Laurence Bishop Dashiell

August 16, 1937 - June 16, 2025

Sacramento, California - Laurence "Larry" Bishop Dashiell died peacefully at his home surrounded by family on June 16, 2025, at the age of 87.

Larry Dashiell was born in Marysville, California, to Tyndall and Fredaura Dashiell (née Clingan). When Larry was about a year old, his family relocated to San Francisco, where Tyndall worked as an electrician for Bethlehem Steel. In January 1939, Larry was joined by a baby brother, Richard "Butch" Dashiell.

Larry spent his formative years in San Francisco, where he attended John Muir Grammar School, Everett Junior High School, and Lowell High School. Despite the poverty his family endured, Larry later spoke and wrote fondly of living in The City, an environment rich in culture and opportunity. From a tender age, he worked two paper routes (The News and The Call Bulletin), volunteered at football games at Kezar Stadium, and played sports at the local YMCA. He also developed a lifelong obsession for food, for jazz, and for basketball.

After high school, Larry attended UC Berkeley. Despite his natural aptitude for mathematics, his love of ideas and literature inspired him to pursue a degree in English. At Cal, Larry played for the school's basketball team, and it was on the Golden Bears basketball court where he met and befriended Jack "Nick" Goldman. The two would remain close friends until Nick's death in 2020.

During his undergraduate years, Larry spent three consecutive summers working for the US Forest Service. These included assignments in Foresthill (Tahoe NF), Grant Grove (Sequoia NF), and Pinecrest (Stanislaus NF). Duties included timber stand improvement, fire suppression, trail restoration, and campground maintenance. Besides a modest income to support his college expenses, the work forged in him a love for the natural world that informed his adult character and values.

After college, Larry served three years in the US Army, primarily in Erlangen, Germany during the Cold War years of 1963 - 1966. As a 1st Lieutenant, he was commander of Company C, 3rd Battalion, 51st Infantry, 4th Armored Division. There, he trained and patrolled territory near Germany's border with Czechoslovakia, then an ally of the Soviet Union.

Following an honorable discharge from the Army and a brief employment with the California Division of Highways (now known as Caltrans), Larry applied to and was accepted by Hastings School of Law (now UC Law San Francisco). He graduated in 1969 and, having passed the California Bar Exam, bought a house on 1.5 acres in the Arden-Arcade district of Sacramento. Partnered with associates and Alpha Chi Rho fraternity brothers from his days at Cal, he entered private law practice -- a career that spanned more than 45 years and focused primarily on contracts and estate planning.

Larry was twice married -- first to Ethel "Kate" Carlson in 1963, who gave him two sons, Daniel Tyndall Dashiell in 1971 and David Laurence Dashiell in 1973. The couple separated in 1986. Larry later met and married Margaret "Peggy" Siddons (née Hardenbrook). Their relationship spanned more than three decades, ending with Peggy's death in 2020.

Over the course of his adult life, Larry enjoyed, collected, and made wine. He loved every aspect of winemaking, from the picking and crushing to the fermentation, pressing, and, of course, tasting. In partnership with his friend Nick Goldman, Larry crafted many vintages featuring Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Portuguese, and Italian varietals -- several of which earned medals at the California State Fair Home Wine Competition.

Larry is survived by his two sons; Dan Dashiell of Orinda, CA and David Dashiell of Sacramento, CA; his first wife and lifelong friend Kate Dashiell of Sacramento; his niece Joye Benck of Sebastopol, CA; his nephew Larry Dashiell of Santa Rosa, CA, and five grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Peggy, his brother Richard, and his niece Julie.

A celebration Larry's life will occur at his Sacramento home in August 2025, followed by private interment.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Sacramento Bee from Jun. 26 to Jun. 30, 2025.