Cancer claims Tomei at 70

DUANE TOMEI

Anderson native and tireless community volunteer Selmo "Duane" Tomei died Wednesday, July 22, at home after a two-year battle with cancer.

He was 70.

A 1957 graduate of Anderson Union High School, Tomei started a long and colorful career of entrepeneurship and giving back to the community by helping the school purchase new band uniforms, in part by selling vodka screwdrivers on campus, remembered Johnny Hodges, a high school classmate and buddy who helped honor Tomei as "Italian of the Year" in March 2008 during Festa Italiano, an awards banquet held annually by the Sons of Italy Lodge # 2453, of which Tomei was a charter member.

Tomei also operated a chili stand that proved so popular on campus that it very nearly put the school's cafeteria out of business, Hodges also remembered.

Tomei was editor of the school's newspaper, then named "Anderson High Views," according to journalism teacher Randy French.

While growing up in Anderson, Tomei and his sister Carole could often be found helping out their parents, Sam and Maxine Tomei, at the family-owned Shop-Rite grocery stores in Anderson and Cottonwood. The Anderson store was located on North Street at the railroad tracks where the Salvation Army Thrift Store is currently housed.

Duane Tomei is best known, perhaps, for creating the annual Redding car show Kool April Nights and growing the event into what it is today.

Funeral arrangements are pending at Allen & Dahl Funeral Chapel in Redding.