The first time I met Maria Biasetto she had fire in her eyes and wanted me, the editor of the Index-Tribune at the time, to expose a prominent local resident as a crook because he had taken advantage of her generosity and swindled her out of a significant amount of money in a property deal.
As it turned out, she was right about the man. Other Sonoma residents were also his victims. Eventually he was exposed, we wrote the story, and he was held to answer in court. But, I don’t believe Maria ever got her money back.
That first encounter, although not as enjoyable as those that followed, demonstrated the grit, determination and sense of fairness that I and many other Sonomans admired in this remarkable Italian immigrant who lived in our valley from 1986 until her death last week.
She was fearless, charming, gregarious, out-spoken, and generous, especially on behalf of animals.
Maria’s well-lived, active life seems to have out-lasted any close relatives who might have been available to help write her obituary.
Through the 1990s and into the 21st Century Maria was an active member of the Sonoma League for Historic Preservation. She served on the Sonoma Sister Cities board and was a longtime, dedicated supporter of Pets Lifeline. In addition, she wrote numerous letters to the editor of the Index-Tribune on behalf of local historical treasures and for all manner of animals and wildlife.
She built a large pond next to her George Ranch home in the western foothills of the valley, which became home and watering hole for peacocks, Canada geese, wild turkeys, deer, raccoons and various other critters who roam our hills.
To make sure they didn’t starve, Maria would drive to Sonoma’s Artisan bakery twice a week and pick up bags of leftover bread, which she spread generously around her property for the creatures that sought refuge there.
Nancy King, executive director of Pets Lifeline, paid tribute to Maria at a Pets Lifeline fundraising event earlier this year: “Maria was an amazing woman who loved animals. She was a frequent visitor to our shelter and adopted some pets from us. She always supported our fundraising, and I understand she left us a very nice gift of some property, which we will put to good use on behalf of the animals she loved so much.”
Even in her 90s, Maria was a regular at Parkpoint Health Club where she worked hard to keep herself fit.
Local real estate agent Karla Noyes served on the League for Historic Preservation board with her, and also helped her purchase several local properties. “Maria never sold, only bought. She told everyone it was because the interest from her bank was so little. We all know what a hard-bargainer she was. There were times with each transaction that I though the other party would never agree to her terms, but she’d insist, and they often agreed. Maria sensed when to stop pushing. ‘I’m a business woman,” she’d say proudly,” Karla said.
“I’m so sorry she passed. She thought that she would outlive god (small “g”) and I believed her. Alas, she fought the good fight and is a role model for us all,” she added.
Information on the first half of her life comes from small anecdotes that friends remember her telling. She was born in 1926 in Venice, Italy. She met an American soldier toward the end of World War II and they were married. She managed to come to the states with her new husband as the war ended and they settled in the Midwest. She was not even 20 years old.
The marriage didn’t last, and she moved west to stay with an uncle who lived in Santa Rosa. She then decided to move to San Francisco.
In a matter of a few years she’d managed to work into the real estate business and complete a college education. The San Francisco Call Bulletin published two stories about this remarkable immigrant woman. One was titled “Success Story in Straight A’s.” The other carried the headline “Graduate has beauty, brains and $500,000.”
After she moved to Sonoma in the 1980s, Maria had some contact with members of her family, including her mother, Rita, who she helped bring over from Italy.
In 1995 she hosted a birthday party for her mother’s 95th birthday.
Steve Pease, a friend and neighbor of Maria’s, nominated her as a candidate for Sonoma’s Honorary Alcalde, noting: “She is a remarkable woman who’s more than 20-year history of contributions and dedication to our Valley deserves such recognition.
“Arriving in the United States as a young immigrant from Italy, Maria astonished those around her by learning English, becoming a U.S. Citizen and completing her education through college, graduating with high honors from San Francisco State.
He also cited her active memberships and significant financial support for a larger number of organizations, including Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation, Sonoma Ecology Center, Wildlife Fawn Rescue, the Wildlife Federation, Nature Conservancy, Audobon Society, Wolf Foundation and Humane Societies in various cities.
She also supported the restoration of the Maysonnave House in Sonoma and hosted many fundraising events for local charities at her home.
There are no services planned, but Nancy King said that Pets Lifeline is planning to hold some kind of celebration of her life in the near future. The date will be announced later.
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