David Dominic De Lucchi, Jr.
May 28, 1970 – January 10, 2021
Family and friends are mourning the sudden, unexpected passing of David Dominic De Lucchi, Jr. on January 10, 2021. Dave was the beloved and devoted husband of his high school sweetheart, Denise and adoring and extremely proud father of his son and “namesake” in every way, David Dominic III (Taylor Gidal) and his “one-and-only” daughter, Marina Rae. He was the cherished firstborn son of Dave Sr. and Kathy De Lucchi and admired older brother and esteemed mentor of Michael and Steven De Lucchi. Dave was the respected brother-in-law of Gina De Lucchi, Heather De Lucchi, Michelle Marinelli-Benson (David) and Joe Marinelli (Joanie). He was the adored uncle of Nicholas and Matthew De Lucchi; Steven Jr. and Lauren De Lucchi; Gaaret and Jorden Marinelli; Robby and Perry Persijn and the dear nephew of Gerry De Lucchi (Barbara Freitas), Janet Winderl (Martin), and Jim and Pat Haggerty. Dave was also the treasured Godfather of Shelby Smith, Gaaret Marinelli, Nicholas De Lucchi, Alex Casella, Emily Haggerty and Steven De Lucchi, Jr. Also grieving the loss of Dave are his loving uncles, aunts, and cousins along with countless - many lifelong - friends and his loyal companion, yellow lab, Gunner. Dave was predeceased by his grandparents, Albert & Rose De Lucchi and Robert & Teresa Lumsden, mother-in-law and father-in-law, Karen & Raymond Marinelli and aunts Elizabeth Lumsden and Barbara Conley.
Dave was born in San Francisco on May 28, 1970 and spent most of his childhood and early adult years in Millbrae, where Dave and Kathy raised their family. As an avid duck hunter, Dave enjoyed a lifetime of hunting seasons at the family “Duck Club,” along with summers and school holidays at his Nonna’s home in Calistoga. While Dave was growing up, the De Lucchi family appreciated their strong connection with St. Dunstan Catholic Church and the Millbrae community. Dave attended Green Hills Elementary School, Taylor Middle School and Mills High School. During sophomore year at Mills, Dave met his high school sweetheart and forever love of his life, Denise Marinelli. Throughout his school years Dave participated in sports, playing football, and spending endless hours working out at the gym. Dave was also very civic minded and volunteered his service for the Millbrae Police Department with the Explorer program, donning full police uniform and riding along with officers learning and performing police duties.
Dave was a fiercely loyal family man. Throughout the 35 years since first meeting, Dave and Denise matured, loved, created, experienced, and dreamed. They would often reminisce or discuss plans for the future while venturing on long drives, meandering through new areas, or driving down a well-known road. Dave’s love for Denise appeared destined from their first meeting; it was undeniable, indestructible, and everlasting. Dave and Denise were married in 1994 and soon thereafter moved from the Bay Area to Rocklin. Their family, along with Dave’s love and dreams, expanded further when they welcomed their son Dominic in 1998, followed by daughter Marina Rae in 2001.
For Dave, family was EVERYTHING. His Italian heritage was the cornerstone for his strong convictions and powerful American pride. He understood the importance and revered the magnitude of the meaning of family. He was always in one of his happiest places during long bountiful dinners, with all the family around one table. For Dave, family dinners fortified the strong family bond. Dave undertook the significance of his role in the family seriously and embodied the sincerity of his convictions through his words, actions and deeds as Denise’s husband, Dominic and Marina’s father, Dave and Kathy’s son and Michael and Steven’s brother. Being Dominic and Marina’s “DAD” was an ultimate honor and a station in life Dave accepted proudly and wholeheartedly. From the moment they were born, Dave encouraged Dom and Marina to have a strong sense of self, inspired steadfast morals, instilled the importance of financial responsibility, and maintained and promoted family traditions. While Dave was Dom and Marina’s Dad first and foremost, he was also their mentor, their guide, their teacher, their friend, their confidante, their protector, and above all he loved them, and his wife Denise, unconditionally.
