We lost our dear Vince aka Boompa aka Buzz in January. He passed peacefully with loved ones by his side. He was born in Chicago in 1930, growing up in the Great Depression. His parents were Vincent and Doris Alomia. Vince grew up with two sisters, Betty and June, who, we are told, sold him the same stray cat twice. Betty gave us two daughters: Doris and Nancy; June four children: Carol, Jason, David and Jeremy. All of Buzz's nieces and nephews share the love we felt from Buzz and will miss him dearly.
Vincent joined the Marines at an early age and proudly served in East Asia. After his deployments in Asia, Vince settled in the San Francisco Bay and met his beloved wife Opal. Opal passed in 1995.
Though Vince and Opal had no children, their niece and goddaughter, Ann, became their daughter in all their hearts. Boompa and Ann spoke every day. Buzz, near the end, responded to Ann, but no one else. Vince and Opal made regular trips to visit their dear Ann in San Diego and later Palm Springs.
Vince luckily met Barbara Snow and the two of them spent countless hours enjoying Giants games and generally creating mischief. They held season tickets and saw three World Series victories together. Barbara and Vince formed an enduring bond including a deeply shared love of Jesus Christ.
Vince and Opal built their house in Los Altos in the mid 1950s and spent the rest of their lives there. They loved to travel and spent many hours roaming the desert in search of the perfect crystal or gemstone. Vince loved his Corvettes and proudly displayed Semper Fi on banners, hats and car decals.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Toys for Tots.
Rest in peace Vince.
I remember at 7 years old sitting on Uncle Buzzy's lap as he told me to let my arms go limp. Then, he became the puppateer with my arms and to this day I smile from the laughter and joy he created. And that was Buzz--a guy that knew how to create joy! Love ya Uncle Buzz!
Jay
Jay
Uncle Buzz is missed. I am his niece by marriage to Jason Popelka. Jason's mom, June, and Buzz were siblings, along with Betty. I first met Buzzy on our wedding day in 1972. Buzz and Opal drove from California to Illinois with their dear dog to come to our wedding. I think that puppy actually was in the car during the service! Because we took off for our honeymoon, we didn't get a chance for a "real" visit. I remember being together at Bass Lake, Indiana during our early marriage, when Buzz and Opal came to visit Grandma Doris and Grampa Vince. We saw Buzz more often after Opal passed when we came from the mid-west to California to visit David Popelka and Jeannie Prince (David is Jason's brother). Buzzy was known to bring two pies to every family get-together. A soft-spoken man with a kind heart, he rarely talked about himself, but asked about others. He was a wonderful brother to June, helping her out when she needed it. June loved her visits to California to be with David and Buzz. And Buzz came to St. Louis during the last months of June's life, as she fought brain cancer. Our children know Uncle Buzz more from his yearly Christmas gift - a 5 lb. box of See's Candy! What a treat! How kind of him to remember us every year for what seems like decades. We invited Buzz to come visit us - to drive up the coast in his Corvette to Sequim, WA where we now live. We knew it was wishful thinking, but I'd like to imagine him doing just that! Jason and I send our condolences to Ann and Barbara. Although we have never met, we know how much you were loved by Buzz. Rest in peace, dear uncle.
I am the third generation of Dunton's that have done business with Vince. Though we met through business, I feel we moved beyond that and became friends. I spoke with Vince regularly and we shared many personal things with each other. He always had time to chat and we shared many common interests. Vince was an old school businessman where his word was his bond. I have personally learned alot about business from him and I will be forever grateful for the knowledge he imparted to me. I hold him in the highest regard and the world will be a lesser place without him. Semper Fidelis from a Semper Paratus! May Gods blessings be upon Vince's family.
Steve Dunton
Steve Dunton
On behalf of Mary Fake and myself, we want to honor Vince and express our gratitude for the many years of consistent, reliable, and honest duties that he fulfilled for our families. We are the granddaughters of Harold Tamka (my family) and Don Excell (Mary's family), who "discovered" Vince, and joined in with him in business ventures back in the 60s (if not the 50s). They foresightfully recognized Vince as a capable, companionable, and reliable associate in whom to entrust their business endeavors well into the future beyond their deaths. They reached into the future to take care of their families by placing their trust in Vince, who never let them down. He will be sorely missed going forward. He was a caring person with a wry sense of humor that always made conversations with him a delight. Our best wishes go to Vince's family at this time, and together we will leave a remembrance in his honor with his favorite Toys for Tots.
