WELCOME TO THE OFFICIAL BLOG for La Pétanque Marinière in San Rafael, California. LPM has been an active Marin pétanque club since 1972 and affiliated with the Fédération of Pétanque USA, since 1975. We welcome people of all abilities, ages and nationalities to come and enjoy pétanque with us.

The Pierre Joske Courts are located on Civic Center drive in San Rafael. (click for directions). Casual games are played every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from about 1 pm. Tournament play is usually held on the second Sunday of every month.

Please consult the links on the sidebar to the right for more information on clubs in the bay area, nationally and world wide.

If you would like to play but haven't any boules, please contact our President, Christine Cragg. They can bring some for you to use, as well as introduce you to the basic skills and techniques of pétanque. In addition, if you are looking to purchase boules but are unsure as to which size and weight are right for you, we have a range of different examples from which to choose.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Tino Lofaro

Tino & Antoine Lofaro

Barely a day has passed since La Pétanque Marinière said goodbye to one of it's beloved members when news arrived this morning of the passing of yet another.
Tino Lofaro passed away in his sleep last night. As of this moment we have no details.
LPM would like to extend it's most heart-felt condolences to his brother Antoine, sister-in-law Eva and the rest of his family.

Rest in Peace Tino, my friend. Not only a new and valued friend of mine these past two years, but the teacher of so many things finesse in Petanque to this novice player. Your smile, and wit, will forever be with me. Mike Menafee

Thank you for thinking about my brother Tino and thank you to everyone who called me and thanks for your support in this difficult and terrible moment. Antonio Lofaro

Adieu sweet Tino - always kind hearted and truthful - we will always remember you in our hearts! Hans, Bridget, Maxi & Wolfie Kurz

"We are devastated to learn of Tino,s passing through facebook. We are in France until the 16th. Please send our condolences to the Lofaro family" Louis and Jan Toulon

"So one night we were having a lovely dinner at Antonia's house, with plenty of wine to drink. Tino was there...he was always fun , and sweet...I offered to divorce Hans and marry Tino, so he could get a certain card...he laughed so hard, it was great. I kinda wished he would have taken me up on my offer...!! "The all time Best Shooter, I ever met, hands down!"
Bridget Root Kurz

"My sincerest sympathies to Tino's family." Diana Jacobs

"I'll miss his smile and kindness. I made a career of losing to Tino over, it seems, the last ten years. Some times by a lot,sometimes by a few. The few times I slipped by him were the times Tino was having a "bad day" for Tino. He didn't miss many shots.When called upon to point you could count on him. He always gave me advice and strategy. He made the Willits Club better with his suggestions on strategy and technique. We didn't play together that often, but, in the pick up games, Wednesday's in Sonoma, or, the few mele's we hooked up, I always felt invincible with the Great Tino on my side. Go Tino! There's a Big Petanque Game waiting you in the Sky. You'll be the New Kid again, stepping into the circle with some of the Greatest Old Masters of the Game. Go Tino! We'll miss you."
"Condolences to Tino's friends and family from the Willits Boules Club. Tino was one of the True Gentlemen of The Sport of Petanque here on the West Coast. You could always expect a smile and a handshake first thing when you saw him in the morning, and fair play and great competition when you met him in play. Play on Tino. Play on." Eldon Moilanen

"My condolences to Tino's family and friends." William Widmaier

"I lost my semi final at the US national triplette 2010 against his team and I was waiting for the weather to get better and practice some more to have a rematch (Gilles and Barbara you are not off the hook yet, lol). Tino, I learned some petanque moves from you and I am becoming a better player because of that, my familyand I will greatly miss you on the pistes. My sincere sympathies to your family." Tho Po Yang

I just went on your Club Web site and found lots of Images of Tino there.
So sorry to hear of him passing.
He was quite the Character with his play of Petanque along with his personality.
Send my best to his Friends and Family. Mary Campbell Mann

Was shocked to learn of Tino's passing. He was a great guy and a great player. He always said he wanted to play on a team with me sometime but we never got to. I even thought of us asking him if he wanted to go to Portland with us as a shooter. He enjoyed life and petanque so much, and thought he would be with us for a long time.
So very sorry to hear the news. Sara Davis

Tino was one of my heros. A sweet and gentle person, you were, may you rest in peace.
Alec Stone Sweet

Tu étais mon ami tu étais comme mon frère, tu me manques depuis que t es parti de villefranche. Jamais je ne t oublierai. Michel Veziano

4 comments:

Mike Menefee said...

Rest in Peace Tino, my friend. Not only a new and valued friend of mine these past two years, but the teacher of so many things finesse in Petanque to this novice player. Your smile, and wit, will forever be with me.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for thinking about my brother Tino and thank you to everyone who called me and thanks for your support in this difficult and terrible moment.
Antonio Lofaro.

Anonymous said...

Adieu sweet Tino - always kind hearted and truthful - we will always remember you in our hearts! Hans, Bridget, Maxi & Wolfie Kurz

Unknown said...

Tino was one of my heros. A sweet and gentle person, you were, may you rest in peace.

Alec Stone Sweet