Timothy Dell'Ara
1942 - 2023
In Loving Memory
Timothy Byrne Dell’Ara passed away in his home on February 22, 2023, the end of his six year cancer battle. He was 80 years old.
Tim was born in San Francisco to Ruth Byrne (Murphy) and Edward Charles Dell’Ara. The youngest of three boys, Tim was raised in San Francisco and San Mateo and graduated in 1960 from Hillsdale High School.
After high school, Tim enlisted in the Army. Because of his aptitude, the Army wanted to place him into computer school, but Tim had his heart set on being in the Airborne, a goal which he achieved. He was honorably discharged in August 1963 from the 101st Army Airborne.
The first in a series of reinventions, Tim pivoted from Specialist 4th Class to the music industry. After the rigidity of the Army, Tim was drawn to the counter-culture movement in San Francisco. While living in San Francisco, he became the road manager for the influential band Moby Grape. After Moby Grape disbanded, he dabbled in college and then became the road manager for the modern-rock band The Call. This work took him around the world and provided him with many thrilling and entertaining adventures.
During these years, he married his first wife, Judy, and they had two children together.
After leaving the music business, Tim reinvented himself yet again, and worked at an architectural firm as a blueprint shop manager. Having been divorced for several years, this is also where he met his second wife and partner of 35+ years, Heidi.
A shifting economy led Tim to his final reinvention, working from a salesman to District Manager for BakerCorp. His work at Baker brought him opportunity, success, and friendship over the 22 years he worked there. He retired from work in 2015.
His retirement led Tim to pursue his many interests at his leisure. An avid reader and life-long scholar of many subjects, Tim and Heidi traveled with family and friends during their time together. Tim was an enthusiast about learning and celebrating Hopi and Native American culture. Their many trips to the American Southwest delighted him, and he became an avid collector of katsina dolls, as well as other Native American artifacts. He enjoyed educating anyone who was interested about the Hopi legends and ceremonies. His collection was such that the California Academy of Sciences added his accumulations to their permanent collection shortly before his passing.
It is hard to quantify in words the person Tim was. He was an intelligent, kind and generous man. He loved a good laugh, a good drink, a cigarette, and good times. He was a hippie at heart, but also was sensitive to the plights those who serve in the armed forces and of Native Americans. He supported many charitable humanistic causes, with an emphasis on programs to educate and feed people. He loved his wife, his children, and his grandchildren deeply.
Tim is preceded in death by his parents and brother Don and Don’s wife Ann. He is survived by his wife Heidi LaGrandeur, brother Michael (Ruth), his children Jennifer (Scott) and James (Amy), stepchildren Michelle (Peter), Suzanne (Brad) and Nicole (Matthew), and eight grandchildren.
On the one-year anniversary of his death, his family and friends remember his generous nature and lively spirit. He is sorely missed.