Bill De Carion

1942 - 2025

Bill de Carion
07/21/1942 - 05/16/2025
Bill de Carion transitioned from this life, surrounded by his loving family at home, on May 16, 2025. He passed without suffering, due to the complications of Chronic Kidney Disease. He leaves behind his wife of 25 years, Evelyn Larsen. Bill and Evelyn were so blessed to find each other and enjoy the love of their lives, together. He also leaves the family he cared for so deeply: daughters Stacy de Carion, Marlena de Carion, Nicole de Carion (Erik Eiserling) and Denise Colombano (Vince); stepson Hogan Edelberg (MaryJo Fitzgerald); and his beloved siblings Phil de Carion, David de Carion, and Kathy de Carion. Bill had six grandchildren, who filled the family home, and his heart, with joy.
Bill founded Import Tile Co. in Berkeley in 1977, and ran it with great success for 40 years. Along the way, he introduced thousands of people to the beauty of ceramic tile and stone, and became a force in the development of West Berkeley. He was a lifelong athlete, playing competitive USTA matches at 4.0 and 4.5 rankings into his 70s. Bill rode long distance cycling adventures, backpacked, and camped with friends and family his entire life. Bill and Evelyn were often the first up when the music started, sharing their love of dance and fun.
The third brother of four children, in a family poor in resources but rich in love and skill to survive, Bill's success in life came from his absolute determination to make it creating something he felt strongly about, and to take care of those he left behind. He had an instinctive, artistic vision for the business that made the company thrive. Bill was generous to many people and organizations around him, offering help, advice, mentoring and financial support.
Bill's Funeral and Celebration of Life will be at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 2300 Bancroft Way, Berkeley on Saturday June 7, 2025 at 2:00. His ashes will be interred at Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland.
In Bill's memory, donations may be made to the Berkeley Tennis Club Foundation, promoting the sport of tennis for youth (Bill benefited from such support as a teen, winning a scholarship for free lessons.)
Mail checks to BTC Foundation, 1 Tunnel Road, Berkeley Ca 94705.
Donations may also be made in his honor to the Sierra Club Foundation, in a testament to his lifelong love of the wild places in the world.