Anita Zunino, Who Fought Commercial Progress around her Old Town Home, Dies at 90

Within a two-year span, Anita Zunino saw the get renovated, had De Long Avenue reconfigured and repaved and endured the construction of the massive building all within 100 yards of her small house in Novato's Old Town area.

Ernie Zunino sounded as if he were joking when he called his aunt "a mean old lady" after having to withstand all that commotion around her home on De Long, one she shared with her husband, Julius, for decades. But in a way, Ernie wasn't joking at all.

"She used to be so much fun, but all that turned her into quite a pill," he said. "She wasn't the easiest one to get along with."

Anita Zunino died Friday of age-related health issues, Ernie Zunino said. She was 90. A visitation is set for 4-8 p.m. Thursday and the funeral is at 11 a.m., both at the Parent-Sorensen Mortuary in Petaluma.

Julius Zunino, 91, a retired roofer, receives round-the-clock care but has been doing pretty well physically, Ernie said.

For years, Anita Zunino fought the commercial progress around her property a loud and busy stretch of downtown Novato's main arterial roadway. There were several times when developers attempted to take over the whole block between Reichert and Sherman and turn it into a commercial area. Anita occasionally spoke in front of the Novato City Council in protest.

"It was about 35 years ago when they first wanted her place," Ernie Zunino said. "She had a vendetta against the city and sort of let it ruin her life."

But the city sometimes took extra steps to keep the Zuninos informed of important upcoming meeting or decisions. Whenever she wasn't at a meeting that might pertain to the Zunino property, often a council member would say "We need to notify Mrs. Zunino about that." In recent years, the Zuninos no longer had a telephone, so notifications were sometimes hand-delivered or mailed.

Gail Meyers, a political gadfly who has attended city meetings for decades, said Anita Zunino was a "determined woman and such a great pal. We used to fight things that would happen around the downtown area, and that's how we got so close. Everything happening would irritate her so much. ...

"Novato lost a patriot. What else can you call her?"

Maureen Tresch has lived at 916 Sherman Avenue, a few steps from the Zunino home, since 1966. Tresch's great-grandfather built the home and family members from each generation since then have occupied the house.

"I got my eviction papers in 1987, and then I got an attorney and fought it," Tresch said. "Thankfully we won the case, but it was a very close call. The Zuninos had to fight it, too."

On the flip side, Anita Zunino is being remembered as a hard-working and generous woman. She worked for Ernie Zunino's father (Anita's brother-in-law) in the shoe shop years ago and looked out for neighbors by helping with gardening and cooking.

"She was a wonderful cook," Maureen Tresch said. "That meatloaf she made ... wow. The gravy she made with her spaghetti was made with deer meat. The men would go hunting on Wednesdays years ago and bring back a deer, and she'd cook it up. She did all the work herself."

Ernie Zunino said his Uncle Julius was spoiled. "They'd go duck hunting and bring back this line of ducks, and just hand them all to her. She'd handle the whole thing," he said with a laugh.

Tresch said she was at Anita Zunino's 90th birthday last month at the Zunino home, and it was a time for Tresch to savor her memories.

"She was one of my best friends," she said. "I knew her since I was born. ... Back when I was working, I would come home and she'd be doing the gardening at my house. I would threaten to call the police on her and we would both laugh."

Ernie Zunino said her "Aunt Neet and Uncle Jules" recently celebrated their 72nd anniversary at Ernie's home near Black Point. "They loved it out there. It reminded them of the way Novato used to be."

Anita Zunino, who was born in Tomales, was the sister of Romeo Matteri, Fred Matteri (Marietta), Stella “Babe” Bonomi (Bill), all of Petaluma, and the late Eda Bonini, Adolph Matteri, Charlie Matteri and Rico Matteri. She is survived by her husband, numerous

Memorial contributions may be made in her name to Hospice by the Bay, 17 E Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Ste. 100, Larkspur, CA 94939.  Entombment will be at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Petaluma.

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Here are what some elected officials are saying about the passing of Anita Zunino.

Denise Athas, mayor: "It is hard to lose Mrs. Zunino. I equate her with Novato ... a part of our history and a valuable part of our present.  I loved the way she would pop in at our council meetings, put her arms on the podium and tell us how she felt.  She could always be seen around the neighborhood, and it just won't be the same without her.  She will be missed by everyone but remembered by all."

Jeanne MacLeamy, councilmember: Mrs. Zunino was one of a kind. From daily feeding of CoCo, the Scott House rooster (until someone kidnapped him and took him to the county) to riding a motorcycle at Grant Avenue Bike Night, she was a real kick and will be greatly missed by those of us who knew and loved her."

Judy Arnold, Marin County supervisor: "There's another empty place at our community table. God bless her."