Andrew Joseph Denecochea III

"So worry not Dad, because we have all been blessed with you in our lives, you are a king without a crown, and paradise is reserved for those with half a heart as you. The heart of a lion if you ask me, compared to which we are all mice." - by AJ DeNecochea IV 

 Andrew Joseph DeNecochea III of Santa Ynez died Dec. 18, 2017, at 69 years old. He was born Dec. 28, 1947, in Los Angeles. Known to his friends and family as "Andy" or "Andy Joe," he is survived by his loving wife, Joyce, of almost 48 years; his loving and only child, son A.J. DeNecochea IV; his precious mother, Anna Mae; his loving sister Chere, who is like a twin to Andy; his loving brother, Rodger; and many loving nieces and nephews who were very close to his heart. He was preceded in death by his father, Andrew J DeNecochea Jr., and a niece, Jennifer Marie Kopcho Owens.

 Andy went through school in Whittier, Calif., where he participated in sports with a passion, especially baseball at a very young age, which taught him discipline, fairness and teamwork, which he used throughout his life personally and in his amazing career in finance. In 1967, when Andy was just 19, he was involved in a horrific automobile accident, which left him a paraplegic. The night of Andy's accident was actually a "ticket out" of his being drafted into the Army and most assuredly sent to Vietnam (where many of his classmates were sent and had perished). Instead of wallowing in self-pity, Andy (with the help of God's special touch) decided to go for it. He was known to cheer up the doctors and nurses at Whittier Presbyterian Hospital when they felt down. Andy continued his accounting education from a wheelchair and went on to work in accounting until his retirement - starting as a bookkeeper and ending as a CFO and/or VP of Finance for many high-tech companies around Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. In 1970, Andy and Joyce were married at First Family Church by Pastor Ron Prinzing in Whittier because Joyce's mother and sister, Janet, talked the star-struck lovers out of running away to Las Vegas with his cousin Rick Caldwell. Andy was always glad they were married in a church, as he loved God and was a good Christian and still is. His first accounting job was at Beaver-Free Corp. in Santa Barbara. In 1971, owner Jerry Beaver came to Andy's small rented house on Castillo Street to do a private interview. Andy was always proud of this first accounting position, where he kept dozens of bookkeeping accounts, by hand. From there, Andy went to work for the Morehart family of Carpinteria. Then around 1987 Andy had a moment of inspiration and began meditating on a position that he desired and did not give up until he (with that charm and personality of his) started working for Wavefront Technology. He succeeded greatly there - even taking the company "public," where he received many ac- colades for his outstanding business acumen. Andy traveled to Europe and Japan on business many times - alone - a testament to his strength and ability to do whatever he set his mind to, even from a wheelchair. Andy's last ten years of his career were performed at Web Associates in 2005, where he immediately took over the complete financing for the corporation and helped with the re-branding of the company several times over. He was especially proud of Level Corp., helping CEO and good friend Tom Adamski to take this company to very high "levels." He helped eventually take Level to a place of acquisition by Rosetta (another digital marketing company) and finally to Publicis, a French holding company of international acclaim. Affecting each and every employee, Andy also was VP of Human Resources at times, where he would help the employees who he saw had great potential reach their goals and mentor them with his kind, unwavering and unselfish approach to form a company that not only felt like family, but a place where the employees were proud of their efforts and worked beyond what was expected. Andy's influence was pure and true. Throughout Andy's 45-plus years of nonstop accounting and giving of himself at each employer, his real purpose seemed to be the uplifting of individuals - helping countless fellow employees to see their potential in a new light and helping them to reach for the stars and not be simply satisfied at their "position." After Andy's short retirement (2015-2017), and before he knew about his cancer, he opened up a lifetime's dream: AandJ Antique Firearms, Curios and Relics, in old-town Santa Ynez. He was an avid collector and knew all about gun safety as a child because of his beloved father. Andy had great pride in his shop and became friends with many of the retailers. There will be a private memorial and celebration of Andy's life in early March. To say this human being impacted so many with his love and attention is the understatement of the century. For all who were blessed to know and love Andy, the special twinkle in his eye will forever brighten and warm our hearts! 

ANDY'S SONG 

By Joyce DeNecochea 

Angels' wings brushing your face
Out of your body, soon to take place
They're waiting and watching for God's command
As I reach for your hand
One last time
One last time
O Holy Night, heavenly light
As everyone knows you've fought the good fight
Oh so many have come to love you - to know you IS to love you
In the blink of an eye
Our whole lives, you and I
And God knows all about it
You sleep, In heavenly peace, now