John Victor Tilly

1924 - 2015

John Victor Tilly
1924-2015
Lafayette, California
John Victor Tilly passed away at home at the age of 91. John was born in Windsor, England, the only child of Clara and Gilbert. He was educated at Windsor Boys School before enlisting in the British Royal Navy in 1943. He trained as a naval officer at Liverpool Univ. and the U.S. Naval Air Training Center in Pensacola, FL. His plane during WWII was a Vought Corsair. He received his wings from the UK and the US. After the war, he graduated from the Camborne School of Mines. Subsequently, he received his undergraduate and Master's degree in Industrial Engineering from Washington Univ. in Saint Louis and his J.D. from Harvard Univ. He began practicing law in San Francisco in 1959, specializing in maritime and labor law. He started at Roos, Jennings and Haid and then formed Jennings, Gartland & Tilly (later Gartland & Tilly). His notable achievements include representing the owners of Tarantino's Restaurant in a trade name dispute, serving as counsel for the Cal. Nurses Association when the San Francisco General Hospital nurses had a sick out in 1966, and serving as the long time counsel for the Crockett C&H Sugar Workers Union. John's interests included aerobatic flying, skiing, carpentry, and military history. In retirement years he took up riding horses. He was active in the Episcopal Church and was a member of the Olympic Club for nearly 50 years. He is survived by his wife of 47 years Mary Ermadene and his two children, John and Darcie. Details for a memorial service will be available later. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Church of the Resurrection in Pleasant Hill, the Episcopal Relief Fund or the Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano.


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