Richard Joseph Tantardini

Richard was born in San Bernardino, California, the youngest child of Henry and Frances Tantardino. He grew up in Colton, California and graduated from Colton High School, class of 1963. He was known by classmates as Dick or Dickie. Somewhere along the way, Richard heard a story from his dad that the original family name ended with an ”I” not an “O”, and that an error was made when his grandpa immigrated from Italy. From that day forward Richard signed his name Tantardini, and many years later completed a legal name change.

As a young man Richard began working for the Douglas Aircraft Company and stayed there as it became McDonald Douglas and eventually Boeing Aircraft. He retired after serving an amazing 45 years as an installer/fabricator and was especially proud of being part of the C-17 team.

Richard was married three times. He and his first wife, Marsha, had two daughters, Merisa and Kimberleigh. He and his second wife, Janice, had five children together, Rick, Brandie, Gillian, Georgehenry, and Joseph. Eventually these children brought eight beloved grandchildren into Richard’s life, Nik, Daykota, Gabriylla, Jaycee, Dayton, Shelby, Cam and Niko.

Richard shared his lifelong love of hotrods and sports with all his children and grandchildren and spent many years participating in sporting events and car shows with all of them.

In 2010 Richard married his third wife, Debi, and immediately welcomed her daughter, Jennifer, and her children, Blake and Amara, into his life and eventually three great grandchildren, Luke, Lyla, and Lincoln. Richard was also a loving uncle to his niece, Sherry Jackson, and played a special part in the lives of her children, Derek, Marc and Erin, and granddaughter Alanah. Richard never differentiated between children, stepchildren, grandchildren, step-grandchildren, nieces and nephews and delighted in being called “Pops” and “Papa” by one and all.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Frances Tantardino, his sister Alma Cota, his brother Gabriel, his sister Mila and his beloved daughter, Merisa. He is survived by his loving sister, Ilean {Blondie} DiBella, his wife, Debi, his children, Kimberleigh Tantardini, Rick Tantardini, Brandie Tantardini, Gillian Martinez, Georgehenry Tantardini, Joseph Tantardini and his grandchildren, Nik, Daykota, Gabriylla, Jaycee, Dayton, Shelby, Cam and Niko.

Richard blessed all of our lives and those of our extended family and friends, He will be greatly missed by all who were lucky enough to have known him.

Arrangements in the care of Westminster Memorial Park Mortuary (714) 893-2421.