Gary Tindel dies; former official at coroner's office

Gary Dennis Tindel, a former Yuba County sheriff and Marin County assistant coroner, died this month at his home in Yuba City. He was 75.

Former Marin County coroner Ken Holmes called Mr. Tindel's death “a huge loss for law enforcement.”

“Gary spent 43 years in law enforcement and was widely sought for his knowledge and intelligence,” Holmes said in an email Friday. “He taught at Yuba College, Butte College and at the Law Enforcement Coroner's Training Academy in Orange County.”

“He was one of the finest men I have ever known or had the distinct pleasure of working with. He was always upbeat, fair, sincere and above all: honest,” Holmes wrote. “He will be missed but has left an indelible mark on law enforcement in California.”

Mr. Tindel was born on Oct. 24, 1947, to Marvin and Antonette Tindel in Marysville. According to his family, he grew up mostly in Linda with his sister, Carolyn, and his younger brother, John. He attended Cedar Lane Elementary School and Alicia Middle School.

A 1965 graduate of Marysville High School, Mr. Tindel attended University of California, Davis, before eventually graduating from Chico State with a degree in engineering.

In 1971, Mr. Tindel was hired by the Yuba County Sheriff's Department to work at its jail. During this time, Mr. Tindel attended Butte College Police Academy.

As he continued to move through the ranks of law enforcement, Mr. Tindel earned his master's degree in criminal justice from California State University, Sacramento, in 1980. In 1990, he was elected as the sheriff for Yuba County and served two terms.

While teaching law enforcement classes at Butte College, Mr. Tindel also was active in both the California State Sheriffs' Association and California State Coroners Association.

After his second term as sheriff, Mr. Tindel went on to work for the Marin County Coroner's Office as the assistant coroner. At the time, the office was an independent entity led by the elected coroner. In 2011, it was merged into the Marin County Sheriff's Office.

Mr. Tindel and his wife moved to Petaluma for about 10 years while he worked in Marin County. During that time, he continued to be involved with the California State Coroners Association, including a stint as its president for four years.

After retirement in 2010, he moved back to Yuba City.

“For 30-plus years, he was the community icon here,” said John Cassidy, the former chief executive officer of Sierra Central Credit Union, who said he had known Mr. Tindel since 1985. “He cooked thousands of meals for the needy. In the '86 and '97 flood, his work was unbelievable, what

he did to make sure people got back to it.”

“He was a leader of leaders. Just a class act. He mentored so many people here,” Cassidy said. “He was just one of those people that was there for somebody.”

Mr. Tindel died on Feb. 2. His survivors include his wife Irene; his son Josh; his daughters Michelle and Alicia;

his sister, Carolyn; and a large extended family.

Mrs. Tindel said faith was very important to her husband, who was a devout Catholic.

“He had a very strong faith and was devoted to his faith,” she said. “He was a strong servant to God and a strong servant to his family and community.”