Joseph Peter Naras' Obituary
Joseph P. Naras was born in Chicago, IL, on Feb. 16, 1955, to Ray and Rosemary Naras.Growing up in Chicago, Joe enjoyed all that the Windy City had to offer. He loved the lakeshore, the architecture, and the history of the city, and he especially enjoyed the city’s many nature preserves. This kindled his deep love of nature which, in turn, led him to the University of Idaho, where he graduated with a degree in Forestry.The other great love of Joe’s life was his family. Joe met his wife, Cindy Johnson, in 1989, and they were married on August 3rd, 1991. He always loved spending time with Cindy, and their two children, Joseph and Elizabeth, and was inordinately proud of all of them.Joe’s love for the outdoors was a lifelong passion that he shared with his family. He enjoyed hiking, camping, & cross country skiing. He was also a dedicated Boy Scout Leader, and spent 15 years mentoring youth.One of Joe’s favorite places to be was “Pappa’s Cabin”, the family’s cabin in the Sierra’s. Many hours were spent experiencing all that the area had to offer, with Joe sharing his knowledge and love of the natural world with his children as they grew. Summers would usually find the Naras family at Big Trees State Park, hiking, picnicking, and attending ranger programs on nature conservation, and wilderness survival. Time was also spent at the” Rec Center”, relaxing and enjoying the warm weather, with swimming, outdoor movies and bingo nights.Weather never deterred Joe from spending time in nature and the outdoors. The Fall would usually herald long road trips to see the Aspens turn, and Winters would be spent cross country skiing, sledding and snow shoeing.Joe also loved to cook, and he enjoyed barbecuing on his many grills. He had a grill for every technique, and delighted in using them to make great food for family and friends. He also enjoyed orchestrating “pizza nights”. These began with just the right homemade dough, secret sauce and an infinite number of toppings.He was a home brewer, and spent many months each year, brewing various beers to be showcased at an annual Octoberfest gathering for family and friends. He also enjoyed wine tasting with Millbrae “Peeps” – a special group of friends who also enjoy gourmet foods and wine experiences.Joe was a long time employee of the City and County of San Francisco. He spent 30 plus years dedicated to the preservation and protection of the San Francisco Watershed.Joe was preceded in death by his mother and father, and his brother, William Naras. He is survived by his wife Cindy Naras, son Joseph Naras, and daughter Elizabeth Naras; his sisters, Mary Ann Oberschmied (Joerg Oberschmied) and Christine Naras; nieces, Nicole Oberschmied (Kinjal Patel), Simone Oberschmied and Samantha Naras; his nephews, Mark Oberschmied and Michael Naras; and cousins, Theresa Zuziack and Mary (late Joseph) Bender.Joe Naras was a man of wide interests and a strong and abiding love of family and friends. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.In lieu of flowers, please make donations to: The Multiple Myeloma Foundation.
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