick volunteered at the Marin Food Bank. Beyond his professional endeavors, Rick's zest for life was evident in his roles as an avid gardener, intrepid white water rafter, world traveler, and a dedicated weather forecaster and storm chaser. Rick was also a very loyal SF 49ers and Giants fan. Fond memories were created during countless summers at Packer Lake, where Rick revealed the joy of sharing the beauty of nature with his family and friends. Survived by his devoted wife of 49 years, Karen (Rosenthal) Guasco, his son Ryan (Jaclyn), daughter Taylor (Jovan), and adored grandsons Gibson and Kingston, Rick also leaves behind a vast network of siblings, step-siblings, relatives, and friends who will cherish his memory forever.A celebration of Rick's life will take place in 2024. For more information email guascocelebration@gmail.com. Contributions in Rick's memory may be made to the Marin Food Bank.
Published by Marin Independent Journal on Dec. 17, 2023.
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Mark Simmons
My friendship with Rick was one of my longest and deeply shared friendships. We first met at Wolf Grade Elementary, in 5th grade. Over the years, we both went through the typical events of 'growing up'; as roommates on Canal St; being best man at his wedding, having children, going on road trips to Tahoe, and sharing so many emotional times. Rick had such passion for understanding the weather, and had a vast knowledge of plants and produce, ever since working in Guasco's Supermarket with produce and gardening. Knowing Rick for so long has influenced my life in many ways - I'm glad that we survived the 70's with so much fun. I'm glad to have had one last visit to him a week before he passed away and we went to Pt. Reyes in a final farewell. I will miss him a great deal.
Trip to Death Valley, April, 2022
George Carewe
Rick was a unique individual with a great sense of humor and always fun to be around. I remember him working in the family grocery store in San Anselmo and then running it as well. How many people do you know who are a proffessional fruit taster!
Greg Dodge
I didn't know Rick very well. He and I loved boxing and we used to talk fights. I wish I had known him better.
Keith Robichaud
RIP Rick. I must say I havent seen Rick or been in touch for so many years. But went back so far that I cant even remember now, from the beginning of Wolf Grade school.Maybe before that. Even so, this news saddens me deeply. I dont know how his life went I hope it was brilliant. Truth is I did not know Rick the man.
Not long ago, I was passing thru Kentfield passed by the old Guascos. Suddenly I thought of Rick out of the blue and pulled back some of those memories of Marin yesterday and I remembered him as a little kid running across the brand new grass baseball diamonds at Wolf Grade school. There were some others there in my thoughts that day as they are today.
My condolences to Ricks friends and family
Keith Robichaud
Steven Filante
Rest in peace Rick. I knew Rick mostly from Wolfe Grade elementary school. We were friends and I spent a few nights at his house where I got to eat breakfast cereal with sugar in it unlike at my home. He taught me how to take care of fuchsias so they would have abundant blooms and foliage. I never was as good as he was though. I remember when he got angry his face would go completely red. My condolences to friends and family.
Carter Elwell (Donovan)
I went to school with "Ricky" from Kent to Wolfe Grade to Redwood we were classmates. I went to Guasco grocery in Kenfield almost everyday on the way home from school. I am sadden of his passing and offer my condolences to his family, he was a part of my childhood memories. RIP Ricky
Bob Tanner
Oh man...this hurt like hell. Rick was a best friend, a best man, and soul brother since high school. Many, many experiences and journeys on the road, rock shows, hikes, parties, girls - eventually watching him commit and begin a beautiful family. Just within the last ten years did he see the family grow to include grandkids. He was an amazing husband, father, and Pop-Pop to the grands. We saw a lot more of each other since I came back to Sonoma - biweekly hikes, lunches - revisiting many of the places in Marin that we used to cut classes to go to on Tam, Stinson, and Pt. Reyes. Our individual memories weren't so good for various obvious reasons when growing up in the counter culture of Marin and the Bay Area music scene. But together, we seemed to always fill in each other's gaps to complete the missing memories. I grew up knowing Rick's passion for both meteorology and what would be his life long career - continuing the traditions began by his grandparents at their first grocery store on College Avenue across from COM. Rick was a hard worker and was a perfectionist in his work and life. I will miss him, his humor, his love, his smile. I know he was looking forward to seeing his retrievers on the other side - he may be walking them around the block as he loved to do, or running them at Stinson. Goodbye my best friend, I'll see you on that side when it's time. RIP ❤️