Richard "Butch" Delevati

September 6, 1938 - May 26, 2011

Richard "Butch" Delevati Born Sept. 6, 1938, Formerly of Martinez Butch grew up and lived in Martinez, CA for most of his life. However, he spent the last 20 years in the North State and passed away peacefully at home with his family in Redding, CA on the 26th of May 2011. He is survived by his wife Joan; his seven children: Paul, John, Kathleen, Joseph, Lorraine (Christopher), David (Roxanne) and Peter (Katrina); as well as nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Butch was the son of Richie and Sally Delevati, brother of Serena Upshaw Delevati and grew up in the area of Martinez known as Fairview. He attended St. Catherine's of Siena grade school and Alhambra High School. In his youth, he worked for his uncle Primo at "Delevati's Garage" in Martinez and later owned his own service station. This was followed by a stint as a County worker. Butch was later part-owner of the "Matador Lounge" in downtown Martinez and still later owned the bar and restaurant "Heritage Inn" in Walnut Creek. Eventually, he got into the firewood business and finally operated a 750-acre logging ranch outside of Oak Run, CA before retiring in Redding. Butch was a devoted family man and husband for some 56 years. His life was his family and there was nothing he would refuse to do for any of them. He had many true and loyal friends who loved him, beginning with those he grew up within Martinez. There were so many others he got to know well too through his many years in the bar business and later on at the golf course after he retired. Butch especially came to love golf in his later years and though his many physical maladies precluded him from ever being able to accomplish all that he wanted on the course, he surprised everyone with what he was able to do. There will be a rosary on Wednesday, June 8th at Connelly and Taylor 4000 Alhambra Ave at 7:00 pm followed by a funeral mass on Thursday, June 9th at 10:00 am at St. Catherine's of Siena Church. There will be a celebration of Butch's life at the Yacht Club near the wharf in downtown Martinez following the service. Memorial contributions may be made to Mercy Hospice 1544 Market St. Redding, CA 96001. Published in Contra Costa Times on June 5, 2011