John F. Reginato, June 25, 1918 - July 28, 2007

Tacoma, Wash. — John F. Reginato died at a hospice here on Saturday, July 28, 2007 in the company of his family. He was 89.

John was born near the banks of the Sacramento River in the town of Delta in 1918 to Louis Reginato and Marria Bernardi, immigrants from northern Italy. He graduated from Dunsmuir High School in 1935 and attended Modesto Junior College for two years. John worked briefly as a reporter for the Dunsmuir News for $18 a week and set his sights on a career in journalism. He enrolled at the University of Missouri School of Journalism and was a starting offensive guard for the Tigers' 1941 and 1942 teams that played in the Sugar Bowl. Before he could graduate John was drafted into the Air Transport Command. During his three years in the Air Force, John arranged entertainment for the troops that included tours for comedians Jack Benny and Bob Hope and served as a physical training instructor. He also played inter-service football, touring the southern states with the ATC Rockets and Rosecrans Fliers.

Following his military service John returned to complete his journalism degree at the University of Missouri, continued his intercollegiate football career and was a member of the Alpha Delta Sigma National Advertising Fraternity. He graduated in 1947 and signed a contract to play professional football with the San Francisco 49ers, though he never played a game because of a career-ending injury. John went to work for a sports advertising agency and later handled promotion and publicity for the San Francisco Sports & Boat Show. In 1949 he turned down a chance to direct the prestigious Chicago Boat Show and accepted the general manager's position with the fledgling Shasta-Cascade Wonderland Association in Redding. "I guess I would have rather eaten beans in Redding than caviar in Chicago," he would later say.

As general manager of Shasta-Cascade for 41 years he promoted all phases of outdoors and regional tourism for the eight-county northern California area and inspired millions to go fishing, boating, hunting, camping and traveling. His white beard gave him a Hemingway-like appearance and his knowledge about outdoor tourism was riveting, gaining the confidence of major newspaper and magazine writers. Through his untiring efforts, never before had the North State gained so much credibility and public exposure throughout the U.S. and abroad.

Reginato became known as "the father of houseboating" at Shasta and Trinity lakes, and his vision helped develop the concept of "rails to trails," starting with the 25-mile Biz Johnson Trail near Susanville. He pioneered boating and fishing access for the public, developing 20 new boat ramps, including sites along the Sacramento River in Redding and at Lake Shasta.

John also was credited with helping establish the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area and the Sacramento River Trail. "You can't put a price on what he did for the community," said Don Gallino, a Redding community leader. "He was a true North State legend."

Reginato's public service was without equal. He served four years as national vice-president of the Red Cross, eight years on the state Harbors and Watercraft Commission, 10 years on the federal Bureau of Land Management advisory board. He truly cared about the outdoors and people, was unselfish and worked for modest wages. Reginato would often say, in his self-effacing manner, "You know, in the end, all that you have is your name." His dedicated service didn't go unnoticed, however. Reginato was inducted into the California Outdoors Hall of Fame in 2004 and the California Tourism Hall of Fame in 1988 with such notables as Bob Hope, Roy Rogers, Clint Eastwood, Shirley Temple Black, Robert Mondavi and Wolfgang Puck.

He was a founding member of the Outdoor Writers Association of California, serving  as its first secretary, and received a special award for promoting tourism from Gov. George Deukmejian. Steve Gaines, past president of Shasta-Cascade Wonderland Association said, "John was a mentor to me and awe-inspiring person when it came to outdoor recreation. He meant so much to the economic development of the region. He was ahead of his time."

Reginato was most comfortable roaming the outdoors, discovering trails and historic sites, bird hunting with his long line of Brittany spaniels and waxing about his beloved Shasta-Cascade region. He was an avid hunter, fisher and boater and an award-winning photographer, whose knowledge was unparalleled

In 2006 John and his wife, Elizabeth, left their longtime home in Redding's Parkview neighborhood and moved to Washington to be closer to their son. Before he left he donated a lifetime collection of photographs, slides and memorabilia to the Shasta County Historical Society. He was a member of many civic organizations including the Elks Club and St. Joseph's Catholic Church, where he often would serve as a lay reader. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Elizabeth Reginato of Gig Harbor, Wash., and their children, John Reginato (and wife Judy) of Gig Harbor, Wash., and Patricia Schmidtmann (and husband Ed) of Thermopolis, Wyo., and three grandchildren, Nicole Reginato, Kurt Schmidtmann and Kate Schmidtmann.

His family invites their friends to St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Redding for Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m., Friday, Aug. 17, 2007, followed by committal at noon to Veteran's Memorial Cemetary in Igo. A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. at Best Western Hilltop Inn in Redding. Memorial contributions may be made in John Reginato's name to: Mercy Hospice, 1544 Market St., Redding, CA 96001.

—Peter Ottesen