RANCHO MURIETA, CA (MPG) - An hour after the Kiwanis Club’s Kids Fishing Day concluded at Lake Clementia on May 3, friends and family gathered near the boat dock to dedicate a bench in honor of the event’s founder.

Longtime Rancho Murieta resident Joe Mazzoni Sr., who died last summer, organized the first Fishing Day over 20 years ago. A retired U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manager, he was the cornerstone of the Kiwanis Club of Rancho Murieta and left a lasting mark on the community through decades of dedicated volunteer service.

After the club secured the bench, Rancho Murieta Association General Manager Rod Hart arranged for a concrete slab to be poured and installed at a spot overlooking the lake where Mazzoni had brought so much joy and laughter to the community.

The bench inscription reads: In Honor of Joe Mazzoni Sr. Founder of Kids Fishing Day, Beloved Kiwanis member and friend.

Bronwyn Anthony, who knew Joe through 18 years of Kiwanis service, delivered a tribute she co-authored with John and Susan Sozzi. She described Mazzoni as the “heart and soul” of Kids Fishing Day, emphasizing his enduring enthusiasm and love of nature. “Joe brought out the best in people,” she said, calling his dedication to community service and environmental education “a true gift.”

Club President Bill Kenney, who succeeded Massoni in organizing Kids Fishing Day, shared his reflections. He spoke of how their friendship developed later in life, often over a glass of red wine. Kenney recalled being moved by a family cookbook Mazzoni donated to a fundraiser, filled with stories from his travels and career in the Fish and Wildlife Service.

Mazzoni’s commitment to mentoring others was evident in the detailed binder he handed Kenney to help continue the event. 

“I became a better person because of Joe,” Kenney said, addressing the crowd gathered at the dedication as further proof of Joe’s ability to build community.

Kenney also read a letter from Hart, who praised Mazzoni’s unwavering commitment to Rancho Murieta. From pancake breakfasts to Little League opening days, from Bingo nights to trunk-or-treats, Mazzoni was always there, lending a hand. 

“Rancho Murieta became a richer place with Joe in our community,” Hart wrote.

Pete Edwards offered a touching story about adopting Mazzoni’s beloved dog, Coco, after he died. He said Coco was “kind of like his dad”— calm and easy-going. In his 55 years with Kiwanis, Edwards noted, few had touched him like Mazzoni. “I really liked that man,” he said. “He was a great guy.”

Phil Fitch recalled working with Mazzoni to replace the aging buildings at Cosumnes River Elementary School, describing how he helped organize public forums and press local leaders into action. 

“Joe was right in the middle of it,” he said of the grassroots effort that eventually led to a safer school.

Dia Utterback, another longtime collaborator, remembered starting the community’s first crab feed in Mazzoni’s kitchen and laughing over his hard-to-read thank-you notes. She credited him with inspiring her continued efforts to raise funds for scholarships, dictionaries, and Fishing Day. 

“I felt like I was hanging out with the cool parents,” she said, “and Joe was one of them.”

Speaking for her partner, Patrick Chand, Lynne Erpelding shared how Mazzoni’s thoughtfulness left a lasting mark. The couple saved every thank-you card he sent. 

“Patrick misses Joe terribly,” she said, adding that they sometimes set an extra place at dinner when serving salmon, in his memory.

Erin Reid said that after she and Michael Jones co-founded Entertainment, Theatre & Culture, Mazzoni joined the small board in its second year. Despite being older, she said, Mazzoni became one of her best friends. 

“He was all about this community,” she said, “all about Rancho Murieta.”

Cindy Heinz, the oldest of three daughters, said she had tried to persuade her father to move closer to family in Oregon, but he declined. Over time, she realized why.

“He had a whole other family here,” she said, gesturing to the crowd.

She expressed deep gratitude to Rancho Murieta residents who embraced and cared for her father, whether by bringing food, dessert, or simply stopping by to visit.

“It was rare and a blessing,” she said. “It meant so much to us.”

 Kenney thanked everyone who came to the dedication. 

“Keep Joe in your memory and heart,” he said.