Dennis Wayne Shimek, BHS 1955

Dennis Wayne Shimek, BHS 1955

May 9, 1937 - July 15, 2023

Sacramento, California - Dennis Wayne Shimek

Dennis was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Raymond Ramon Shimek and Alvalda Hertha Wenzel.

He moved west with his family and graduated from Burbank High School and earned an AA degree from Pasadena Community College, working as a baggage handler at the Burbank airport. He went on to earn a BS degree from UC Berkeley, as a proud member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity, and an MBA from California State University San Francisco in Labor Relations. During the summer he worked for Del Monte Company as an accountant in their fish canneries in Egegik, Alaska and for the National Labor Relations Board in San Francisco overseeing union elections.

In 1961 he married his college sweetheart, Cherie Bernardo, moved to Sacramento, and after a short stint with the California State Employees Association, he was hired away by UC Davis to begin a 42-year career with the Aggies. His title, Director of Personnel, morphed over the years and he retired as Associate Vice Chancellor, Human Relations (same job description, thousands more employees). He will be remembered as a fair but fierce and effective labor contract negotiator and champion for minority causes including the implementation of the Title IX directives. After a short retirement he answered a call from California State University, Stanislaus, to become their Vice President, Human Relations, commuting to Turlock with ease for eight years until his final retirement at age 80.

Dennis had many interests. He was a Docent for the Old Eagle Theatre and the Railroad Museum leading tours in costume and, until recently, was a jail visitation volunteer for Loaves and Fishes. He loved all kinds of music having season tickets to the San Francisco Opera & attending all central valley George Jones and Merle Haggard concerts. After retirement he took up the ukulele and spent many Saturday mornings playing and singing at the Music Café in Folsom.

He traveled the world with family and friends eventually visiting all seven continents. Closer to home he annually backpacked the Sierras, deer hunted in Northern California and fished the Boundary Waters in Northern Minnesota. He was a long time fitness fanatic beginning with his workouts at Gold's Gym in Los Angeles and until recently working out most every day at Del Norte Sports Club.

Throughout his life his family always came first. "He was always there for us. He was our rock." He is survived by Cherie, his sons, Steve (Guadalupe) and Dave (Lulu) his granddaughter, Elizabeth & and his step-grandsons, Jesus and Jonathan Quintero, and a large extended family of in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins in both Minnesota & California and his beloved dog, Mr. Boo. He was predeceased by his parents and brother, Devon (Charlene).

Per his request, there will be no service. His family will spread his ashes beneath the Golden Gate Bridge, at deer camp and in the Boundary Waters.

He was one of the good guys, gone but not forgotten.

Published by The Sacramento Bee on Aug. 20, 2023.