South Bay Miracle: Ross Abinanti Found Alive

It is the news many had hoped and prayed for, but feared would not happen, a missing South Bay man with dementia has been found alive.

Ross Abinanti was last seen in a parking garage in downtown Campbell ten days ago. He wandered off while his wife ran in to get them some ice cream.   A disabled caretaker was in the car with him, and could not get to Abinati fast enough to stop him from going after his wife.  By the time she got back to the car, which was within ten minutes, Abinanti was gone.

The Abinanti family sent out an email late Friday saying they were "thrilled to announce that Ross Abinanti was found in Saratoga around 10 p.m."  They say is in good condition, adding that he is disoriented and dehydrated. 

The San Jose Mercury News is reporting Abinanti was found in a dry creek bed behind Jake's pizzeria.  Someone recognized him and called Campbell police.  They say he was dirty and disheveled and looked like he had been living in the creek bed. 

He was reunited with his family at a nearby hospital.

Police said the family was in shock, but obviously happy.  There were many hugs and tears at the hospital emergency room.

The family will gather at "search headquarters" Saturday between 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. That is the Starbucks in downtown Campbell.  They will give a statement to the press and have also invited all  volunteers to be there as well.   They said the event is not a party, saying the family needs time alone for now. 

The email ended with "Because of every one of your efforts, Ross was found." 

They had asked everyone in the Bay Area to take time Saturday to walk around their neighborhood to look for him as if you were looking for a lost child who may be hiding out of fear.

That effort will no longer be needed.

Earlier this week, friends, former students and strangers of the Campbell man marched through downtown Campbell to keep the public's attention focused on the search.

The family also turned to Facebook and Twitter to help find him.

His family was concerned because Abinanti also did not have access to his medication since he disappeared.

A flood of volunteers turned out to help with the search.  A team of Abinanti's former students and colleagues,  racquetball club acquaintances, longtime friends and even complete strangers  have helped post fliers, operate a daily search party that works out of the Starbucks.

Kreiensieck said he was "overwhelmed" at the volunteer response. 

Here's the family statement from Friday prior to the wonderful news that Ross has been found:

This day is the toughest. He should be home by now. He should be wanting to go out to dinner or shopping at the P.W.

Today we should be doing other things. Going to a movie with friends. Eating Dinner with neighbors. Watching a baseball game. Anything.

But we still look on. We still are searching. We still are praying for Ross' return. We still are waiting.

I'm writing the recap early today, because I want you all to do the things you should be doing. For one night. Eat. Drink. Be Merry.

I have spent the day is silent meditation, thinking what more can we do.

I have called Search and Rescue, and I have called Campbell PD. And now I am calling you.

Saturday is "Go Find Ross" day.

We will not be meeting at one location.

We will be everywhere all at once.

We as many will act as one.

I am going to ask you to step outside your house and go for a walk. A walk around your neighborhood. Two Blocks in every direction. And in your walking, I am going to ask you to look. Look as if you were searching for a missing child. Look as if you are lost and where would you hide. Look where you'd think no one would go to. Because that is where Ross is. Where no one is looking. We need to look there. We need to look at the nowhere.

I ask that you go in groups. Two people should be plenty.

I ask that you carry a cell phone with you, and if you see something, or someone, that fits the description of Ross, call Campbell police or 911.

I ask you to be careful. Remember, it does Ross no good if you put yourself and your loved ones in danger.

I ask that you ask neighbors permission prior to looking at shed or alley ways or gardens. Better yet, ask your neighbors to look for you. If they say "No", say "Thank You" and move on.

If you are unable to do so, that's fine. We ask that you pray and keep your thoughts on Ross while everyone searches.
If you have a small neighborhood, or have no neighbors, we ask you go to parks and search there.

I ask that you take the low roads, not the main roads. If Ross was on a main road, he would have been found by now. Look of the beaten path. Walk the road not taken.

If you are done with your blocks, and want to do more, then to go to the Mall. East Ridge, Oak Ridge, Valley Fair, Valco. Take flyers with you and canvas the place.

If you like to go on light rail and follow the line, do so, and hand out flyers, or get off at a stop and look. And when you look, look like you are looking for a lost child.

This is what we need to do this weekend.

So don't look for me at Starbucks. I'm going to search my block.

Because everyone knows who Ross is, but no one knows where Ross is.

And by doing this. We Find Ross.

Thank you. Keep us posted. We hold you in our thoughts and prayers. We pray that you too will find peace upon Ross' return.

Thank you and God Bless,

The Abinanti Family

p.s. The next big party will be the party when Ross is home. And God, I want to party! bjk 

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