Former music teacher stays busier than ever

By Roni Gehlke

Antioch's Romano Marchetti my have retired several years ago from the Antioch Unified School District, but no one would ever know it by looking at his daily schedule. During his retirement, the former music teacher, works with his own band, is president of a local nonprofit organization, is a charter member of another organization, helps friends whenever necessary, is a tour guide in San Francisco and still substitute teaches.

Marchetti takes great pride in his Italian heritage and has been an active member of the Order of Sons of Italy in Antioch for many years. This year he has taken on the role as president of the club.

"I really like what the group does and getting together with all the others involved in the group," Marchetti said.

As the name suggests the Sons of Italy is a national organization of Italians in the United States. The group is open to both men and woman, and Marchetti said that the Antioch chapter has a membership of more than 100 with a wide range of ages up to 107.

"You don't have to be Italian to be a member of this club, but you do have to like Italian food," Marchetti said.

He explained that the group raises money for several different causes, mostly ones that the state charter of the group works with such as educational programs and scholarships, cultural preservation and advancement, medical research and disaster relief funds.

Marchetti said that the group starts off every meeting with a lesson in the Italian language and ends each meeting with Italian food. It also invites people to come and speak on a variety of subjects that include everything from issues of interest to the group to preservation of the Delta.

Marchetti is also a charter member of the Antioch Kiwanis Club. He has been with the group for more than 30 years. He said he hasn't held an office in the club, but he helps out whenever it needs him.

Marchetti is a lifelong member of the Antioch community and a graduate of Antioch High School. He later went on to teach for the school district for 40 years. During his time there he taught elementary, middle and high school level music classes. He left the area only two times — once to teach for two years in Japan at an American school as a music director and another to teach for two years in Iran at another American school.

"I think every teacher should have the experience of teaching outside of America. It is a very rewarding experience," he said.

He also taught music at Saint Mary's College. Several times a month Marchetti still spends time teaching for the school district. "I help out whenever they need me. I teach whatever they need," he said.

Marchetti said that he loves socializing and meeting new people all of the time, which is part of the reason he took on the position of being a tour guide in San Francisco even though he is supposed to be retired. "I like to keep active," he says.

In 1981, Marchetti started the Romano Marchetti Orchestra. The band is still popular in the area today, offering their services to every kind of event from anniversary parties to local fundraising projects. Two members of the band are his former students.

Marchetti's other interests include playing tennis, classic cars, traveling, watching college and professional football and reading historical books and magazines.