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Obits
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Paul Robert Borghesani
Oct. 20, 1968 - Oct. 1, 2025
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Kelseyville lost a native son and hometown fixture when Paul Robert Borghesani passed away peacefully at his home on Oct. 1, 2025.
Born in Lakeport, California, on Oct. 20, 1968, Paul soon moved with his family, including elder brother, Mark, to nearby Kelseyville, where his father, Robert, owned and operated Kelseyville Lumber.
An avid outdoorsman, Robert took Mark and Paul on countless hunting and fishing trips across most of the western states, which undoubtedly led to Paul’s lifelong pursuit of outdoor recreation and nurtured a natural storytelling propensity.
According to Mark, one of his brother’s favorite tales to recount occurred during a Lake County Record-Bee team bass fishing tournament. Paul, who teamed up with his father, ended the first day of the contest in second place, behind his brother Mark and good friend, George Hill. But, on day two, Paul and his dad got the better of his sibling and friend, taking home the coveted winner’s trophy. “If there was a fish around,” said Mark, “Paul knew how to catch it.”
Besides his legendary fishing skills, Paul was also an accomplished athlete, excelling in baseball and basketball and playing both sports for Butte College near Chico, California. After college, Paul played multiple positions, including first baseman and pitcher, for the Lake County Bartletts, a local semi-pro baseball team, and he was active in city league basketball games as well, playing with his brother and favorite coaches, Mark Conrad and Stan Weiper.
Being a Borghesani, it was perhaps inevitable that Paul would work at Kelseyville Lumber, which he did, off and on. But, he also struck out on his own, moving to Sacramento, California, where he earned his real estate broker’s license and started his own real estate business, RAD Realty.
Hometown roots grew deep in Paul though, and the idyllic setting of Kelseyville eventually called him back. Upon his return, he established a new enterprise selling solar panel systems to local residences and commercial businesses. He continued to fish, of course, but also added a new hobby, wildlife photography to his repertoire, and spent untold hours on the family ranch with his dogs, Marly and Justice.
Although he was an accomplished sportsman, athlete, and entrepreneur, Paul would likely agree that being a proud father to his daughter, Madeline, eclipsed his other endeavors. His brother says Paul never tired of talking about Madeline and her successes at school and in sports. “He loved Madeline with all his heart and soul,” said Mark. “He was very proud of her.”
Paul is survived by his brother, Mark; sister, Laura Borghesani; and daughter, Madeline Borghesani.
Graveside funeral service will be held at Kelseyville Cemetery, 3375 Bell Hill Road on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 11 a.m.
Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A longtime Lake County resident, Glenn Leroy “Corky” Schmidt, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family.
Known affectionately as “Corky,” he brought laughter, warmth and kindness to everyone who knew him.
Born to George and Lenora Schmidt, on the family farm in Titonka, Iowa in 1939, Corky grew up with a strong sense of family, work ethic and humor — values that guided him throughout his life. He graduated from Lower Lake High School in 1957.
Corky was a devoted husband, a loving and extraordinary father, a doting grandfather and great-grandfather, and a supportive friend. His family was his utmost treasure, and he took immense pride in every shared moment — from simple family gatherings, family reunions, camping trips and all those years farming and hauling hay together.
Those who knew him will forever remember his work ethic, his generous heart, and the quiet kindness he brought to every occasion.
Corky is survived by his wife of 63 years, Sharon Schmidt; children, Daryl Schmidt (Debbie Williams-Schmidt) of Cloverdale, Dennis Schmidt (Sheryl Schmidt) of Kendrick, Idaho, Dana Friel (John Friel) of Tonopah, Nevada, Darcie Jordan (Nick Jordan) of Lower Lake; 10 grandchildren, Kyle Schmidt (Victoria Schmidt), Austin Schmidt, Lindsay Schmidt, Lacey Melton (Dakota Melton), Alli Friel (Erik Pincus), Connor Friel, Delaney Friel, Charlotte Jordan, Hesston Jordan, Ellie Jordan; and great-grandson, Dean Schmidt.
He is also survived by his one remaining sibling, Emmagene Silber of Buffalo Center, Iowa; one remaining sister-in-law, Diane Schmidt of Blaine, Minnesota, as well as many, many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Corky was predeceased by his two older sisters and five older brothers.
