Farewell Tom – Passed February 23, 2012
Thomas J. Cordoni Passed away peacefully on February 23, 2012. Only son of Fred and Ruth Cordoni, Tom was a native of San Francisco. He worked for many years for the City and County of San Francisco, retiring as a Maintenance Gardener. He also served as a Field Representative for the Laborers Union, Local 261, for several years. He was a lifetime member of Musician’s Union, Local 6.
Tom was an accordionist for 60 years, playing for Italian, Irish, German, French and Basque events in the San Francisco Bay Area. After moving to Petaluma in 2000, Tom, through the City Council, had the accordion declared the first musical instrument of Petaluma. For seven years, Tom organized and presented a free community accordion festival showcasing accordionists of all ages, amateur and professional.
Loving husband of Jeannette, devoted father of Virginia Mendoza, Linda Cordoni, Denise Cordoni and Nicole (Brent) Wallingford; loving grandfather of Frederico and Sergio Mendoza, Vanessa and Tom Bautista, and Cole and Jake Wallingford.
A Memorial Mass will be said on Friday, March 9, 2012 at 11:00 AM at St. James Catholic Church, 125 Sonoma Mountain Pkwy, Petaluma. Memorial contributions may be made to Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory, 1055 Ellis St., San Francisco, CA 94109 or Marin Catholic High School, 675 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Kentfield, CA 94904. Family assisted by PARENT-SORENSEN MORTUARY & CREMATORY, Petaluma.
“Music You Will Remember”
My name is Tom Cordoni. I have been a professional accordionist for over 40 years.
My band and I have played for many parties, political gatherings, parades and weddings (including Robin Williams’ first wedding). I also spent many years teaching accordion. At one time I was director of the San Francisco Accordion Club Fun Band.
I played for 15 years at LeMontmartre, a French bistro in North Beach, and for eight years at Mulcrevy’s, an Irish-American pub. I have played German music at William Tell in San Francisco, Little Switzerland in Sonoma, the Germania Club in San Jose, the Gasthaus in Milpitas and the Pine Brook Inn in Belmont. I played at the Italian-American Social Club, the Italian Athletic Club and the Sons of Italy in San Francisco. I have also played for many Basque festivities.
After moving to Petaluma in 2000, I appeared before the Petaluma City Council several times on behalf of the accordion and was successful in my endeavor as the council named the accordion, “The First Musical Instrument of Petaluma” and named the 4th Saturday in June as “Celebrate the Accordion Day.”
I am a proud member of three accordion clubs: The Accordion Club of the Redwoods (Petaluma); The San Francisco Accordion Club (San Francisco); and the Golden State Accordion Club (Vacaville).
