Richard Charles Turrone

September 17, 1936 – August 17, 2026

Richard ("Ty") is survived by his wife of 55 years, Patricia ("Tish"); his children Christina ("Hazel") Turrone, Lorilee Lucas, Gina (Jason) Becker, and Peter (Chelsea) Turrone; his grandchildren Brayden Turrone, Brooke Dobrowolski, Vincent Turrone, Tyson ("Ty") Becker, and Miles Becker; his niece Susan (Blake) Yeaman; and his great-nephews Robert and David (Nichja) Yeaman. He was predeceased by his parents, Charles ("Carl") and Marion Turrone, and his sister and brother-in-law, Virginia (Bud) Summerer.

Ty loved his family, friends, good company, the law, vineyard maintenance / wine-making, and hiking at a fast pace — or simply walking in the woods.

He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and moved to Bergenfield, New Jersey at age three. His parents, Charles and Marion (Montano) Turrone, both born in Italy, immigrated to this country as young people, and Richard was always proud of his Italian heritage.

He graduated from Jefferson Grammar School, then Bergenfield High School, where he played three years of football until an injury forced him to pursue acting instead, subsequently being voted Best Actor of his class.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Vermont in 1958 and was commissioned an Air Force Lieutenant through ROTC. He served on active duty from 1958 to 1962, training as a pilot before being reassigned to Personnel School, and spent most of his service at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico, with a TDY assignment in Turkey. He also served in the Air Force Reserves as a Captain until 1970.

He earned his Juris Doctor from UC Hastings College of the Law in 1965, graduating with numerous honors including membership in the Order of the Coif and the Thurston Honor Society. He began his legal career as a Deputy District Attorney in Ventura County, then moved into civil trial work for Long and Levit Law Firm in San Francisco before opening his own law office in San Jose. He later formed a law association with former classmates, Jack Komar and Joe Moless, then the law partnership of Turrone & Komar. In addition, he taught law for fifteen years at Lincoln University Law School, earning Outstanding Law School Professor in 1981.

He also was deeply active in his community throughout these years, volunteering at St. Christopher Church and serving with the St. Thomas More Society, the Elks Club, the Big Brother Big Sister Program, and the Santa Clara County Juvenile Law Executive Committee among others.

He became a Court Commissioner for the Santa Clara County Municipal Court in 1983, was appointed a Municipal Court Judge in 1985, and was soon elevated to the Superior Court by Governor Deukmejian. He served as Presiding Judge from 2001 to 2002 and retired from the bench in 2004.

In 2007, Ty and Tish moved to Shingle Springs, California, to continue their lives in retirement with much laughter and many adventures. It is here that he finally planted the vineyard that he had long dreamed of and studied viticulture and winemaking at UC Davis. His wines went on to earn many awards, most cherished among them being the Golden Bear Award from the California State Fair.

A private ceremony will be attended by immediate family members only; but a Celebration of Life by invitation to extended family and friends will take place at a later date yet to be determined.

Due to his devotion to the troubled youth who passed through his courtroom, any donations would be appreciated in his memory in lieu of flowers to:

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS

https://www.bbbs.org/donate/

or

CASA

https://childadvocatessv.org/casa/

https://childadvocatessv.org/casa/donate