I met Monti on the set of the ridiculous movie, Meet the Applegates, which was filming in my hometown in WI. I had been hired by the wonderful Costume Designer (Joseph Porro) and Monti was in the Art Dept. as the On Set Dresser.  I first noticed him when a large group of crew went out on our 1 night off.  Monti was dressed in a shark skin 50's type suit, zebra print pointy shoes and was totally dominating the dance floor with his unique and extroverted style.  His long hair (well, mullet really) and dangling earring only captiaved me more.  The next day, on set, we had an opportunity to chat and I asked him if he had had a chance to see much of the Appleton area what with working so much.  His response was, "No, so where would you like to take me?"  He claims that was me asking him out.

Monti was captivating, intelligent, creative, adventurous, honest, loyal and uncensored.  I had never met any one like him...and never have since...and never will again.  He was one of a kind. He opened so many doors to me in music, career, food, entertainment and just life in general.  He convinced me to move to CA...we fell in love, married, had kids and lived our lives out here in Southern CA.

Our homes in Santa Monica and then in Thousand Oaks were always full of life, laughter, music and learning.  He never objected to anything the boys and I had planned.  He loved coming home to people in the house.  He was an amazing cook and our home became the gathering place on holidays for many.  You will see in several pictures on this site, the face we called his "Turkey Face."  Every Thanksgiving after a long stint of cooking, he would present the perfect turkey, along with the boys, to the table with elated enthusiasm.  He was infectious that way.  Our table never lacked for interesting conversation, food and drink.

I will be forever grateful to him for the life he helped build for us and our children and indebted to him for all the support in homeschooling them.  He worked extra hard so that they could live the kind of life he would have loved as a child.  We raised Free Spirits...something Monti honored in people and managed to be despite all the chains he had to struggle with in his own life.   He was one of my greatest Teachers in this lifetime and I would do it all over in a heartbeat.  

Monti...I love you forever and see bits of you every day in these beautiful boys. Your passing has left an unfillable void and you are missed.  Thank you for everything.  I honor your bravery and tenacity throughout disease and heartache. Being by your side during your last days, and for your last breath was an amazing gift which has changed me forever.  See you on the Other Side.

Literally.....

I am everyone's little sister.  As the only child of my parents, Manon Levitch Rainbolt and William Ward Rainbolt, all of my siblings are between 8 & 12 years older than me and from my parents’ previous marriages.   Monti and I shared our Father.  When I was born Monti lived with his mother, Lydia Santilli, and from age 7 on, I lived with my mom, Manon Levitch Rainbolt. The result was that we had little contact until I was in High School and he was in college. 

When we did find each other for real, the connection we felt was palpable. It was instantaneous and pure joy. We just “got” each other. I used to say my DNA started to vibrate the day we met on our own terms.  Monti was my blood, my brother, my best friend and one of the most vibrant, fun, funny, frustrating, complicated, sensitive and beautiful humans I have ever had the privilege to know.  When he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer he was determined to beat it.  He fought a good fight, using his goals to motivate him till the end.  We talked about how much he looked forward to seeing his sons grow into men and being there for them.  He dreamt about being able to surf at Malibu and ski in Colorado again. He promised he would officiate when Terese and I got married.  He wanted to do so much more. At 56 he was planning his next chapter despite the fact that his body was getting weaker. When the realization finally came that he might not win the fight for his life I held his hand and we cried together.  I tried to reassure and comfort him, and he tried to reassure and comfort me. We cried some more.  In the week that followed, we shared many memories, tears and laughter. I will never forget one afternoon when he woke up from a nap and smiled at me. I asked him was he was thinking.  He was reminiscing about a particularly good day of surfing in Malibu when he looked out and saw a fin coming up out of the water but chose to keep surfing.  “I’m so glad I didn’t let that shark scare me out of the water.”  I just shook my head, smiled and said “Me too Mont.  Me too” 

I miss you.

Monti Santilli Rainbolt.  “Monti” after a favorite bottle of wine of his father’s, Santilli after his Mother’s beloved Italian family and Rainbolt, whom everyone asks, “are you Native American??” (after some research he swore it was a Viking name)  Monti was as unique as his name.

Full of creativity, intelligence and quick wit, a writer of poetry, a singer of songs, a rider of waves. He grew up at the beach in Southern CA and then later in the Bay area.  His youthful passions were the beach and the mountains…where he surfed and skied.  He even spent a year abroad in Italy skiing the Alps while in High School.   In college (Santa Cruz and then UCSD), he studied art, dance and film…landing in the Film Industry, following closely in his Emmy Award winning Television Director Father, William "Bill" Rainbolt's footsteps.  

