Harold Baxter Mead Iii

Harold Baxter Mead III

Sept. 12, 1915

Mar. 7, 2015

Harold Baxter Mead III passed away at the age of 99 and ½. He is preceded in death by his former wife Betty (Henri) Mead. He is survived by his daughter Kathleen Mead (Christopher Jensen), grandson Erik Mead Jensen and good friend Tricia Grose. Hal's true passions were music and flying. He started playing timpani in high school and continued on as an arranger and to play Jazz drums for many of the big Swing bands in San Francisco during the 30's and 40's including the Jack Ross Combo, the Art Rowley Band and his own, Hal Mead Orchestra. He was an accomplished pilot with both instructor and commercial ratings. He was a member of the Army Air Corp during WWII and flew airplanes from age 16 to 90. He was never happier than when he was flying.

Hal grew up in Berkeley, lived in Orinda, Lake Tahoe, Sonoma and Napa. He was a residential and commercial real estate broker for California and Nevada and served as president of the American Mortgage Exchange in 1966. He was a proud member of the Bohemian Club since 1967 and the San Francisco Yacht Club since 1984.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service on Saturday, March 28, 2015 at 11AM at Sunset View Mortuary, junction of Fairmount and Colusa Ave.'s in El Cerrito. Please bring your favorite story or picture.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his name to your local youth music program or youth pilot program.