Albert Henry Tresch

Albert Henry Tresch - Passed away peacefully on 21 October 2007 in Walnut Creek, CA, age 95. He was born in Petaluma on 4 January 1912. His parents, Robert (of Switzerland) and Olympia (Nonella) Tresch, lived on the family ranch on Walker Road, Two Rock, which is still run by his nephew, Joe Tresch. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 71 years, Kathryn (Carroll) Tresch, earlier this year. He leaves loving daughters, Carol T. Maddox (Edward R. Maddox, Jr.) of Pleasanton and Sharon L. Sanchez (Alfred Sanchez) of Oakland. He was the grandfather of Edward R. Maddox, III, Michael A. Maddox, Kathryn (Maddox) Springstead and Rebecca (Sanchez) de Ville. He also leaves three great-grandchildren: Gary Springstead, Edward Springstead and Kimberly Maddox. Mr. Tresch was the brother of Laurence Tresch and Robert Tresch, and was an uncle of Dean, Maureen, Michael, Joseph, Irene, Robert, and Barbara Jean. His gentle manner, sense of humor, quiet patience and interest in everyoneâ??s story, will be missed by his loving family and friends. Friends and family are welcome to attend the Visitation, Wednesday, October 24, 2007 from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the PARENT-SORENSEN MORTUARY & CREMATORY, 850 Keokuk St., Petaluma, CA 707-763-4131. A Funeral Service will be held, Thursday, October 25, 2007 at 1:00 PM at the Mortuary. A Gathering will follow at Bodega Harbour, 1717 Seaway. Memorial donations may be Hanna Boys Center, P.O. Box 100, Sonoma, CA 95476-0100 or to a charity of choice. Interment: Cypress Hill Memorial Park, Petaluma. He graduated from Petaluma High School in 1930, where he was member of the track team. Al served in the National Guard at San Luis Obispo, and he attended Oregon State College. After working at Petalumaâ??s Western Refrigerating Company during the depression, he accepted a civil service appointment to Electricianâ??s School at Mare Island in Vallejo, graduating third highest in his class four years later. He was an instrument maker at the Naval Shipyard on submarines during WWII. In 1943 he opened a business in San Francisco, Marine Instrument Company, augmenting the work he was doing for the government. He contributed to the development of speed and depth indicators for submarines. In peacetime, he worked mothballing ships instruments, and in 1946, reorganized his business, now the Tresch Instrument Company, repairing, testing, and calibrating commercial and industrial electrical equipment. In 1947 he purchased the Novato Water Company, seeing it double its number of customers, until the system of wells became insufficient, and in 1949 he sold the system to the newly formed North Marin County Water District that built Stafford Dam. He continued public service by accepting appointment as manager of the Novato Sanitary District. After retirement, he found that the Navy still needed his skills, so he had a second career in Vallejo again, this time commuting from Novato. Always busy, he built a small subdivision of houses and a shopping center, Tresch Triangle, in Novato. He finally found time to relax when he and Kay had a home built at Bodega Harbour where they enjoyed golf and trips with long-time friends.