Update: Remembering Tim Salinas, 1952 - 2009

January 26, 2009

Thanks to Mike La Tourette, as well as Jim and Jesse Amador for sharing the information and memories. Tim was a member of the Soprano section from 1969 to 1973, and ended his drum corps career as a lead soprano.

A note from Tim's brother John has been added below (1/28/09)

Received from Mike La Tourette 69-74:

From information posted in the San Jose Mercury News:

Tim George Salinas - A long time resident of Ukiah, Redwood Valley and Potter Valley passed away unexpectedly on January 15, 2009. Tim was born on August 13, 1952 in Cleveland, Ohio. When Tim was 10-years-old his parents moved to San Jose, California, where Tim attended Lietz Elementary, Dartmouth Jr. High and Branham High. He graduated from Santa Clara University in 1974 with a Bachelors Degree in Biology. In 1975, he married Nanette Marshall and they had their first child, Miles. In 1977, they moved to Ukiah where Tim and Nanette started Green Machine Landscaping and eventually Potter Valley TurFarms. In 1978 their daughter Carlie was born in their first home. Tim is preceded in death by his wife, Nanette, and his father, John. Tim is survived by a son Miles Peter Salinas (wife Natalia), a daughter Carlie Dawn Salinas-Tour (husband Simi), and five grandchildren (Christopher (11), Kylah (7), Kassandra (10), Joel (3) and Timo (2)). He is also survived by his mother, Carmela Salinas, brothers John Salinas (wife Kathleen) and Tom Salinas (wife Sunita), sister Lani Deimling (husband Jay), Uncle Doc Chillemi, Aunt Chinta Salinas, and numerous family throughout the U.S. and Mexico.

Tim was an avid outdoor enthusiast, enjoying kayaking, boating, skiing, fishing, hiking, camping and traveling. He also enjoyed sports as a coach for his grandchildren and as a participant and a spectator. Above all he loved his family and spent every moment he could as a dad, grandpa, brother, uncle, cousin or friend wherever we might have been.

A Celebration of Tim's Life was held on Saturday, January 24, 2009 at Potter Valley Turf Arms, Potter Valley, CA. Donations may be sent to the college funds for Tim's grandchildren (PO Box 553, Potter Valley, CA 95469).


A Short Background on Tim Salinas (courtesy Jesse Amador):

In the early days of the Santa Clara Vanguard ('67-'69) we had waves of people wanting to be part of this new organization (formerly known as the Sparks). We had the San Jose State wave (then called) , Sunnyvale High School wave, and then the Branham High School wave, which was known to the Corps as the "Branham Bunch" (remember the Brady Bunch TV show).   Gail came up with that name. Tim and John Salinas came to SCV with the "Branham Bunch", along with Mike Latourette, Paul Towne, the Bowles and Kurt Peterson. Tim was the quiet one but always was the adventurous one (remember we're talking the '60s). John was the studious one (on the straight and narrow) where Tim was the mischievous one, but everything Tim did just sort of came naturally to him. Didn't matter if it was sports, cards, or soprano - Tim could master it without much effort. With SCV Tim was a solid soprano and quickly moved up with the lead sops. Now most (at least back then) lead sops had attitude and had what I called lead soprano heads (thought a lot of themselves) - not Tim. He and Barry Turner (also lead sop) were the quiet ones with the leads, didn't get that big head lead sop syndrome.   

Tim Salinas, Barry Turner, Mike Latourette, Paul Towne, Kurt Peterson and myself were all good buds until we all aged out (or as in my case - got drafted). Later when I got married in 1974 up in Seattle Washington Tim and his wife Nan came up and he was part of our wedding party (usher). Tim was a great comrade as he was there for a good time but also around when you needed a helping hand. He was a great friend. I lost touch with Tim when I moved overseas (I was out of the USA for 20+ years). Upon my return in 2004 Tim was one of the folks I wanted to reconnect with. We never did.

Tim marched from 1968 to 1973. I will miss him.

-Jesse Amador (Albuquerque, NM)
'66-'72 SCV

A NOTE FROM JOHN SALINAS:

To my family and friends,

Losing a brother this early in life is truly difficult. However, we are here for each other to pick up the pieces and support each other down the trail. I could tell you so many stories about my brother Tim, and I will when we meet again. But as it must always be true, I feel that I didn’t spend enough time with him. We did share a wonderful summer vacation together last summer and were together for Christmas in San Jose. He could walk, run, play, do anything we could do, so that makes his passing all that harder to fathom.

I would like to begin a living memorial to my brother. He loved to work with the Earth and with his hands. He was most happy growing plants and landscaping his neighborhood. For these reasons, I would like to challenge each of us to plant a tree in Tim’s memory. If this is something you chose to do, please send me a note and I will send you a copper plaque to place near the tree.

Amazingly, the first tree was planted within hours of his memorial service on his farm. It was a beautiful flowering apricot tree. This was Saturday, January 24th. When the tree was unwrapped it was blooming with delicate pink blossoms. My wife, Kathleen, took a photo of the tree with the two shovel-holding tree planters on each side of it, in the evening photo, there is a ball of light right between them centered on the tree.

So, send me a note and I will send you a plaque to put next to a tree that you plant for my brother, Tim.

Sincerely, with warm feelings for you,

John Salinas
P.O. Box 5208
Grants Pass, OR   97527
(541) 660-5783
JohnSalinas@charter.net

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