Albert CARRION

CARRION, Albert At the age of 85, Albert "Big AL" Carrion made his final flight from this earth on a gorgeous Super Bowl Sunday. Al was born and raised in Albany, California. He and his older sister, Isabelle, grew up working alongside their parents, John and Mary Carrion, in the family bakery. A special memory for Al during those years was when his father "Johnnie" was commissioned to make the large specialty cakes for the Celebrity Pavilion at the 1939 World's Fair on Treasure Island. Al was able to go along to assist his father and met Henry Ford, Eleanor Roosevelt and, best of all, Mae West. After graduating from St. Mary's High School, Al joined the Navy and served his country proudly for five years in the Seabee's (Construction Battalion). He spent time in the Philippines, Korea and Japan. Following his discharge, Al was able to go to San Jose State on the GI bill and majored in Police Science and Accounting. College provided a social life for Al in which he thrived; he joined the Sigma Nu fraternity, worked as a campus police officer, loved music and to dance, made many friends and met his wife, Lenore Helwig. Lenore was not thrilled with the idea of being married to a police officer, so after Al's graduation they moved to her hometown of Sebastopol where Al went to work for his in-laws, Albert and Martha Helwig. The Helwig's were the founders of Palm Drive Hospital and Al started as an ambulance driver, became a certified X-ray tech, then business manager and eventually the administrator of Palm Drive. His final project before retiring in 1977 was to oversee the construction of the "new" Palm Drive hospital, now known as Sonoma West Medical Center. Always the perfectionist and never afraid of a challenge or hard work, Al excelled in every activity, organization and civic duty that interested him. He was a long standing member of The Sebastopol Rotary Club where he served as President and could be counted on to be involved in all events and programs. Al was also an active member of The Sonoma County Trail Blazers from the early 1960's until just a few years ago. He loved riding horses, camping under the stars, eating from chuck wagons, the camaraderie and wild shenanigans of his fellow "cowboys". He also served and chaired on numerous hospital and medical organizations, Sonoma County's Grand Jury, Sebastopol Planning Commission, Sebastopol Times - Board of Directors and The Sonoma County Aviation Commission from 1966 - 1979, where Al was instrumental in the planning and development of the Sonoma County Airport As a small boy, Al was fascinated with airplanes and learned to fly at age 15. He owned several planes over the years and loved to share the joy of flying with his family and friends. Al, Lenore and their three daughters often flew to the Nut Tree in Vacaville, to Napa and to Sea Ranch for day trips. It was the annual Easter trips to Baja, along with several other families (flying as a convoy), that were a highlight for everyone. Al's passion for flying was so strong that even as the horrible haze of Alzheimer's began to destroy his mind, his memories of flying stayed with him. Being a competitive and physical person, Al loved and excelled in all sports: tennis, snow and water skiing, abalone diving, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, volleyball and even ping pong just to name a few. He also loved anything with wheels and a motor: bicycles, motor cycles, fast cars, tractors, antique cars, boats and of course, airplanes. Al is survived by his wife, Lenore Carrion; three daughters, Denise Jones, Diane Doty (Mark) and Dena Harding (Garth); six grandchildren, Kamil Dawson, Marley Dawson (Brittany), Mesha Webber, Tyler Paul, Braden Harding and Maxwell Harding; one great-granddaughter, Grace Dibley; and lifetime of wonderful treasured friends. The family would like to thank the staff of Primrose in Santa Rosa for the wonderful care and loving support they showed "Alberto" and his family over the last year and a half. "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return." Leonardo da Vinci Private family services will be held at a later date.