James Douglas Bird's Obituary
James Douglas Bird known as 'Doug ' was born in Salinas California, September 17th 1930, to John and Doris Bird. He was the second of four children born to the Bird Family. Since the siblings (David Bird, Jack Bird (deceased), Doug Bird and Anne Bird Allen) were one year apart, the teachers got them all in a row year after year. They would remark, 'What, another Bird?' Doug attended schools in Salinas, one of which was a one room schoolhouse. From an early age Doug spent time stamp collecting and later became an avid and well regarded philatelist (stamp collector). When Doug was a teenager he traveled from Salinas to Philadelphia to visit his father's sister on a train by himself. This was a grand adventure and he talked of how wonderful this trip was for the rest of his life. Perhaps that is why he joined the Navy during the Korean War, to seek adventure and to travel. During his time in the Navy he served as a Communication Technician on Guam Island. Serving in the Navy sparked another lifelong interest, sailing. After serving his country Doug earned his college degree at San Jose State in accounting. Soon after graduating he married and moved to Redwood City, California where his two children were born. He worked as a food broker in San Francisco and eventually partnered up and started his own food brokerage business in San Carlos, California. Doug as an agriculturalist invested in a pistachio grove and a vineyard both being very profitable. It was during this time in his life that Doug decided to join the Coyote Point Yacht Club where he eventually became Vice Commodore. He met a group of lifetime friends there and enjoyed sailing adventures around the world. One such adventure was a rally into the Black Sea to promote sailing. He visited many countries on this trip and his picture appeared in Yachting World magazine. Doug also crossed the Atlantic twice, sailed the Mediterranean, most of the Caribbean including the Bermuda Triangle and parts of the Pacific Ocean. Doug also enjoyed abalone diving on the North Coast of California, gardening, canning pickles and apricots, reading and classical music. He collected and restored antiques and loved researching his family genealogy. In the past five years Doug would volunteer for Urban Ministry through his church helping to feed the homeless by cooking once a month. Joining him in this and many other adventures was his wife of thirty-seven years Donna Bird and his children Tim (deceased) and Karin Bird, step-children Susan and Bob Fobelli, John and Beth LaRochelle, Duffy LaRochelle. He adored his grandchildren and they adored him. Missing their Grandfather today are Ryan and Tommy Bird, Kevin and Kirsten Devlin, Rachel Fobelli and Juliette LaRochelle. He will also be missed by many nephews and nieces along with his many friends. Doug Bird was a kind and gentle man. He was generous and honest; a man who cared deeply for those around him. We all learned a great deal from him and he will be sorely missed.
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