GADDINI

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Tuesday, August 15, 2006 at 11:18:53 :

Independent Journal
Wednesday, August 1, 1984

ROBERT M. GADDINI

A Mass of Christian Burial for veteran Marin Sheriff’s Capt. Robert M. Gaddini will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Raphael’s Church in San Rafael.

Gaddini, who helped coordinate the investigation of the Trailside killer case, died Monday in his San Rafael home of cancer.

Gaddini, 46, devoted his adult life to police work and continued to work in the Sheriff’s Department despite his illness.

His friends and colleagues described the captain as a compassionate man who earned the respect of others. He joined the department as a patrolman in 1965 and worked his way up through ranks.

Gaddini was named captain in 1979, heading the patrol and investigations bureau. During that time, he helped coordinate the search for suspects in the Trailside killer investigation, and briefed the press and public on progress in the case.

From December 1981 to January 1985, Gaddini served as assistant sheriff in the administration of former Sheriff Al Howenstein.

For the past 18 months, Gaddini was in charge of the department’s civil division and the county jail.

Gaddini, a native of San Francisco, came to Marin in 1944. He was a member of the San Rafael Elks Lodge No. 1108, Club Italia, Marin County Peace Officers Association and the Footprinters.

He is survived by is wife, Marshal Ford Gaddini, of San Rafael; two sons, Frank of Novato and Joseph of San Rafael; four daughters, Katherine of San Rafael, and Janet, Dana and Laura, all of Novato; and his stepmother, Claire Gaddini of San Anselmo.

A rosary will be recited at 8 tonight at the Chapel of the Hills in San Anselmo. Friends may call at the mortuary after 7:30 tonight. The family prefers memorial gifts to Hospice of Marin, 77 Mark Drive, San Rafael, 94903.