Carlo Besio
July 21, 1929-April 11, 2016
Portola Valley, California

Carlo’s talents were many, from accomplished veterinarian to businessman to gardener and wine-maker; he lived his 86 years filled with an energetic love of learning and doing.

He was born in San Jose, CA, to Bert and Mary Besio, both of whom immigrated to the United States from Italy in the early 1900s. Carlo’s immigrant roots were a foundation and an inspiration to him throughout his life.

At a young age, he was a stable boy, then groom, and later riding instructor at the Menlo Circus Club, a place where his love of horses sparked his desire to become a veterinarian.

Knowing that he wanted to attend college, he attended Bellarmine High School on an educational scholarship. After high school, he served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, eventually working as hospital corpsman in Japan.

His years in Japan became another significant influence upon him, and his bonsai garden and later partnership as a co-founder of Happi House Restaurants (1972) shows the impact Japan had upon his life.

Carlo returned to California after his service in Japan and attended the University of California at Davis after the Korean Conflict, where he enrolled in veterinary school but just as importantly, where he met his wife of 58 years, Jane Besio, who survives him.

He and Jane moved to Portola Valley where they ran the Portola Valley Veterinary practice for 36 years, and also raised their four children, Kim Besio (Waterville, Me), Kathryn Besio (husband, Paul Berkowitz, Hilo, HI), Kristy Besio (Portola Valley, CA) and David Besio (wife, Marisa Lin, San Francisco, CA). Carlo also had three grandchildren, Kylie Harris (Ashland, WI), Dylan Bernard (Hilo, HI), and Elvie Besio (San Francisco).

Portola Valley residents remember Carlo along the soccer sidelines as well as in the veterinary office and in their barns and fields.

In the years since Carlo's retirement from his veterinary practice, he worked at Happi House but his passion became growing grapes and making wine. Carlo's love of his vineyard and wine rekindled his interest in his Italian ancestry and he traveled to Italy to study Italian where he and Jane experienced la dolce vita.

Carlo spent his final days at home in Portola Valley with immediate family.