Donald C. Biddle's Obituary
The City of Dublin is saddened to announce the passing of Vice Mayor Don Biddle, following a battle with a brief illness. He was 80 years old.Vice Mayor Biddle had a long and distinguished career in public service and representing the people of Dublin. A resident since 1974, Biddle served as a City Councilmember for more than nine years. He was initially appointed councilmember in December 2008 following a vacancy left after Tim Sbranti was elected Mayor. He was elected by the people of Dublin in 2010 and 2014.During his time as a City Councilmember, Biddle contributed to many important achievements:The development of several parks, including the most recent Jordan Ranch Park, Passatempo Park and Positano Park, the Dublin Heritage Park and Museums, Fallon Sports Park, and the Emerald Glen Recreation and Aquatic Complex (“The Wave”);The redevelopment of the former Arroyo Vista site, a Federal housing project, into Emerald Vista, the region’s first mixed-income housing development which won several national honors and awards;The development of Valor Crossing, a 66-unit affordable housing apartment complex for active military and their families, as well as veterans who have served our country;Supporting local non-profit organizations, including the School of Imagination, the YMCA, and Hope Hospice, in establishing a strong presence in the City of Dublin.While serving on the Dublin City Council, Biddle represented the Council as a member of the Housing Commission of Alameda County, Alameda County Waste Management Authority, Alameda County Library Commission, Dublin Housing Authority, Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority, Alameda County Transportation Commission, Tri-Valley Transportation Commission, East Bay Community Energy Board, and the Tri-Valley – San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority.“We are grieving the loss of our friend and colleague,” said Mayor David Haubert. “Don is in a class by himself. He was an incredibly kind and giving person and served this community with distinction and integrity, not only as a member of the City Council but in so many ways that it is difficult to enumerate. My hope is that we will all honor Don by sharing positive stories and memories that shape his legacy.”Prior to serving on the Dublin City Council, Biddle served 12 years as a Trustee on the Dublin School Board and four years on the Dublin Planning Commission. His participation on other community service organizations was unparalleled. He was past President of Dublin Partners in Education (DPIE) where he served nearly 20 years, and the Tri-Valley unit of the American Cancer Society and served on the boards for Tri-Valley YMCA, Dublin Integrity in Action, the Dublin Sister City Association, and Habitat for Humanity in Lafayette, Indiana. He is also a member of the Dublin Historical Preservation Society and Dublin Rotary, where he once fittingly served as chairman of the Community Service Committee.During his time on the Dublin School Board, Biddle served as co-chair of the committee that won passage of the school bond measure that was used to rebuild Dublin High School, and then served on the School District Bond Oversight Committee to ensure proper use of those funds. Later, he served as the co-chair of the committee that helped pass the parcel tax measure that was used to improve aging Dublin schools.Biddle received a BS in Civil Engineering from Purdue University. He spent 31 years in the Engineering and Construction industry with Bechtel Corporation and General Contractors as a field engineer, cost and schedule engineer, project manager, and project controls manager.He is survived by his wife, Donnamarie, his two daughters, Patricia and Sandee, and his grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his son Bruce.Information on funeral services is pending. The City will be flying the City flag at half staff until his interment. For those wishing to send their condolences, the City Manager’s Office will collect them and provide them to his family. Write or drop off at the City Manager’s Office, 100 Civic Plaza, Dublin, CA 94568.“We have lost a great leader and a dear friend,” said Councilmember Melissa Hernandez. “Don was the epitome of a dedicated public servant. He was a part of our family, a fixture around City Hall and he had a profound and positive impact on our daily lives. We will miss him beyond words.”
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