Raymond Joseph De Paoli

16 March 1935 – 29 September 2015

Ray De Paoli, a prince among men, died at home 29 September of ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. He leaves his grieving wife, Penny De Paoli, nee Sutter; children Piero De Paoli and Nina Walter; as well as their spouses, Tammy De Paoli and Lance Walter. Three grand daughters, Evelyn, Lila, and Violet Walter also miss their Nonno, a favored playmate. At noon 24 October, a memorial service will be held at the Pedro Point Firehouse, 1227 Danmann Avenue, Pacifica, CA. Remembrances to the ALS Association are preferred.

Ray was born in San Francisco to Joseph De Paoli of Possagno, Italy and Rose Marotto De Paoli of North Beach. His sister, Gloria Ramos, predeceased him; sister Lorene Leon survives. He went to Balboa High School, then into the Navy, an experience he always recalled with fondness. The GI Bill prompted him to enroll at SF City College and then to graduate from U.C. Berkeley with a Bachelor of Architecture.

Many years were spent running high-rise projects for various architecture firms, with no overtime, a remarkable feat. Later with his own practice he designed projects at UCSF, Boalt Hall, Hastings College of the Law, and U.C. Berkeley. A talented do-it-yourselfer in most fields, he built several projects all by himself and restored the family’s 1897 Victorian – a huge and on going task.

His family was his true love. Everything he did was for the family. When working downtown, if he didn’t walk through the door at six pm, the family knew the Muni was down. After the kids were raised, Ray and Penny traveled widely and she finally turned him into a Giants baseball fan. Ray was a kind, gentle, strong, caring, confident man who is very missed. His acceptance of the diagnosis of ALS, only one year ago, was remarkable. Never bemoaning his fate, he remained content with what he termed his long and happy life.