Pete Murray honored in front of 150 guests, historical society receives $20,000 donation at Pinole History Museum Fundraising Dinner

A guest of honor with incomparable credentials, a raffle and silent auction with unusual and coveted gifts, and a surprise donation from the estate of a late champion of our city’s history highlighted the October 14 Pinole History Museum 2023 Fundraising Dinner at Valley Bible Church in Hercules.

All this and a great meal from Back Forty Texas BBQ, who gave our guests a delicious taste of the West at our “Back to the Rancho” themed event as we continued to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the 1823 El Pinole Grant to retired Mexican soldier Ygnacio Martínez, who built his Rancho El Pinole adobe homestead on what is now Pinole Valley Park.

Before Pete was honored for his contributions to the city and its history, the Pinole Historical Society received a $20,000 donation from the late Paul Mariotti, an avid supporter of the Pinole Historical Society and other organizations involved in environmental and preservation activities in our city. Sadly, Paul died September 9 after a six-month battle with a Glioblastoma brain tumor. He was 58.

Paul’s brother, Dr. Eric Mariotti, and Paul’s sisters Melinda Mariotti and Cari-Jo Galloway, presented a facsimile of the $20,000 check to Pinole Historical Society and Pinole History Museum president Jeff Rubin.

Pete’s award — as a LIFETIME HISTORY CONTRIBUTOR — recognized his 28 years of service on the Pinole City Council, the second-longest tenure of a council member in the city’s history.

As historians, we explore how we got to where we are today and who helped us get here. We explore who helped shape our society, our culture, and our values. We explore who gave our community its identity. In short, these are people who helped make Pinole a better place to live.
During the nearly half a lifetime Pete’s devoted to the city, he’s been a passionate spokesman for city services, environmental issues, and public health concerns.

• He helped Pinole pass the city’s — and county’s — first no-smoking ordinance in 1993.

• He served on the county Workforce Development Board and Youth Council, working to bring businesses into the county and create opportunities in disadvantaged areas, specifically for young people in foster care.

• He organized the city’s annual Coastal Cleanup program from 1994 until his council term ended in 2020, and remains involved with the program now that it’s being run by the Pinole Community Services Commission.

• He served on a citizens committee that worked with the architect who designed the new Pinole Valley High School — and that was no easy task because the first couple of school designs were not acceptable.

• And very importantly, he served on a city council that prevented the city from going bankrupt during the financial crisis at the outset of this century.

Pete’s long career of public service has contributed to the betterment of our society and to the history of our city in very obvious ways — and in very subtle ways, too. The Pinole History Museum was honored to honor Pete Murray.

RAFFLE AND SILENT AUCTION ITEMS DONORS

• Oakland Zoo (Family pass for 4)
• Bay Area Discovery Museum (5 passes)
• Walt Disney Family Museum (4 tickets)
• Winchester Mystery House (Tour for 2 adults)
• Oakland A's (4 tickets to a 2024 game)
• San Jose Giants (8 tickets to 2024 game)
• Buena Vista Winery, Sonoma (seated tasting for 4)
• Balletto Vineyards, Santa Rosa (One bottle wine and tasting for four)
• Tahoe Donner (2 lift tickets)
• Costco ($50 gift card)
• Target ( $100 gift card)
• American Conservatory Theater (2 vouchers for preview performance)
• Charles Schulz Museum (6 admission tickets)
• Lawrence Hall of Science (4 passes)
• San Francisco Symphony (2 tickets)
• Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (4 passes)
• Sue’s Place (Three $50 gift certificates)
• China House ($100 gift card)
• Massage by Michelle (Gift certificate for 60-minute massage)
• USS Midway, San Diego (Family Four Pack)
• USS Hornet, Alameda (Family Boarding Pass)
• San Francisco Opera (2 tickets)
• Chardonnay Golf Club, American Canyon (Round of golf for 4)
• Monarch Bay Golf Club, San Leandro (Round of golf for 4)
• Oakland Ballet (2 tickets to The Nutcracker)
• Debbie Ojeda (Gift basket)
• Paula Harvey ($45 gift certificate, Top Floor Salon)
• Christina Isley ($45 gift certificate, Top Floor Salon)
• Mike LeFebvre (Giants bobbleheads: Bruce Bochy, Tim Lincecum, Mike Yastrzemski, and Joe DiMaggio)
• Menchie's Frozen Yogurt (Fro-Yo cake gift certificate)
• Oakland A’s (2 tickets to 2024 game)
• Cal Performances (2 tickets)
• SFMOMA (2 tickets)
• Letcher Bros. Auto Repair ($150 gift certificate)
• Grocery Outlet (Case of wine)
• Valley Produce Market/Carniceria El Valle (Moctezuma Chocolate Tablets, Macha Gourmet Salsa)
• Safeway ($30 gift card)
• Lucky Supermarkets ($25 gift card)
• Jeff Rubin (Wine, baseball memorabilia)
• Norma Martínez-Rubin (Children's toys)
• Belinda Espinosa (Multiple items)
• Carol White (Gift basket, table runner)
• Mary McMains (Smoked salmon basket and cutting board)
• Ace Hardware (Yeti mug)
• Trader Joe's (Pasta gift basket)
• Starbucks (Basket of coffee and mugs)
• WestCAT (Gift basket)
• Peet's Coffee (2 baskets of coffee and mugs)
• Ruth Hogland (Regina collectible music box and music discs)
• Ruth Hogland (2 antique chairs)

THANK YOU TO OUR TABLE SPONSORS

• Collins Management
• Republic Services
• Mark Porter, financial advisor; Porter, Ritchie & Associates
• Contra Costa Electric
• Pinole Garden Club
• Pete Murray
• Gene Perrin
• Contra Costa County Historical Society
• Darrel Jay Tucker
• Mechanics Bank