San Rafael

The Extraordinary Life of Joseph John Garbarino Joe Garbarino was born in 1933, shortly after his father and mother, John and Rosa Garbarino, arrived in the United States from Italy. As a child, he watched his father and uncle haul garbage in giant burlap bags on their backs up and down the steep hills of San Francisco scavenging the glasses, rags, cardboard and other reusable items. Actions that were deeply ingrained from childhoods in an impoverished area of Genova, Italy.

The lesson was indelible: People throw away more than they should and most of it can be reused. The rest is history. Joe went on to become one of the nation’s foremost leaders in recycling.

His extraordinary life seems a fairy tale. He met and married his love, Sally Safholm, with whom he spent 64 years and created a family of four extraordinary daughters, Patty, Judy, Joanne and Suzi. And he built a company that includes three generations of Garbarinos.

Joe was larger than life. He filled a room. He lived with passion. He loved to go mushroom hunting, fish, watch sports, and spend time with his family here and in Oregon.

He wore his heart on his sleeve. When making a toast to one of his daughters at a large event, he was so overcome with emotion, he grabbed a nearby bottle of water, opened it and poured the entire contents on his head, soaking his suit, before proceeding calmly. That was Joe.

Driven by his life-long passion to recycle, reuse and reduce waste going into landfills, Joe was a maverick in the waste industry. In 1980, he started the nation’s first curbside recycling program, picking up hundreds of thousands of pounds of bottles, cans and newspaper and achieving a national record by recycling over 74% of all waste.

He was one of those rare leaders who was not just professionally but personally committed to driving change for good. His innovations in waste management have been a model for our state, nation and the world.

He had a vision for a future without waste. He grew his company to address it. He founded Marin Recycling and Resource Recovery Association He built the Marin Resource and Recovery Building, an indoor dump the size of three football fields that recycles waste that would otherwise go to landfill. It is the first of its kind in the nation.

It now diverts over 65% of dumped materials. He launched a curbside food and yard waste recycling service. He knew the future depended on the next generation, so he launched an Environmental Classroom where students learn about the importance of recycling and other approaches to waste reduction. Over 200 people visit the classroom and tour the facility every week.

He was devoted to his community. For over four decades, he raised money to purchase Christmas gifts, then dressed up as Santa Claus to distribute those gifts to children with disabilities. He was named Citizen of the Year by the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce in 1987. He was awarded the highest accolades from the California Refuse Removal Council in 1994, the John Moscone award, for his innovations in waste management.

His company was voted “Best Curbside Recycling Program in California” and “Outstanding Solid Waste Recovery Program in California” by the California Resource Recovery Association. In 2014, Joe was recognized by his peers who inducted him into the National Waste and Recycling Association’s Hall of Fame. He served on the boards of Marin General Hospital and San Rafael Planning Commission, and as President of Marin Civic Center’s Lion Club, San Rafael Chamber of Commerce and Marin County’s Solid Waste Management Association.

In addition to his service in the community, Joe was known in Marin County for his support of veterans. As an 8-year-old, Joe watched the deployment of fleets to the Pacific Theater in World War II. Those who fought and died became his heroes. At a young age, he began collecting items from returning soldiers. For over 40 years Joe procured WWII memorabilia, growing a fleet of over 100 vehicles including a 1943 M4 Sherman and M60 Patton, which he keeps in his military museum. When a fellow veteran died, he would park one of his tanks outside the church. He loved taking his tanks and jeeps on the road, and could be seen in parades for Memorial, 4th of July and Veterans Day across the County, Garbarino remained actively involved in the company as Chairman of the Board until his death and rarely spent a day away from the office. Seven days a week, rain or shine, you could see Joe driving through the facility checking in on people and things. His employees were his friends and extended family.

Joe was the proud father, grandfather and great grandfather of a large family, many of whom worked side by side with him atthe company. He is survived by his daughters and their families: Patty Garbarino, Judy and Steve Rosa, Joanne and Mike Pelfini, Suzi and John Oranje; his grandchildren, Joseph and John Rosa, Joseph, Gwen and James Pelfini, Jenna Oranje Erlich and Jonathan Oranje; and his great grandchildren, George, Giovanna, Rico, Dominic, Justin and Natalie; and his many, many cousins in Oregon and Italy whom he considered his brothers and sisters.

He leaves a huge hole and will be sorely missed.

A Memorial Mass will be held Friday February 7th 2025, at 11AM, at Saint Raphael’s Church,1104 4th Street, San Rafael. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Marin Health Foundation’s Spine & Brain Fund.https://www.mymarinhealth.org/foundation/donate-now/ [Find Fund under drop down “other” menu]