Julio Pardini, at 88 years old, has experienced his fair share of ups and downs. He is a longtime resident of Mendocino County who has been involved with many aspects of the community over the years. However, the tragic loss that occurred due to the Redwood Complex Fire and other recent fire disasters has moved him to do his part to help the fire victims.
Nearly a year ago, Pardini began crafting wooden chests to sell and raise money for the fire victims. “I started making them just to do something; it’s a kind of therapy for me,” says Pardini, after making a comment about daytime television not being his cup of tea.
Early on, he made the decision to visit Cerro Pacific Lumber to fulfill his material needs. They have generously provided wood for him to use, free of charge. Screws and hinges are the only two components that Pardini purchases himself.
When it comes to crafting the chests, Pardini’s personal history with carpentry is where he finds the skill to produce them. “When I was 16 years old, I started my apprenticeship as a carpenter in Pocatello, Idaho,” he explains. He then spent four years as an apprentice and two additional years as a carpenter, building houses, before enlisting in the Air Force. After four years of active duty and eight years of reserve duty, Pardini traveled back to Pocatello late in the year, but found that there was not much available work for carpenters.
Singer Sewing Company was the solution to finding work and thus, traveling the southeastern counties of Idaho, knocking on doors and selling sewing machines quickly became his new life. He mentions that from this point on, he never went back to carpentry. From Singer, he transferred to Zales Jewelers and became a store manager for two of their California locations.
What brought Pardini, and his then-growing family, to Mendocino County in 1982 was a suggestion from a friend. “He told me that I should open my own store, and then told me ‘I’ve got just the place for you,’” says Pardini.
Waller Mueller, in Ukiah, wanted to retire and was selling his jewelry store. Taking his friend’s advice, Pardini moved his family and bought the store from Mueller, who passed away a few years after selling the store.
“I spent 47 years as a jeweler and 21 years running my own store in Ukiah.” Pardini retired from the jewelry business in 2001 and after spending a few years at home, he went to work at Calpella Elementary School for the next 12 years as the gardening and nutrition coordinator. It was there that he became known as “Grandpa Julio.”
Since his second retirement in 2015, Pardini has enjoyed the atmosphere of his own home with his wife. When the fires occurred, however, he went back to work in his shop, to craft the wooden chests.
So far, he’s made about 80 chests and has raised a few thousand dollars. “We need the money for recovery,” he says. “The money goes to the Redwood Empire Lions Club and they give it to local organizations that help fire victims.”
The Redwood Empire Lions Club, along with Cerro Pacific Lumber, has been a loyal supporter of Pardini’s venture. The club filled 15 chests donated by Pardini with an average of $75 worth toys and school supplies each, and handed them out to a few of the children heavily affected by the fires.
Pardini concludes, “There’s too many people to help and we need people to help. These fires were just unbelievable and I am very fortunate to have not been affected by them. So I try to help others as much as I can.”
