Thomas Joseph Mazziotti Jr. “Tom” was born June 27, 1930 in Los Angeles, Calif. and passed away at his cabin in River-kern on Monday March 16, 2009. He was 78.

The son of Thomas and Mary Mazziotti, Tom grew up in the L.A. area with his brother Robert and sister Susan. His grandparents, Lu Lu and Carl Mazziotti, emigrated from Palermo, Sicily, Italy in the 1890s through Ellis Island.

Tom fostered a career as a carpenter and building contractor in the Los Angeles and San Fernando Valley areas that spanned over 40 years before retiring to Kernville, Calif. in 1992. Tom was married to his beautiful wife Dolores “Dolly” Griffin for nearly 60 years, and is survived by daughter Cathy Wilson; sons Gary, Mike and Tim Mazziotti; 12 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. In his retirement years, living with Dolly in the cabin he built on Bull Run, he continued his life long passion of fishing the Kern River, connecting with the outdoors, and enjoying woodworking in his garage. During his retirement, Tom was briefly employed part time by the U.S Forest Service as a carpenter, a long-time dream of his, before a fall cut this dream short.

Tom was a member of the Elks Lodge in Wofford Heights and was honored to be the Exalted Ruler in 1997- 1998; this was a great personal accomplishment. His friends at the Elks Lodge and the community service experiences added to his fulfillment of life and were always cherished and remembered.

Memorial services will be held at the Elks lodge in Wofford Heights Saturday April 18, 2009 beginning at 11:00 a.m. Graveside service will follow at the Kern River Valley Cemetery in the Rose Garden.