Funeral service will be held at Galilee Lutheran Church, 8860 Soda Bay Road in Kelseyville on Friday, Oct. 24, at 10 a.m., followed by interment at Lower Lake Cemetery and a celebration of Corky’s life at the Brick Hall, 16374 Main St., Lower Lake. Friends and family are invited to gather in remembrance of a man who gave so much love, laughter and light to the world.
Donations may be made in Corky’s honor to Galilee Lutheran Church and the Lower Lake Community Action Group Scholarship Fund.
Though he may no longer be with us, Corky’s warmth, work ethic and devotion will live on in the hearts of those who loved him.
Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit chapelofthelakes.com.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Gonzalo Rico Ruiz, our beloved patriarch whose life was a testament to resilience, tireless work and profound love for his family and the earth, passed away peacefully on Sept. 27, 2025, in Kelseyville, California, surrounded by his loving family. He was just 11 days shy of his 98th birthday.
Gonzalo was born on Oct. 8, 1927, to Florentino Rico Mendoza and Nicolasa Ruiz Rodrigues in La Rinconada, Michoacán.
Gonzalo grew up during a time when the echoes of the Mexican Revolution and the devastating Cristero War were still felt, and when the old systems of Hacendados (wealthy landowners) exploiting peasant and indigenous labor still persisted. As a young boy, Gonzalo and his father worked for one such Hacendado at the Hacienda de Irapeo, caring for sheep and learning the hard lessons of the land.
This lack of opportunity meant he never learned to read or write, yet these barriers never once stopped him from accomplishing all he did in his life. At the heart of his enduring life was his beloved wife, Maria de Jesus Hernandez Cazarez (“Chucha”), with whom he shared an extraordinary and unbreakable bond for 78 years.
In the early 1950s, Gonzalo sought a better future and came to the United States through the Bracero Program. He faced immense challenges being separated from his family and being so far from home, spending days toiling in the fields of the Imperial Valley, Indio, Southern California, and Salinas, harvesting cotton, lettuce, tomatoes and other crops. He endured the exploitation common to the program, spending countless hours using the now-banned, agonizing short-handled hoe.
His great triumph came in 1960. Through Mexico's land redistribution program (ejidos), Gonzalo became an ejidatario (landowner) in Pino Real, Michoacán. He moved his family there and built their home, spending the best years of his life in this quiet mountain village. It was here that he truly flourished, nurturing the land he fought for and raising his large family.
Gonzalo was a masterful farmer, cultivating maize, beans, garbanzos, wheat, squash, onions and avocados. He also harvested sap from the pine trees on his land to sell for use in cleaning, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic and other products. As a devoted beekeeper, he managed colonies that produced the most delicious honey.
Together with his wife, “Chuchita”, they owned and worked the village molino (mill), where every day in the early pre-dawn hours, the women of the village would bring their nixtamal to be turned into masa for their tortillas.
Despite his lack of formal schooling, Gonzalo was a passionate environmentalist and a dedicated civic leader. Serving as the Ejido Commissariat, he fiercely advocated and fought to minimize environmental impacts in Pino Real. He courageously resisted logging projects and the deforestation of his mountain village, driven by a profound desire to conserve the land, trees, and water for generations to come.
Gonzalo was a man of firm convictions and deep emotional reserves. He was known for his stubborn will and a loud, thunderous voice that commanded respect and attention. Growing up in a demanding era where emotions were rarely expressed with words like "I love you," his affection was instead demonstrated through tireless actions and unwavering provision.
Every ear of corn he grew, every bag of masa he milled, and his land conservation efforts were all a tangible expression of his profound commitment to his family. His hard work was his devotion.
Gonzalo was preceded in death by his cherished wife, Maria de Jesus, and his son, Gonzalo.
His legacy of strength, devotion and hard work lives on through his nine surviving children: Jeronimo, Cruz, Carmelo, Guadalupe, Maria, Martin, Amalia, Rosa Maria and Mario.
He was the proud grandfather to 33 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Gonzalo Rico Ruiz will be returned to his final resting place next to his wife, Maria de Jesus, in the earth he loved and protected in Pino Real, Michoacán.
His life story is not just a family history; it is a powerful piece of Mexican and American history, a testament to what one man can achieve through sheer will and an unshakeable dedication to his family.