Robert Stephen Pastorino, a stalwart of San Francisco’s Italian Community and former United States Ambassador, died of natural causes this past Thursday, June 6th.
Born on March 16, 1940 and raised in San Francisco, Pastorino graduated from San Francisco Polytechnic High School and San Francisco State University.
Pastorino was a career Foreign Service Officer who joined the Department of State in 1966. His early overseas assignments included political, economic, and commercial positions in Embassies in Caracas, Bogota, and Lisbon and in the United States Consulate General in Hermosillo, Mexico.
Ambassador Robert Stephen Pastorino, 1940 – 2013
Ambassador Robert Stephen Pastorino, 1940 – 2013
He was assigned to Mexico City as economic counselor in 1984, and as political counselor in 1985. He served as Charge d’Affaires in Tegucigalpa, Honduras between July and November 1986 and as deputy chief of mission until May 1987. Pastorino was then appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Inter-American Affairs, and also served as a commodities negotiator and financial analyst at the Department of State.
In 1988 Pastorino was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to serve as Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, as Senior Director of Latin American Affairs on the National Security Council staff.
While Deputy Chief of Mission at the American Embassy in Mexico City in 1989, Pastorino assisted in developing the first conceptual paper for the future North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). He participated in the beginning of the NAFTA negotiations, and was a public government advocate for NAFTA.
In 1991, Pastorino was named Ambassador to Dominican Republic by President George H. W. Bush. He received multiple honors including the Department of State Superior Award for Assistance during the 1985 Mexico City Earthquake.
After his retirement, he finally had the time to pursue his more personal interests. He was an unrivaled sports fan, he cheered the San Francisco Giants, the San Francisco 49ers, the Golden State Warriors, and the Cal Bears with equal enthusiasm. He was incredibly devoted to his family, with whom he shared his love of all things Italian, books, sports, world affairs, wine and travel. When “America’s Oldest Italian Restaurant,” the Fior d’Italia reopened earlier this year, Pastorino was there, working the crowd, telling stories of the old days, and enthusiastically sharing ideas for future projects.
Always wishing to support the Italian Community, Ambassador Pastorino was a frequent contributor to L’ItaloAmericano throughout the years.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Frances Estepa Pastorino, three children and nine grandchildren. His funeral service, entrusted to Valente, Marini, Perata and Company Funeral Directors, was held on Wednesday, June 12th at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco. He will be laid to rest at the Italian Cemetery in Colma.
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