Santa Rosa Recreation & Parks wishes to join with many others in our Santa Rosa community in honoring Carlo Bottini, 'The Commodore of Howarth Park.' Carlo, for whom the boathouse at Lake Ralphine in Howarth Park is named, passed away on Jan. 27, 2023 at the age of 92.

Carlo Bottini brought sailing to the inland town of Santa Rosa. On the city's relatively tiny Lake Ralphine at Howarth Park, he delivered the immense joy and taught the discipline of the sport to thousands of Santa Rosans. Bottini first started teaching sailing classes on Lake Ralphine in 1961, and for 30 summers he taught more than 10,000 students from ages 9 to 90. He held sailing regattas, twilight sailing, and the always popular 24 hour sailing race. 

Carlo leaves behind a loving family and a yacht-full of community-wide memories, many of which are beautifully expressed by those who had the honor and pleasure of knowing him on the Carlo Bottini Legacy Page.