Former Stockton Mayor Gary Podesto dies at 81

Angelaydet Rocha, The Record
·3 min read

Former mayor of Stockton Gary Allen Podesto died June 29, in his home near Bozeman, Montana. He was 81 years old, his son Chris Podesto said.

“He's an amazing father. He was definitely one of my best friends. He was always there for advice. He was a great mentor,” Chris said. “He always represented honesty, honor, integrity, and to be authentic to who you are. And I think he taught me those values.”

Podesto, whose health worsened in the last year, died from heart and kidney failure, Chris said.

Podesto served as the 75th mayor of Stockton from 1997 through 2005. He served for two terms and has been the only mayor to do so since voters got a say in who was mayor.

“What he intend to do as mayor was authentic and he did things that he thought were the right things to do,” Chris said.

Mayor Gary Podesto at a meeting in the City Council Chambers on Nov. 30, 2004.
Mayor Gary Podesto at a meeting in the City Council Chambers on Nov. 30, 2004.

Gary Giovanetti who served as a councilman for the city of Stockton during the time Podesto was mayor not only had the opportunity to work alongside the city leader but also became friends with him.

“Gary had extremely high integrity. It was all about what was good for the city. And what was good for the city was the first thing on his mind," said Giovanetti, who currently serves on the board of directors chair for the San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD). "He was responsible for putting together the Weber point Events Center, along with some outside consultants. We had the opening fireworks display with the Beach Boys."

Giovanetti said he and his wife Joyce visited the Podesto family in Montana in 2021. His health was already declining, he said.

Giovanetti, who knew Podesto for about 24 years, remembers his friend as “intelligent and hardworking.”

“I truly got to know Gary when I was on the council. He was probably one of the smartest people that I've ever met,” Giovanetti said. “He was so dedicated to the office of mayor that he did not even travel on his 40th wedding anniversary, because he didn't want to be out of town in case something came up.”

Stockton Mayor Gary Podesto and his wife Janice shakes hands with neighborhood children at the National Night Out event held at Columbus Park in Stockton on Aug. 5, 2003.
Stockton Mayor Gary Podesto and his wife Janice shakes hands with neighborhood children at the National Night Out event held at Columbus Park in Stockton on Aug. 5, 2003.

Douglass Wilhoit Jr., Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce CEO, knew Podesto for about 64 years. He said Podesto was “honest, friendly and dedicated.”

“He's one of those people in my life that I admired, and was very proud to call a friend for all these years,”  Wilhoit said.

As the CEO, Wilhoit said he worked along Podesto on projects such as the Stockton Ballpark and the Stockton Arena. He reflected back on the arena's opening.

"I was on the stage with Gary and watching the pride he had in accomplishing something that no one ever (had) done before. And my wife often says that is because of Gary Podesto that we have the arena and the ballpark. Had not been for Gary and his determination and his courage we will never have that here,” Wilhoit said.

Podesto was also an athlete. He played Little League baseball and was a running back on the historic St. Mary's High School football team. Podesto and high school sweetheart Janice met on their first day of school their freshman year.

Stockton mayor Gary Podesto and wife Janice are greeted by well-wishers at the Republican campaign party held at the Radisson Hotel in Stockton on Nov. 1, 2004.
Stockton mayor Gary Podesto and wife Janice are greeted by well-wishers at the Republican campaign party held at the Radisson Hotel in Stockton on Nov. 1, 2004.

“They fell in love their first day of school and have been together since,” Chris said.

The couple had been married for over 60 years.

After graduating from Santa Clara University, he managed his father's Don Quick grocery store in Tracy. In the 1980s he opened his own Food 4 Less chains, which he sold once he declared his candidacy for Stockton mayor.

According to a Stockton Record clip, Podesto spent a record $206,000 on the campaign and won more than two of every three votes cast.

His son Chris now oversees more than 25 Food 4 Less and Rancho San Miguel stores across California.

Stockton Mayor Gary Podesto, right, introduces President George W. Bush during the California Welcome event held at the Stockton Civic Memorial Auditorium in downtown Stockton on Aug. 23, 2002.
Stockton Mayor Gary Podesto, right, introduces President George W. Bush during the California Welcome event held at the Stockton Civic Memorial Auditorium in downtown Stockton on Aug. 23, 2002.

Podesto is survived by his wife Janice Podesto, son Chris, son Brent, daughter Kelly, five grandchildren and one great grandchild.

The Podesto family will be having a private ceremony, Chris said.

Record reporter Angelaydet Rocha covers community news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at arocha@recordnet.com or on Twitter @AngelaydetRocha. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Former Stockton Mayor Gary Podesto dies at 81