Arthur J. De Luca

Art originally had ambitions to join the United States Marine Corps. However, upon arrival at the recruiting office, discovered the office to be closed. The Navy recruiter said, "Hey kid! Come in, you can wait for them here." He walked out as a Navy man.

His final assignment with the Navy left him in San Diego, California. After discharge from the Navy, he joined the San Diego Police Department. Art would go on to spend his career in public service as a patrol officer, a motorcycle officer and a watch commander in Laguna Beach, and an investigator for the Orange County District Attorney's Office. He served on a task force with the FBI and was cross-designated as a U.S. Marshall. Art ended his career as a part of a multi-jurisdictional auto theft task force. He retired in 1997.

On January 13, 1961 he married Rosemary Brash and they had two beautiful children, Diane and Art Jr.

Art met Judy in June 1980. She saw him sitting on the beach with his son and was introduced a few days later by a mutual acquaintance. They tied the knot in 1983 in Las Vegas surrounded by family and friends. In 1999 they moved to Arizona to be near their grandson, Zachary. Art loved riding his Harley, trips to Hawaii and reading spy and adventure novels with one or two little dogs sitting with him in his recliner. He and Judy enjoyed taking cruises together. Some of their destinations included the Panama Canal, Alaska, several trips to the Caribbean, the Mexican Riviera and Hawaii.

Art was diagnosed with Parkinson's shortly after he and Judy moved to Arizona. In January, he fell, suffering a pelvic fracture. He fought back from the injury but fell again recently. His body was no longer strong enough to fight off the trauma of the second fall. He passed away peacefully in his sleep on July 16, 2011, a few days short of his 73rd birthday. He leaves behind his wife, Judy, his sister, Connie Cooper, his son Art Jr., and his daughter Diane and her husband Mike Weiland, grandsons Zachary, Jordan, Tim and granddaughter Sierra, six great-grandchildren and Mitzi the Schnauzer.

There will be a Memorial Service, Tuesday, July 19, 2011 2:00 p.m. at Mariposa Gardens Cemetery Chapel 6747 E. Broadway Road, Mesa, Arizona 85206. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Arthur's memory to the Michael J. Fox Foundation or a charity of choice. Arrangements are entrusted to Mariposa Gardens Funeral Care, Mesa, Arizona. Condolences may be made at www.marioposagardens.com