Dave’s Story
Dave Biasotti was a loving and irreplaceable husband, dedicated son, father, brother, grandfather, uncle, and dear friend. A quiet warrior, adventurous traveler. Undaunted by adversity, Dave always found a way to turn disappointment into an incredible success. Fierce in guiding and protecting his family and friends, you had to look close to see his passion, often only revealed in sparkly eyes and a mischievous grin.
Dave left us suddenly, surrounded by loving family and friends. He is welcomed into heaven by his father Al, his brother Chris, and numerous family and friends, including special riding buddies. Dave is sure to have already started his next great adventure involving lively family and friends, twisty roads, incredible swings on the golf course, and fascinating stories, told with a Stella beer in his hand - and if we listen with our hearts, guiding us from above.
Dave was born in California to his Italian dad Alfred and his German mom Patricia (Pat). He was the oldest of 7 children. His childhood was highlighted by his many adventures as the family grew. The family’s first adventure included moving to Wisconsin, where he was joined by brother Chris and sister Anne. The second adventure back to Cupertino, and the birth of siblings Mark, Jim, Mary, and Kathryn, and making the Bay Area his permanent home.
Dave graduated from Mitty High School in its last all-boys class. While in school, Dave developed a love of the outdoors, becoming an avid Scout, exploring trails, and fostering his endurance career (on foot at first) with 50-mile hikes in the company of his Dad and a troop of close friends. With tremendous hard work and dedication, Dave ultimately achieved his Eagle Scout status. Following high school, Dave discovered his other passion: motorcycles. Unable to find college campus parking, Dave bought his first motorcycle, resulting in his mother ‘kicking him out the front door and his father letting him in the back’!
In the late summer of 1971, Dave decided to put himself through college, working the night shift full-time at Fairchild, and persevered in 4 years to earn the challenging BSA degree (Bachelor, Aeronautical and Operations Engineering). Dave’s vision of becoming a pilot or aircraft mechanic faced fierce headwinds, as flying gliders on weekends didn’t hold a candle to accomplished fighter pilots and wartime mechanics looking for a post-Vietnam job. Undaunted, he applied his knowledge and skill directly to the field of test and assembly equipment, as well as semiconductor manufacturing. In the early years, Dave used grit and determination, combined with a fierce work ethic at Fairchild, the founding company in the semiconductor industry, until one of the founders of Fairchild, Wilf Corrigan, recruited him to join his start-up LSI Logic. Dave morphed this major step into a brilliant 50-year career in Global Procurement with legendary companies, including SEMI, Vishay-Siliconix, Maxim, Cypress, and Infineon.
While Dave’s career was important, his family and adventures were what drove him. His adventurous spirit fledged the family – camping adventures, golfing, endurance motorcycle riding, including the rarest of scavenger hunts, the Iron Butt – and with all of his excursions, always encouraging us to explore our own worlds. . .
Sandy finding endurance adventures with Dave on his motorcycles, as well as on horseback, including having him crew for 3 consecutive Tevis completions before seducing Dave to ‘adult summer camp’ for many years, riding together on horseback in the high sierras.
Jesse, traveling coast-to-coast as well as Hawaii for beautiful beaches before finding her life love Randy in Washington. The two creating the most beautiful blessings in daughters Harper Lee and Hattie Lou (Harper, born on Dave’s birthday, has him a guardian angel).
Danny traversed not only the countryside but the world, on Naval ships, all the while finding challenging golf courses regardless of country. Danny’s most recent adventure included buying a home in Arizona and proposing to his beautiful and talented fiancé Val.
Katie, with Dave’s encouragement, earned her double degree, a BS in Business with a focus on Accounting & Information Systems, and ventured out to buy her own home before returning to the Ranch to support Dave & Sandy’s offsite escapades. Katie is now happily engaged to the strong and heartwarming Brandon.
Josh’s adventures have taken him coast-to-coast in many times and in many forms, including well-charted rides on his Hayabusa with Dave before finding the love of his life in beautiful and intelligent Margo. Josh happily proclaims, “she’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me!”
During these almost 30 years together, sharing everything as best friends and soulmates, Dave and Sandy legally tied the knot in 2014 at a vineyard, involving the entire family. Sandy astride her beautiful white Arabian horse, met her Knight-in-Shining-Armor, Dave, at the altar. The resulting “Family moon” was celebrated all together at Holden Beach where famous memories were made, including “AFLAC”.
Sandy and Dave spent the majority of their years together at Windriders Ranch where views of the valley meant joyous sunrises sharing a toast to love at sunset. Although Dave was a quiet man of few words, he loved deeply and was admired for his generosity, willingness to help others, unwavering support, care, and kindness to all, including spending the weekend before passing caring for his 95-year-old mother, encouraging her endurance before returning to the Bay Area one last time.
Rest in heaven, enjoying exhilarating rides and swings, till we meet again – Windrider!
Sandy