Richard A. Cuneo
Winery Executive
SPOTLIGHT ON THE HONORARY BOARD – Richard “Dick” Cuneo
By Lloyd Crenna
Honorary Board member Richard “Dick” Cuneo was born in Martinez and raised in Concord, living at the corner of Bonifacio and Mt. Diablo Streets. He graduated from Mount Diablo High School and was a student and later a good friend of Ruth Galindo. I first met Dick when we were kids down the block from one another in about 1945. We shared a love of American Indian lore, animals and birds. Our parents were good friends and shared many social occasions and card parties together.
Dick attended Humboldt State College and obtained his Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of San Francisco. In 1980, he was appointed Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer of the Sebastiani Vineyards of Sonoma, California. In 1986 he was appointed President and later Chairman of the Board of Directors of that distinguished winery.
Cuneo has served on many Sonoma County, state and national boards, including the Sonoma Valley Public School District, Hanna Boys Center, For Those Who Care (an organization which recognizes San Francisco Bay Area volunteers), Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce, Health Plan of the Redwoods; ABAG Waste Water Management Study Committee, Sonoma County Fish and Wildlife Advisory Board, California Wildlife Foundation, National Trustee and California Legislature Chairman of Ducks Unlimited, US Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee in Washington DC, City of Sonoma Financial Advisory Board, California State Fair Board, and the Governing Board of Cal Expo.
Cuneo has received many awards in recognition of his positive contributions to society, including the Italian Government Cavalieri (Knight) Officiale, the Sovereign Order of the Knights of Malta Croce di Commendatore Dell’Ordine Al Merito Melitense and the Grace di Grand “Ufficiole Dell’Ordine” (Cross of Grand Official, one of Italy’s highest recognitions), the Cavaliere in the Royal Order of St. Maurice and Lazarus by Prince Victor Emmanuel of Savoy, the Lifetime Achievement Award by the State of California State Fair, and a Humboldt State University Distinguished Alumni. The Society is very pleased to Richard Cuneo as a member of its Honorary Board.
