Dudley Alan "Dud" Desler

1931 - 2025

Dudley "Dud" Alan Desler
08/22/1931 - 09/15/2025
Dudley, our beloved father, grandfather, husband, uncle, colleague and friend to many, passed away peacefully on September 15. He recently celebrated his 94th birthday.
Dud was born to Conrad and Helen Desler in San Francisco on August 22, 1931, and grew up in the Mission District, living above the H.F. Suhr & Company Mortuary where his father was funeral director. As an only child, he developed an independent streak, treating the city as his personal backyard, whether venturing on his own to Bernal Heights as a 4-year-old, or taking the streetcar as a 9-year-old to Candlestick Point. He grew up fast but fully embraced his childhood, selling newspapers on the corner of 25th and Mission, taking in countless movie matinees at The Tower or any one of the many Mission Street theatres, and enjoying his time as a batboy for the San Francisco Seals.
After Le Conte Grammar and Horace Mann Junior High, Dud graduated from Balboa High School before enlisting in the Navy in 1948. He worked on the orthopedic and amputee wards at Oak Knoll Naval Hospital in Oakland prior to deployment to Korea in 1951 as part of the Fleet Marines where he primarily took care of the wounded. Dud returned home in 1952 and following discharge, began working in the pharmaceutical industry. It was around this time that he met Anne Sweeney, a teacher and fellow San Franciscan. Dud converted to Catholicism, and they married in 1957. Following a year at Parkmerced, the couple moved to San Mateo where they raised six children and enjoyed a wonderful union over 62 years until Anne's passing in 2019.
Dud spent most of his professional career working for Roche, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, where he thrived as a salesman in San Francisco. Over the years, he won numerous sales awards including The President's Grand Award as the top salesperson in the country. Dud continued with Roche until his retirement in the early 90s. Outside of work, Dud volunteered his time to many causes, including St. Bartholomew's Church where he was involved in a number of church activities and was a fixture as a weekly lector at Sunday mass. He was also a friend and contributor to Junipero Serra and Notre Dame High Schools.
As dedicated as Dud was to his family, work and community, he was equally as committed to his Bay Area sports teams. He attended the first 49er home game ever at Kezar Stadium in 1946 and in the early 1950s, purchased season tickets which, in some variation, remain in the family. After years as a suffering fan, he was rewarded when he witnessed "The Catch" in 1982 and the dynasty that followed. He also loved the Giants and Warriors and was a big fan of Cal football and basketball, all of which he followed passionately until his passing. Dud's enthusiasm for sports was passed down to his children and grandchildren who gladly accepted it. Dud also loved Lake Tahoe, which he enjoyed with his family during annual summer trips to Incline Village.
Dud also had a voracious reading appetite which fed his encyclopedic knowledge, serving as a great source of information and entertainment for us all. He was a strong role model to his family and others who knew him and was an inspiration to just about everyone.
Dud is survived by his six children: Kevin (Terrie); Stephen; Michael (Peggy); Jim (Anne); Brian (Jennifer); and Nancy Carroll (Kevin) and his 13 grandchildren: Caroline, Nick, Ellie and Matt Desler; John (Grace), Cate and Peter Desler; Chris, Margaret and Mary Carroll; Will Desler; Marisa Wiggam (Dominic) and Ethan Steck. He is also survived by numerous nephews and nieces.
All are invited to attend a celebration of Dud's life on October 10, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Bartholomew's Church, Alameda de las Pulgas and Crystal Springs Road, San Mateo. A private internment will take place at St. John's Cemetery.
Donations would be appreciated in Dud's name to MyGoodDays.org/donate.