Darrell was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as the oldest son of his parents Edwin & Mae Louise Ament. Darrell is survived by his three sons Troy, Todd and Tim, his wife Lanxiao, his ex-wife Rosie, his sister Beth and brother Ed.
Growing up in Kent, Ohio Darrell studied political science & economics at Kent State University. He was married to Rosie Nighman and in 1961 their first son Troy Michael Ament was born in Ravenna, Ohio. Darrell, Rosie and Troy set out in their Volkswagen Beetle and drove across the United States to San Fernando, California where Darrell began studying for his PHD degree at the University of California Los Angeles. In 1964 Rosie and Darrell welcomed their middle son Todd Matthew Ament, born in the city of Lakeview Terrace.
In 1967, Darrell started what would be a 27 year career with the Anaheim Public Utilities Department. This job led to Darrell and his family moving to Anaheim and shortly after their youngest son Timothy Mark Ament was born in Bellflower in 1968. During the 27 years with the Anaheim Public Utilities Darrell lead six different divisions including becoming the assistant general manager of the finance & administration department where he would help to negotiate over $15 billion in bonds for water and electric capital projects that would be instrumental in lower the costs of these vital services to the citizens of Anaheim for years to come. Darrell also led a city study team called "Powerful Partnerships" with the charter of retaining and attracting businesses to Anaheim and these efforts helped to attract 25 new business and over 3,300 jobs.
Darrell and Rosie hosted 17 exchange students from around the world over 15 years, acting as inspiring ambassadors for the United States and more importantly acting as positive roles models for their family and friends around the importance of accepting people from differing cultural backgrounds and from around the world.
In 2004, Darrell remarried to Lanxaio and the two of them lived in China for a couple of years, eventually returning to the United States and moving to Riverside. Lanxaio and Darrell quickly established themselves in the community and were involved in many community programs, again centered around international students and relationships between cities from different countries. Lanxaio cared for our father in the last few years of his life as his health declined and dementia began to severely impact his ability to live independently.
Outside of our father's career and family, one of the defining aspects of his life was his continued passion and commitment to volunteering across numerous organizations throughout his life. It was this selfless passion for helping others that truly defines his character and his commitment for treating people from all nationalities and from all walks of life with interest, compassion and respect. Our dad was quoted in a local newspaper article written in 1990 to celebrate the return of 15 exchange students for our parents 50th birthday.
"It's been a wild two weeks. The most meaningful thing I have learned is that love transcends international boundaries. We have a wonderful family all over the world - we love them like our own" Darrell Ament 1990Those words from our father exemplify the father, man and global citizen that he will be remembered by and what we encourage everyone to strive to be in all of our lives. Our father's family extended well beyond the traditional family unit and he loved and cared for others as if they were his own.
We will miss our father, but his memory lives on through our actions and through everyone that he positively interacted with in his life.
Here is just a short list of the organizations that our father was involved in throughout the years.
- Council Member, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, San Fernando, California, 1966-67.
- PTA Co-President (with wife), Patrick Elementary School, Anaheim, California, 1971-72.
- La Palma Little League, Anaheim, California -- Vice President (1971-72), Players Agent (1973 and 1983), Manager (1971-1980).
- Cubmaster, Pack 119, Anaheim, California, 1973.
- Host Family for Youth for Understanding (YFU) high school foreign exchange students, 1973-90 (17 one-year students/ over 20 shorter-term students).
- Patrick Neighborhood Community Block Grant Neighborhood Council, Anaheim, California, Co-Chairperson (1979), Long Term Strategy Committee (1979-81).
- Anaheim Family YMCA, Anaheim, California, Board Member (1984-90), Camp Board Chairman (1984-88), Treasurer (1987-88), Executive Vice President (1989-90).
- Anaheim Sister City Committee, Anaheim, California, 1987-90. Hosted five Japanese exchange students.
- Anaheim Memorial Hospital, Anaheim, California, Double Eleven Club (hospital fund raising group) Board member (1988-90), Double Eleven Club Treasurer (1989-90).
- Anaheim Museum, Anaheim, California, Board member (1988-90, 1993-94), Board President (1993-95).
- Member, Anaheim Chamber of Commerce, Anaheim, California, Utilities Representative (1993-94).
- El Escorial Condominium Owner’s Association, Santa Barbara, California Board Member (1996-98 & 2002-03) and Board President (1996-98).
- Graduate Student Exchange Program (1997). Hosted graduate student during Christmas holidays.
- Riverside (California) Public Utilities Board, Board Member (April 2010 to Date)
- Riverside (California) Jiangman, China Sister City Committee Board Member (March 2011 to Date)
