John Campbell Tietjen

June 29, 1951 - Jan 2, 2018

John Tietjen lost his twenty-year battle with Parkinson’s Disease on January 2, 2018. John was a beloved high school teacher and counselor at Pinole Valley High for 32 years, ending his career at Hercules High where he helped set up the counseling department. He was very popular with his students, and helped hundreds of them get into college with his expert knowledge in this area.

John was a 1972 graduate of U.C. Berkeley and a thirty-year resident in Orinda. He enjoyed all sports, particularly college football and basketball, and was a devoted fan to his beloved Golden Bears. Prior to attending Cal, he was a student and basketball player at El Cerrito High School and attended Cragmont Elementary for K-5.

John is survived by his only child, daughter Elizabeth Kate, his pride and joy. John has one brother, Robert, in Studio City, as well as a good friend in his ex-wife Karen, and her husband John Kucharski. He also remained close with his dear friend and best man in his wedding, Eric Lindquist of Piedmont. The family would like to acknowledge and say thank you to John’s excellent doctors and his walking companion, Jim Walsh of Rossmoor.

Parkinson’s ravaged his body, but his spirit remained until the end. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him. There will be no memorial as was his wish. Friends may make a small donation in his name to the Michael J. Fox Foundation or have a visit to Fenton’s Creamery in Oakland, his favorite haunt.