Gianna Ranuzzi. Courtesy of her family

Born in Los Angeles on Oct. 30, 1950, the daughter of Frank and Florence Ranuzzi. Gianna Jaqueline Ranuzzi led a busy and interesting life. 

She attended Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church and School in Los Angeles and then moved to the family ranch outside of Hamilton, Montana, at age 13. There she enjoyed the rural environment and all it had to offer. Graduating from Hamilton High she went on to earn a degree in Italian literature from the University of Montana, Missoula. While at the university she taught English one summer in Taiwan and improved her Mandarin. Her education did not stop there, as she studied under the last student of Maria Montessori in Perugia, Italy, gaining her teaching certificate. This she put to good use in Minneapolis.

Missing California, she moved to Berkeley to pursue her diversified interests. A love of travel, art, crafting and jewelry developed into a business. She found interesting things in China, Guatemala, Cuba, Algeria and Italy as she traveled and turned them into jewelry that she sold to museum gift shops, to customers in the Telegraph Avenue area and to an extensive group of private collectors. Selling on Telegraph she became aware of the Telegraph Area Business Association and her love of music led her to work with the association on the Berkeley WorId Music Festival. After the business association severed its connection with the festival in 2019, Gianna went on to promote and manage it for many successful years. Under her management the festival featured an eclectic mix of noted musicians of local and international fame. This festival turned People’s Park and other venues around Telegraph into a weekend of music and fun.

In her spare time, she served on the Board of the Le Conte Homeowners Association and also was appointed to the City of Berkeley’s Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Commission by Councilmember Ben Bartlett. Gianna is survived by an extended family in Bologna, Italy, her many friends around the world, as well as her sister Mary Cunningham of Tehachapi. 

She died on Jan. 3. Her final resting place will be in Tehachap, California, with her family. 

Friends and community are hosting a celebration of life for Gianna on Sunday, May 17, from 4 p.m.-8 p.m. at the Veterans’ Memorial Building at 1931 Center St. Please RSVP by emailing melanie@betv.org.

“*” indicates required fields