Dave and Denise enjoyed raising their kids in Rocklin, where they met countless friends and where Dom and Marina attended Cobblestone Elementary, Granite Oaks Middle School and Rocklin High School. Dave was always actively involved with Dom and Marina’s sports teams and school events. He could often be found coaching or practicing baseball with Dom or softball with Marina and rarely, if ever, missed a game or supporting event whether near or far, including travel across California or other parts of the United States. Family vacations included many fun-filled trips to Disneyland, Santa Cruz, Hawaii, Lake Tahoe, a cruise to Alaska and last February, Dave and Denise stamped their passports for the first time with a trip to Australia. Family adventures frequently included multiple families vacationing together, visits to family living outside of California, or an exciting De Lucchi road trip.
Dave’s lifelong passion, which was instilled, nurtured, and carried on through generations of his family, was duck hunting and all things waterfowl. His grandfather started the duck hunting tradition which was carried on by his Dad, uncle and great-uncles, brothers, and cousins, along to his own children. The “Duck Club” is the universal name for the land, flyways, duck blinds and family houses, located at the base of the Sutter Buttes in the Butte Sink, also known as “Tule Patch,” and “Uncle Fred’s.” Bringing Dom and Marina to the Duck Club and teaching them from the earliest ages about duck hunting, including how to call and hunt ducks, proper gun safety, and conservation, was not just what Dave did - it is who he was in his soul. With any mention of the “Duck Club,” Dave’s face would beam the well-known smile of his that could light up any room. Everything from spending time as a family at the Duck Club, to discovering a unique bird tag from a recent hunt, to Dom’s exceptional bird calling, or when Marina won a lifetime duck hunting license were absolute thrills for Dave. Having his yellow-lab Gunner Ray De Lucchi De Quacker by his side in the blind, intensely watching and waiting to retrieve birds, added to the fun and excitement.
In addition to duck hunting, Dave had a strong fondness for cars, especially Chevys and muscle cars. Over the years he ventured to Hot August Nights in Reno many times to check out the wide variety of cars on display. Along with his Dad and brothers, he admired their family car collection and often could be found in the family “shop” repairing one of their trucks, rebuilding their two-tone ’55 Chevy, working on his green ’68 El Camino or simply digging the sound of the revving engines. Dave always enjoyed driving the kids around town or to school dances in one of those classic cars.
Following graduation from Mills High School, Class of ’88, Dave utilized his knowledge and developed his skills training with Volvo in the early years of his career. Dave established a successful twenty-year career with Union Pacific Railroad in Roseville and excelled in his position as Senior Manager. Dave was a natural leader who truly led by example. Colleagues at UP regarded Dave with high esteem for his leadership. He duly earned the respect and trust of those who worked with him in Roseville and across all levels of the UP establishment from California to the corporate headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska through his demeaner, diligence, fair-mindedness, knowledge, and hard work. One of the most exciting and memorable experiences with UP that Dave talked about often was being part of a team deployed on a locomotive fitted with Union Pacific’s legendary rotary snowplow. The mission was to remove massive snowfall and clear the tracks for trains travelling over the summit of Donner Pass. For several days, Dave and his team worked high up in the Sierra Nevada mountains ensuring safe passage for trains traveling to California. He loved the challenge of that adventure and was amazed by the 100-year-old technology and capability of the locomotive teamed with the massive blades of the snowplow that together moved mountains of snow.
Dave will always remain larger than life in the memories of his family and friends. We will forever think of him entering a room with his shoulders strong and proud and perpetual broad smile on his face. Following De Lucchi family tradition, you can honor Dave through a toast with a quality Manhattan, glass of a nice red wine or cold beer.
Wings of Grace
If it seems that I am far away on this
Empty and solemn day
Just open your heart and know it’s true
That I am still right here with you.
If during the day things are going wrong
Please don’t feel sad and alone
Just open your heart and know it’s true
That I am still right here with you.
When night-time falls and the day is done
If you are feeling alone and sleep won’t come
Just open your heart and know it’s true
That I am still right here with you.
Close your eyes, and feel the warm embrace
Sleep peacefully in the wings of grace
If sadness finds you in the morning light
If you feel alone, don’t give up trying
Hold this feather close and know it’s true
That I am always here with you.
By, Julie Johnson
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