San Rafael

Eugene Fassi passed away peacefully in his home Tuesday evening 3/18/25 after being terminally ill over the last year.

His parents Ray and Lena Fassi married in 1940. Gene was born two years after on 4/4/42. His dad grew up in Fairfax and mom raised on a produce farm that is now AE Kent School.

After Gene was born they moved to a dairy farm in Merced that they operated until the end of WW ll.

Returning to Marin in 1947 they established a wholesale beer distribution co. named “R.J. Fassi Distributing”. Gene worked there in his younger years until his parents retired the business in 1977.

Gene then moved on to be a manager of a couple local liquor stores for the next 10 years until he found his real passion as a manager of Western Sports Shop in San Rafael. He worked there for over 30 years and met many friends along the way including Mr Edgar, the owner of Western. He also had a book business for 40 years called Sam Fario Books.

Gene was an encyclopaedia of fly fishing, fly tying, and hunting in Northern California. He hosted many fly fishing shows and some of the greats in the fly fishing world. Including Lefty Kreh, Dave Whitlock, Dan Blanton, Lani Waller, Russell Chantham, and Andre’ Puyans. ~ Carlo Bongio

He went to high school at Marin Catholic and met his wife and high school sweetheart Joan Fassi at her home football game as a majorette at Redwood High School. They were married for 63 years.

He was an avid fly fisherman, loved his old bluegill ponds, enjoyed bird hunting with his partner Steve and his faithful bird dog Tobers.

Gene is survived by wife Joan Schunk, children Denise and John (Tammy) Fassi, grandchildren, Branden, Chadd, Jessica, Aaron, John Jr., and Jacob.

He was a great husband, dad, and grandfather.