Dion Alan Barca

1968 - 2023

Dion died unexpectedly on Saturday, just hours before he was to begin the trip of a lifetime to Sicily and Isola di Salina. Dion had taught himself the Eolianu dialect of Sicilian, the language of his great-grandparents. Dion planned to research the Barca family history and obtain birth certificates of his grandparents and great-grandparents so that he and family members could apply for Italian citizenship. Dion was fluent in French and planned to visit Paris while on this trip. He was also teaching himself Spanish and Italian.
He was born at Scripps Hospital in La Jolla, California. He spent his younger years moving between La Jolla and Jackson Hole, Wyoming and attended school in both states, La Jolla Elementary and Wilson School in Wyoming, Muirlands Jr. High and Bishops School in La Jolla, and Torrey Pines High School in Del Mar. He loved school and went to several colleges, graduating from University of California Davis and studied his graduate courses at St. Mary's in Lafayette, California and also at San Diego State University.
He loved teaching. He taught at MTS San Diego Metropolitan Transit and cherished the friends he made there.
He had an adventurer's spirit and drove the length of the Baja peninsula many times. He traveled to Puerto Rico to visit his Aunt Micke who lived there training horses. Also, he visited Italy with his family twice before.
Dion was an idea man and was always thinking of new businesses and new adventures to undertake. He was a caring, kind man who would help anyone in need. He was a light in the darkness. His family and friends miss him very much. He was loved very much.
He is survived by his wife, Shelly Barca, whom he loved and adored; his loving mother Grace Barca, of Jackson Hole, and his father Joseph Barca, of Encinitas.
He was a loving devoted father to his children from his first marriage to Becky Norton-Westbrook: Ira, Eliora, and Robin; as well as his stepson, Tyler Lowry. His older brother, Marc, was always an inspiration, and Dion loved him dearly. He also loved his younger brother, Desmond, and younger sister, Baelin, and their children: Mina and Felix Barca, and Isla, Liam, and Isabella Suggs.
In lieu of flowers, Andrew Arellano is organizing a gofundme fundraiser on behalf of Shelly Barca. Fundraiser for Shelly Barca by Andrew Arellano : Dion Barca gofundme.com)
We are having a Celebration of Life on Saturday, 30 September 2023, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the La Jolla Community Center, 6811 LJ Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037.