Anthony John (A.J.) Machi, aged 72, of Shelter Cove passed away from natural causes, peacefully amongst his family in the Redwoods of Eureka on March 7, 2022.

On July 5, 1949, A.J. was born to parents, Anthony Nunzio Machi and Mary Teresa [Demartini] Machi in San Francisco. He was raised in Shelter Cove and Redway, where he attended South Fork High School. After graduating from high school in 1967, he left the US for Europe to evade the Vietnam War draft. There he spent two years in Holland and England with a rag-tag group of American musicians working as their roadie and sound man. That was where A.J. first learned to play banjo, mandolin, and autoharp and cultivated his love for music. From England, he flew under the radar to Canada where he worked as a cook and Sous-chef in Toronto, Ontario and Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. From there he made his way east to the small town of Falkland in the interior of British Columbia at the invitation of a friend to help develop and work on their acreage. It was there that he taught himself to farm, mechanic, run heavy machinery and weld.

In 1977, A.J. met his wife, Renette [Costley] Machi at a jam session at the local general store. He and Renette had two children, Shanna Machi and Leon Machi and raised them in the farming community of Armstrong, British Columbia, Canada.

Shanna is currently living with her dog, Coco, in Santa Barbara, Ca and is working as an event producer. Leon is living in Penticton, British Columbia and is working as a carpentry contractor. He lives with his partner, Lindsay and their 3 year old daughter, Laila.

A.J. returned home to Shelter Cove from Canada in 2011 and worked for the Whitethorn Construction Company. In 2016 he retired from his job at Whitethorn and continued to pursue his love for music, especially Bluegrass. He was self taught on various string instruments and accomplished on banjo and ukulele. He had an inherent passion for fishing and spent his days beachcombing. His heritage was important to him and he was proud to share the historical stories of his home of Shelter Cove.

A.J. was predeceased by his parents, Anthony Nunzio Machi and Mary Teresa [Demartini] Machi; his paternal grandparents, Pietro Giovanni “Pop” Machi and Rosaria “Sarrida” Alioto; and his maternal grandparents, Cesare Demartini, and Luigina Demartini. He is survived by his children; Shanna Machi, Leon Machi, and his partner, Lindsay Courtice. Grandchildren; Braxton Machi [age 12] and Laila Machi [age 3]. Siblings; Michael Machi, Mary Ann Machi, and Theresa Machi. Also, his little “grandogger” Coco and countless friends throughout his life.

A.J. will be sadly missed by his family and many friends. Please join the Machi family in celebrating his light and spirit and take solace in knowing that he is at peace now, playing his banjo with angels in a “concert in the sky”.

A celebration of A.J.’s life will be held at a later date in Shelter Cove.