Gary Sambuceto — our husband, father and friend, went to God on Jan. 1, 2011, after battling cancer for nearly two years.

Gary, a devoted husband and father, was born in Portland, Ore., on Nov. 14, 1952, to Bert and Bertha Sambuceto, whose family had immigrated from Sambuceto, Italy. Gary at age 7, alongside his father, worked their farm and supplied fresh vegetables to the Portland area until the late 1980s. As he became interested in woodworking, Gary gravitated to cabinetmaking and began a long career as a master craftsman eventually starting his own successful business named A Sun Up Company. Gary became well known for the quality cabinets his company supplied to numerous residents and businesses throughout Northwestern Washington. It was almost impossible for him to walk down a street without meeting one of his customers.

In 1999, Gary met Linda at the Pendleton Rodeo. They fell in love and married in 2001 and shared a sense of passion and adventure for traveling. Some of the best trips included fishing trips to Montana, wine tasting in Yakima, Walla Walla, Napa and Italy. He enjoyed getting together often with family and his final wish was to take everyone to Sunriver for a last family vacation. The light of his life has been his granddaughter, Kennedy, from the moment she was born. He loved to indulge her with chocolate milk and “toons” every time she came to visit.

A passionate fly fisherman, Gary was well known for his numerous conservation efforts on behalf of all Northwest trout species. It was said that Gary had caught and released over 20,000 trout during his fishing career. Also known for his culinary skills, an invitation to one of his barbecues or dinner parties was a coveted event on Whidbey Island.

Gary is survived by his wife, Linda, brother, Ron Sambuceto, and son, Jason Sambuceto, of Portland, Ore.; daughter and son-in-law, Erica and Randy Porter, and their daughter, Kennedy, of Snoqualmie; daughter and son-in-law, Karissa and Byron Peterson, of Port Orchard; son and daughter-in-law, Eric and Mags Pello, and their children, Chelsea and Shannae, of Hamilton, Wash.; and father-in-law, Walter Strassenburg, of Sacramento.

A celebration of Gary’s life will be held at Christ The King Church, 180 Parker Rd., Coupeville, on Saturday, Jan. 8, at 3 p.m., with a reception immediately following.