With love from Harold's and Don's granddaughters (& families),
Judy & Mary
With love from Harold's and Don's granddaughters (& families),
Judy & Mary
Vincent Alomia was an exceptional relative. As a young child my Mother, Betty Alomia-Parham would show me pictures of her brother in California. She admired and loved her brother very much. My mom would speak to Buzzy every day when she finally retired and they would share a local Chicago newspaper together. He was there for my sister and me when our mom was diagnosed with cancer. After she passed away my Uncle Buzzy and Aunt June Alomia-Popelka became our fill-in parents. I never felt so much love and affection from both of my mom's siblings. When June became ill with brain cancer, Buzzy flew to her side in Illinois and we finally were able to give each other a long overdue hug and kiss. After June died, Buzzy and I spoke together about sports, our lives, my daughter and my sisters family. He was so generous to me and my sister. I loved him so much and his death for me was so sudden and unexpected. Our whole family is missing dear sweet Uncle Buzzy so much and I will never eat another piece of Sees Chocolate without thinking of him. Rest in peace and I hope you're with Opal, Mom, Dad, and June. ♥
Saying goodbye to someone we love is heartbreaking. May you find comfort in all the special memories shared with Buzzy.
Uncle Vince,
You will be missed. So glad we were able to see you in recent years and you had a chance to meet some of your East Coast family. Heaven has gained another Angel and the Heavenly Couple is now complete. Will always remember you both with love, Marci, John & Girls.
You will be missed. So glad we were able to see you in recent years and you had a chance to meet some of your East Coast family. Heaven has gained another Angel and the Heavenly Couple is now complete. Will always remember you both with love, Marci, John & Girls.
Uncle Vince,
My earliest memories of you and Aunt Opal are from your living room, listening to Tijuana Brass and Nancy Sinatra on your reel-to-reel player. Shawnee was there too! He was such a gentle giant!
I also remember Aunt Opal’s delicious homemade apple pie and seeing Heidi every time you visited- she was always so pretty and so loved.
Thank you for being our witness as Dave and I married! We loved spending that precious day with you. Thank you also for always looking out for my mom.
We will always think of you fondly and will miss you.
We know you are among so many loved ones right now-such a reunion! I hope there is apple pie in Heaven!
With lots of love,
Rhonda and Dave
My earliest memories of you and Aunt Opal are from your living room, listening to Tijuana Brass and Nancy Sinatra on your reel-to-reel player. Shawnee was there too! He was such a gentle giant!
I also remember Aunt Opal’s delicious homemade apple pie and seeing Heidi every time you visited- she was always so pretty and so loved.
Thank you for being our witness as Dave and I married! We loved spending that precious day with you. Thank you also for always looking out for my mom.
We will always think of you fondly and will miss you.
We know you are among so many loved ones right now-such a reunion! I hope there is apple pie in Heaven!
With lots of love,
Rhonda and Dave
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I remember at 7 years old sitting on Uncle Buzzy's lap as he told me to let my arms go limp. Then, he became the puppateer with my arms and to this day I smile from the laughter and joy he created. And that was Buzz--a guy that knew how to create joy! Love ya Uncle Buzz!
Jay
Jay
Uncle Buzz is missed. I am his niece by marriage to Jason Popelka. Jason's mom, June, and Buzz were siblings, along with Betty. I first met Buzzy on our wedding day in 1972. Buzz and Opal drove from California to Illinois with their dear dog to come to our wedding. I think that puppy actually was in the car during the service! Because we took off for our honeymoon, we didn't get a chance for a "real" visit. I remember being together at Bass Lake, Indiana during our early marriage, when Buzz and Opal came to visit Grandma Doris and Grampa Vince. We saw Buzz more often after Opal passed when we came from the mid-west to California to visit David Popelka and Jeannie Prince (David is Jason's brother). Buzzy was known to bring two pies to every family get-together. A soft-spoken man with a kind heart, he rarely talked about himself, but asked about others. He was a wonderful brother to June, helping her out when she needed it. June loved her visits to California to be with David and Buzz. And Buzz came to St. Louis during the last months of June's life, as she fought brain cancer. Our children know Uncle Buzz more from his yearly Christmas gift - a 5 lb. box of See's Candy! What a treat! How kind of him to remember us every year for what seems like decades. We invited Buzz to come visit us - to drive up the coast in his Corvette to Sequim, WA where we now live. We knew it was wishful thinking, but I'd like to imagine him doing just that! Jason and I send our condolences to Ann and Barbara. Although we have never met, we know how much you were loved by Buzz. Rest in peace, dear uncle.
I am the third generation of Dunton's that have done business with Vince. Though we met through business, I feel we moved beyond that and became friends. I spoke with Vince regularly and we shared many personal things with each other. He always had time to chat and we shared many common interests. Vince was an old school businessman where his word was his bond. I have personally learned alot about business from him and I will be forever grateful for the knowledge he imparted to me. I hold him in the highest regard and the world will be a lesser place without him. Semper Fidelis from a Semper Paratus! May Gods blessings be upon Vince's family.
Steve Dunton
Steve Dunton
Gallery
Ann and Tommy
Vince and Opal
Freezing with Barbara at a Giants game.
Go Giants!
On the road, again.
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