Thomas Tavernetti
Encyclopedia
Thomas Tavernetti was the son of Swiss immigrants who co-founded the University of California at Davis.
owner. Thomas Tavernetti was born on December 23, 1889 in Gonzales, California
. His parents were Swiss immigrants from Moghegno
, Switzerland
. His father was Paul Tavernetti, the son of a California Gold Rush
'Forty-niner'. Paul was born in Moghegno in 1854 and immigrated to the U.S. in the 1880s. His wife, Giagonda Rianda, came to the U.S. about a year later. Thomas was the second of twelve children, two of which died during birth. When he was young, Tom worked on the family farm in Salinas, California
. Hunter Lane, as it was called, was also where the family home was. There was also a large ranch
on Natividad Road which raised cattle. After schooling in Salinas Thomas attended school at the University of California at Berkeley.
. After graduating, Thomas began working at the UC agriculture center in Davis, California
. In Davis, Thomas assisted in the foundation of the school. He served as Assistant Dean of Agriculture from 1922-1934. In 1934, though, he died of pneumonia
on his 45th birthday.
Thomas' son, Thomas Jr., was a World War II
pilot who received many awards while serving his country. He shot down four enemy planes and was awarded the Flying Cross for his efforts.
Early Life and Family History
The last name "Tavernetti" is an Italian last name that points to the profession of an Innkeeper or TavernTavern
A tavern is a place of business where people gather to drink alcoholic beverages and be served food, and in some cases, where travelers receive lodging....
owner. Thomas Tavernetti was born on December 23, 1889 in Gonzales, California
Gonzales, California
Gonzales is a city in Monterey County, California, United States. Gonzales is located southeast of Salinas, at an elevation of 135 feet . The population was 8,187 at the 2010 census, up from 7,525 at the 2000 census. Gonzales is a member of the Association of Monterey Bay Area...
. His parents were Swiss immigrants from Moghegno
Moghegno
Moghegno is a village and former municipality in the district of Vallemaggia in the canton of Ticino, Switzerland.It was first recorded in 1335 as Mogeno....
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. His father was Paul Tavernetti, the son of a California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
'Forty-niner'. Paul was born in Moghegno in 1854 and immigrated to the U.S. in the 1880s. His wife, Giagonda Rianda, came to the U.S. about a year later. Thomas was the second of twelve children, two of which died during birth. When he was young, Tom worked on the family farm in Salinas, California
Salinas, California
Salinas is the county seat and the largest municipality of Monterey County, California. Salinas is located east-southeast of the mouth of the Salinas River, at an elevation of about 52 feet above sea level. The population was 150,441 at the 2010 census...
. Hunter Lane, as it was called, was also where the family home was. There was also a large ranch
Ranch
A ranch is an area of landscape, including various structures, given primarily to the practice of ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle or sheep for meat or wool. The word most often applies to livestock-raising operations in the western United States and Canada, though...
on Natividad Road which raised cattle. After schooling in Salinas Thomas attended school at the University of California at Berkeley.
Profession
Thomas finished schooling at UC Berkeley in 1913, majoring in agricultureAgriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
. After graduating, Thomas began working at the UC agriculture center in Davis, California
Davis, California
Davis is a city in Yolo County, California, United States. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. In Davis, Thomas assisted in the foundation of the school. He served as Assistant Dean of Agriculture from 1922-1934. In 1934, though, he died of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
on his 45th birthday.
Remembrance: The Tavernetti Bell
Thomas Tavernetti has a bell hung in the front of Aggie Stadium in Davis. On football game days, the bell is rung in his honor. The bell, referred to as the Tavernetti Bell, was hung in his honor by UC Davis Alumni. With the construction of Aggie stadium, the bell followed from its previous location at the old site on Toomey field in 2007. The bell came from the Spreckles grade school that Tavernetti attended for his schooling. After its abandonment the school's bell was taken to Davis were it is still used today.Thomas' son, Thomas Jr., was a World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
pilot who received many awards while serving his country. He shot down four enemy planes and was awarded the Flying Cross for his efforts.