Lafayette

Richard Joseph Clancy (Dick) passed away peacefully on June 28, 2023 at the age of 90, surrounded by his family. He leaves behind a legacy of love, resilience, and unwavering dedication. Born on March 5, 1933, Dick Clancy embarked on an extraordinary life journey filled with devotion, adventure and accomplishment that touched the lives of countless individuals.

The son of Richard Albert, a butcher, and Mary Therese, a homemaker, Dick grew up in South Gate, California. His entrepreneurial spirit was woven into the fabric of his DNA, and he was determined to be his own boss. As a child, he raised rabbits to sell to his father for resale at the butcher shop. In 1953, he married his first wife, Barbara, and they had three children, Mike, Cindy and Danny. He drove a truck to provide for his family, and at the age of 20 he opened Sutton Clancy Used Cars with his high school buddy, Jim Sutton. In 1960, Dick moved his family to Northern California to pursue a career in real estate.

In 1969, Dick's ambition and drive led him to co-found Security Pacific Real Estate with his partner, Ray DeGennaro. They built a thriving real estate company from the ground up, eventually operating eight offices across the Bay Area and growing the company to become the largest independently owned real estate company in the East Bay. Dick and Ray pioneered the home warranty business when they established one of the first home warranty companies, Continental Home Warranty, which was acquired by Fidelity, and still exists today.

In 1974, Dick married Claire Evangeline with whom he had one daughter, Taryn Theresa. They became a fixture of the Lafayette community where the family has lived for almost 50 years.

Dick’s wheels were constantly turning, and he was always looking for the next great deal. He participated in various real estate investments and forged many valuable partnerships throughout the years, most notably with Mark D. Hall. He co-founded Lamorinda Bank, which was later acquired by US Bank, and served on its Board of Directors for several years. Through sheer determination, he transformed his humble beginnings into a remarkable success story, becoming a pillar of his community and a beloved mentor to many. His work ethic and dedication served as an inspiration to all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Beyond his professional achievements, Dick will be remembered as a steadfast family man and an avid adventurer. He was an eternal optimist and was committed to filling every day with fun. His gleaming smile lit up every room he entered. He was a doting father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He cherished these roles and enveloped his family with boundless love and support (and, of course, taught them all how to make the perfect martini).

Dick traveled the world from Japan to Europe and ventured on countless motorcycle rides, making friends at every stop. He relished being out on the open road, joining both the Colorado 500 and Sturgis Motorcycle Rally multiple times, riding across New Zealand and through Baja, traversing the back roads of the United States, and hosting his own annual Clancy Classic ride in Northern California. Dick’s friendships were paramount to his life. His group of eight high school buddies were coined the “Wild Bunch'' and they continued to rendezvous every year until he was in his eighties.

Dick Clancy's legacy of hard work, authenticity, confidence, positivity, fun, and unconditional love will be carried on by his family. He has left an indelible mark on their hearts and will forever inspire greatness in all that they do.

Dick Clancy was preceded in death by his wife, Claire, his son, Daniel Patrick, and his sister Nancy Murphy. He is survived by his children, Michael R. Clancy (Ilene), Cynthia Clancy Reed (Mike), Taryn Clancy Leslie (Clint), his grandchildren Megan Reed Shaw (Scott), Daniel J. Clancy (Sarah), Natalie Reed Heckaman ( J.D.), Eryn Clancy Evans (Greg), Maron Leslie and Mason Leslie, his eight great-grandchildren, and his many nieces and nephews, including Katrin Thatenhurst, who he and Claire raised as their own. He was lucky to spend his final years adventuring with his loving companion, Maurine Freeman. The family would like to extend gratitude to the wonderful people who helped care for him toward the end of his life, especially Terry DePuy. Dick will be dearly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him. May his soul rest in eternal peace.

The visitation will be held on Friday, July 14, 2023 at Queen of Heaven Cemetery Chapel from 4pm - 7pm. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 15, 2023 at 10:00am at St. Perpetua Catholic Church, with burial and celebration of life to follow.

In his memory, donations can be made to Las Trampas, Inc. (Lafayette), a local non-profit organization Dick supported for over 20 years. https://bit.ly/3NXaMWV