Monti worked mostly in the Art / Prop departments as a Union member of Local 44, with an occasional gig as a Sound Man in his early days.  He was loved by those who worked with him.  They could always count on him to lighten the mood, and to call anyone out on the carpet who overstepped their bounds, be they Actor, Director or co-worker.  He was a master of tools and could fix just about anything.  In his youth his creative dress always livened up the set, and in later years his Hawaiian Shirt collection was epic.

After marrying Traci, the woman he called “the whitest girl he had ever met (and he meant that literally)” they lived in Santa Monica for many years in a wonderful apartment building full of people who became family.  It could have been the setting of a wonderfully warm and funny sitcom.  They all referred to the building as Café 1033 and there were always people in the Rainbolt home playing games and enjoying Monti’s wonderful cooking (specializing in Italian)…but they could never expect the same meal twice, as he would forget how he made it and could never duplicate most of his creations.

Monti and Traci had 2 sons, Theodore (Theo) in 1993 and Arthur in 1996.  Those boys were the light of his life.  Family was everything to him. He lost far too many of his over the years (grandparents, aunts, uncles, father, mother, cousin) …and most of them at far too young ages.  He was determined to be as involved as he could with his sons despite the fact that the film industry involved working long hours.  He was an advocate of homeschooling and free range education, and did everything in his power to make sure the boys learned from life and were allowed to follow their natural passions and interests.  He was active in their many years of Scouts, and was the entertainment on many a Scouting Outing…always bringing his guitar and arsenal of silly jokes.  He rarely missed a Sporting event, and even assisted coached a time or two over the years….be it soccer, baseball, football or rock climbing….he was there.

When they finally bought their own home in Thousand Oaks, that home too always had open doors.  It had the play room / music room and the garage band garage.  The house was always full of kids and their parents as well.  Monti’s white pickup truck became the neighborhood Surf Mobile and on the weekends it would be full of boys, boogie boards and surf boards as they headed to their favorite local beaches.

Monti was a lifelong learner.  He learned to horseback ride in his 30’s…he was a natural.  He learned to play guitar in his 40’s and was mostly self-taught.  He took to writing poetry in his 40’s and loved reading it at gatherings.  He loved to draw, paint and sculpt…following in his Mother’s (Lydia Santilli) shoes in that way.  He also loved to create jewelery and shared that passtime with the boys...he actually designed his and Traci's wedding bands. He was an amazing dancer and it was an adventure getting on the dance floor with him. Throughout his life, he never lost his passion for surfing and skiing and tried to fit them in as best he could.  He was an AMAZING rollerblader. One of his rituals with the boys was to watch NFL football, especially when the 49ers or the Packers played (he and the boys were well known down at the local sports bar on Sunday afternoons where his raucus enthusiasm never failed to make friends.)  He loved to sing (his mother loved to tell everyone that he had perfect pitch) and never missed a chance to go out and Karaoke with his beloved little sister (and talented singer) Shaynee. And he loved his little dogs, Ziggy and Lou.

Life is good.  Life is not perfect.  Monti and Traci eventually decided to separate.  They continued to be very involved in their boys lives and educations as a team and continued to celebrate life and holidays together as family.  They found their way to peace and friendship and remained married.

Monti was diagnosed with colon cancer in early 2012 and over the course of the last 2 ½ years underwent several surgeries and treatments.  He fought like hell against this disease.  It took him at far too young an age, and in fact took the family a bit by surprise with its sudden turn for the worst.  He died early in the morning on Mon. Aug. 25.  He had spent the weekend surrounded by his family (Shaynee, cousin Geoff and wife Sara, Traci, Theo & Arthur) watching his team, The 49ers play football.  Sunday night he said he did not want to be alone, so Traci slept in the bed next to him and watched over his sleep…which was peaceful.  Early in the morning, when it became apparent something was happening, Shaynee ( who was staying right down the road) rushed over and Monti crossed over with her holding his hand on one side and Traci holding the other.  It was a bittersweet moment, as his pain (which had been considerable in his last weeks) was ended…yet it was far too soon and everyone thought we had more time.  A light went out here on Earth…it was quieter…a void was felt by all who knew him.  But Heaven will be rockin’ that’s for sure.  He told Traci a few days before he died that his Mom had been visiting him...he is reunited with all of his beloved family… his loud, interesting, eclectic, bohemian family… who were waiting with open arms. 

Monti was a kind, genuine, talented, and interesting man of many hats (literally and figuratively). He loved babies of all species, humans and elephants most dearly.  He will be remembered fondly and with a smile by many and missed by all who loved him. As Monti liked to say with his wonderful Italian accent…An diamo :  Let’s Go!  He is on to the next adventure.  His bravery, tenacity and life force were lessons for us all.  He may have struggled at times, but he never, ever gave up.  Our lives are forever changed by him and we thank the Universe for the unique energy which manifested as Monti Santilli Rainbolt.

Please share your stories and memories of Monti on this site.  There will be some doosies for sure.