Stephen Dombrink ’65, passed away Dec. 3, 2011. A resident of Oakland, The Honorable Stephen Dombrink passed away surrounded by his loving family, after a valiant 15-year battle with Multiple Myeloma. Steve handled his ordeal with his illness with strength, courage, hopefulness and a sense of humor, making him an inspiration to those around him.

Proud of his Oakland heritage and the century long Dombrink family history in the East Bay, Steve earned his diploma from St. Elizabeth’s High School, and greatly enjoyed planning and attending a recent 50th reunion with his classmates. He received his BA degree in 1965 from Santa Clara University and maintained lifelong relationships with a number of the friends he made there. He treasured having spent a memorable year in Rome, an experience that sparked a lifelong love of Europe. After receiving his JD degree from Boalt Hall Law School (UC Berkeley) in 1968, he moved to Washington, D.C., where he served for four years with the Navy’s Judge Advocate General Corps. After studies in Paris, he returned to the East Bay, where he joined the Crosby, Heafey law firm and where he met and fell in love with his wife, Debi. Later he became a partner at the firm of Chandler, Bruner and Dombrink.

The highlight of Steve’s career was his appointment as an Alameda County Superior Court Judge, where he distinguished himself for 20 years on the bench, retiring last year. Colleagues knew him as a dedicated, thoughtful, and caring judge who was fair and evenhanded. Known for his remarkably calm disposition, optimism, quick wit, self-ffacing manner, intellectual curiosity and wry sense of humor, Steve was a man of culture. He loved and was completely dedicated to his family, and his greatest joy was spending time with his sons, family and friends. He also enjoyed traveling, reading, listening to a wide variety of music, watching the 49ers, A’s and Giants games, and taking walks through his neighborhood and the Big Trees State Park. Steve is survived by his wife of 35 years, Debi Baird Dombrink, his two sons, Michael and Mark Dombrink, his sister Marilyn Salazar, his step-mother, Betty Dombrink, his aunt Norma Anderson, his beloved nieces and nephews, his sister- and brother-in law Beverly ("Sister") and John Zanarini, and his many cousins.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to St. Anthony Foundation in San Francisco or Corpus Christi School in Piedmont. A service celebrating Steve’s life will be held on Sat., Dec. 17, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at the Waterfront Hotel in Oakland.