Richard Valls

Rich Valls of San Rafael passed on the morning of Monday, December 1st.  He was born in San Francisco to Al and Mary (née Fernández), raised in the City’s Visitacion Valley. Rich earned

a history degree and teaching credential from SFSU but ultimately followed in his brother’s footsteps to become an electrician. He was a proud union member of IBEW Local 6 for almost 30 years,

most of them with Capitol Electric.  After meeting Carol Mantelli in Lake Tahoe on vacation while in high school, he courted her by frequent bus ride to Redwood City; in 1970 they married. In 1988

the family relocated from the Peninsula to Marin County.  When he was 8 years old, Willie Mays and the Giants moved to San Francisco and he became a fan for life.  Growing up walking distance

from the Cow Palace, he developed multiple techniques for illicit entry, sneaking into events such as the Republican National Convention and a Beatles concert (but got bored of hiding in

the bathroom and left before they went on.) A musician in an era when seemingly anybody who was anybody was in a band, he played bass for locals the Archangels, and was a regular at the

Fillmore and Winterland, seeing all the legendary ’60s groups (except the Beatles – he’d catch them “next time”). But he eschewed commercial rock stations, mourning the loss of legendary “Jive

95” KSAN, never again satisfied until discovering the meticulously curated online Radio Paradise. His cerebral and absurdist sense of humor left him literally rolling in the aisles upon discovering

Monty Python on their Stateside début. Rich maintained he was just a “regular guy,” who preferred wine to beer, a history buff and admitted political junkie subscribed to Harper’s and The Atlantic,

and an audiophile who loved prog rock and jazz fusion.  He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Carol, children Eric, David, and Natalie, brother Joe and sister-in-law Janet, as well at sisters-in-law

Laura Schorr and Linda Potter, and their husbands Craig Schorr and John Potter. Viewing is from 5-8 pm Thursday, Dec. 4th at Monte’s Chapel of the Hills in San Anselmo, with a Rosary planned

at 7 pm. A funeral Mass will be held at 1 pm Friday, Dec. 5th at St. Raphael Catholic Church in San Rafael.

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