I first met Gianni in 1979 as an apprentice at the Dowd Harpsichord shop in Cambridge, Massachusetts. A Sicilian immigrant, Gianni was the master builder there, producing some of the finest woodworking I have ever seen. Under his tutelage, I learned all the fundamentals of woodworking which would serve me well for the rest of my career. In 1982, after I started my own business, Gianni came to work part time in my basement shop building furniture and kitchens for small residential projects, he was our first employee. In 1986, after we moved our shop to South Boston, next to Dowd Harpsichord, Gianni came to work full time, as Dowd was slowly winding down.
Gianni was a crucial part of the success and growth of Mark Richey Woodworking, especially in those early years and we relied heavily on Gianni’s knowledge of traditional woodworking skills, and his uncompromising commitment to quality. Over the years I have worked with many outstanding and creative woodworkers but none as efficient and skillful as Gianni. He was also an excellent teacher, provided you were willing to work hard and listen and over the years some of our best woodworkers were mentored by Gianni. I always looked forward to our annual holiday gatherings, when Gianni, joined by his beloved wife Pina enjoyed dancing to the traditional Polka we played for them. Both their children, Michael John and Anna would come to work at MRW during their high school summer vacations, another indication of how proud Gianni was of our company and the work we did.
We will miss you Gianni but your legacy will live on in your love, commitment and excellence to our craft,
RIP Gianni
Mark Richey, 9-10-2024