|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
NEWS
> CRIME & COURTS
Rancher killed in tractor accident
| | | | | | | | |  | | | | | Firefighters inspect a tractor that rolled on top of a man and killed him Tuesday afternoon. | | | | | Photo by: Marilyn Dubil | | | | | | | | | |
The ranch on the east side of Morgan Hill where longtime farmer Gary Lomanto lost his life Tuesday afternoon was a defining part of his life.
Lomanto, 61, was killed when he was apparently working on a tractor or loading it on a trailer on Murphy Avenue that somehow toppled and crushed him.
Virginia Lomanto, his wife of eight years, said in an interview at her home Thursday morning that he will be missed by many people who valued his generous, caring nature.
"He grounded me," she said. "He was a very special person."
Lomanto was a walnut farmer, the last in this area, and enjoyed what he did, she added.
"He really loved Mother Earth, respected nature," she said. "He was a good poppa, he was a very good dad to my children. He had a great opportunity to bond with my grandchild who lived with us. He enjoyed being with him."
He also loved working on his ranch, nurturing his walnut trees.
Although it is not known exactly what happened in the accident that caused his death, it is believed that he had been working on the ranch or was getting ready to work on the land he loved.
Lomanto was the son of Virginia and the late Tony Lomanto. He had two children, two step-children, six grandchildren and one step-grandchild.
Gene Guglielmo, a co-owner of Guglielmo Winery and also a member of an Italian family that has been in the community for generations, said he has been friends with Lomanto since high school.
"I knew him before, he was a few years older than me, but we became close about that time," he said. "His is an old family that's been in the area for a long time, generations of friends. It's like our grandparents were friends, our parents were friends. This is like losing a member of the family."
Guglielmo said Lomanto was outgoing and enjoyed making new friends.
"He always had a good attitude about things, he was very good-natured, always had a smile and talked to everybody," he said. "You felt like he was your friend from the moment you met him. He took care of his family, took care of his responsibilities, whatever he could do for you, he would."
Lomanto was a member of the California Department of Fish and Game and past president of the Full-Blooded Italian Association.
"He was very proud of that club, continuing that tradition," Guglielmo said. "He was a fun-loving guy who loved that club, loved to enjoy himself. He gave back a lot to the community, contributed quite a bit."
Lomanto will be honored during a funeral mass today at 9:30 a.m. at St. Catherine Church, 17400 Peak Avenue with interment to follow at Oak Hill Memorial Park, 300 Curtner Ave., San Jose.
|
|
Marilyn Dubil
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 ext. 202 or send her an email.
|
|
|
|
|
 Email This Article |
|
 Print |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
