John Bourke Healy
John Bourke Healy died peacefully at his Glen Alpine Road, Piedmont, CA home on November 22, 2017 surrounded by his wife Ann and his caregivers, at the age of 90. John was born on July 23, 1927 in San Francisco and lived in Piedmont for over 80 years.
John, with his parents Thomas Bourke Healy and Fern Wright Healy and sister Barbara Healy Ruxton first moved to Piedmont in the early 1930’s. John attended Havens Elementary School, Piedmont Junior High and graduated from Piedmont High School in 1945. While playing basketball for the Highlanders, John played on the championship PHS team and was named All-Alameda County.
After graduation from Piedmont High, John served in the U.S Naval Air V-12 program. He then attended his beloved Cal where he was a member of the Zeta Psi fraternity and became a lifetime fan of the Golden Bears.
John met Ann Biaggini Healy at the wedding of his sister Barbara to Walt Ruxton in 1953, and Ann and John recently celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary. John and his lifelong Piedmont friends Ted Birr, Jerry Magee, Bill Reinhard, Warren Park and their wives traveled the globe fishing, hunting, golfing and enjoying life.
John was a member of the Orinda Country Club and Ironwood Country Club in Palm Desert where he and Ann were regulars on the golf course. Some of his happiest times were spent fly fishing in front of his vacation home on the Truckee River. He was a world class fly fisherman, which led him to Christmas Island, Argentina, Montana, the Caribbean, Canada, and wherever the fish were biting. John was an accomplished duck and deer hunter and snow skier who cherished his trips to the mountains to ski with family and friends. A great athlete his entire life, John competed for over 10 consecutive years in the Bay to Breakers. John and Ann raised beautiful Labrador Retrievers who provided great companionship and service.
John worked for Kaiser Aluminum for over 19 years, retiring in 1971. He and Ann spent seven years in Sao Paulo, Brazil where he served as President of Kaiser Aluminum. While living in Brazil, John and Ann traveled throughout South America and hosted hunting and fishing trips for their friends in Brazil and Argentina. After their time in Brazil, John and Ann returned to Piedmont and John started HECO Locker company, and became a real estate investor.
John is survived by his loving wife Ann of Piedmont, his brother-in-law Walt Ruxton of Piedmont, sister-in-law Barbara Peterson of Lafayette, nieces Karen Barbieri (Dean) of Piedmont, Linda Taylor (Bruce) of Salinas, and Dana Rotticci of Lafayette. He is also survived by nephews John Peterson of Santa Rosa and Michael Peterson of Eugene, OR and great nieces and nephews Lauren and Ryan Barbieri and Dana Barbieri Masera, Alex, Drew, Ted and Bruce Taylor, Chris and Stuart Rotticci, Beth Rotticci Rincon, Zachary and Colleen Peterson and four great grand-nieces.
A memorial service will be held in January.
In lieu of flowers, donations in John’s memory may be made to a charity of your choice.