More detail on this person: Dale Alan Sorbello
passed away peacefully on Sunday evening, August
29, 2010, after a sudden rupture of a cerebral
arteriovenous malformation (AVM) he had
unknowingly had since birth. He was surrounded by
his family and listening to his favorite hymn, ''O
Love of God, How Strong and True'', from
''Chariots of Fire''. Indeed, Dale has finished
his race -- and he ran it well.
Dale's race began in Pullman, Washington, where
he was born on January 16, 1950 to Joseph and
Sharon Sorbello. The family soon moved to
Southern California, where Dale grew up. After
high school graduation, Dale became a Chief
Warrant Officer in the United States Army and flew
helicopters in Vietnam. It was there that Dale
trusted in Jesus as his Lord and Savior and was
dramatically transformed. After Vietnam, Dale
earned his B.S. in Psychology at San Jose State
University (SJSU). When working on his M.S. in
Counseling at SJSU, he met the love of his life,
Kimberly Brady, and married her on Valentine's Day
of 1975. They had always hoped to have many
children; in 1976, they welcomed their first
child, Sarah, followed by their son, Shiloh, and
daughters Bethany and Gracie. Two new ''kids''
joined the family when Shiloh married Samantha
Nicholson and Bethany married Richie Armstrong,
and Dale loved them as his own.
Despite excellent health, Dale was acutely aware
of his mortality and frequently discussed his
''launch'', as he liked to call it. Just as he had
hoped, he left this world suddenly and without
suffering, until that time with health and
strength unabated. His family considers the way he
so quickly and painlessly passed on to be one of
God's great mercies to a great, great man.
Undoubtedly, he was immediately ushered into the
arms of the Savior he had so loved and served,
hearing the words boldly declared: ''Well done,
good and faithful servant.''
A servant he was. Avoiding laud and attention,
Dale's strength and time were spent in service to
God and to those around him. Those who knew
Dale describe him as humble, wise, gentle, kind,
steady, patient, faithful, disciplined, loyal,
hardworking, playful, encouraging, generous, and
full of forgiveness, integrity, and genuine
concern for others. Dale consistently ''did the
right thing'', no matter the cost. He boldly
maintained staunch intolerance of injustice toward
the vulnerable. A man of hospitality, his home was
always open to others. Many young people
considered Dale ''the dad they never had'' and
deemed his house their ''home away from home''.
Dale loved others unconditionally and showed this
in very tangible ways.
After the early jobs he fondly remembered, like
washing dishes in his Italian immigrant
grandmother's restaurant, ''busting tires'' at
Sears, working at Pete's Pie Shop, and organizing
bell ringing for the Salvation Army, his career
was devoted to improving the lives of the
developmentally disabled. He found great
satisfaction in making a tangible difference in
the lives of the people he served. This work took
him from Orange County, where he worked as a
young consultant; to Valley Mountain Regional
Center in Stockton, where he worked for eight
years; and then to the Department of Developmental
Services (DDS) in Sacramento. Upon retirement, he
continued to serve the DDS and the Association of
Regional Center Agencies (ARCA) as Sorbello
Consulting. Dale was held in highest esteem by his
co-workers; his strong but gentle leadership
caused many to consider him ''the best boss I ever
had''.
Dale was intensely dedicated to his family. He
took sweet care of his wife of 35 1/2 years,
Kimberly. From barefoot walks and local errands to
arduous hikes and tours of Israel and Europe, the
two were inseparable best friends. Just a week
before the AVM rupture, Dale and Kim backpacked
the Lost Coast; last summer, they hiked the John
Muir trail, ending atop Mt. Whitney; two years
ago, they hiked across England.
Dale's children literally thought he was perfect.
Firm but gentle, he held high standards but never
raised his voice. All of his children respected
him immensely. A playful, hands-on dad, he took
them on ''special days out'' and attended every
game and performance. Dale made each of his
children feel like his favorite, despite their
unique natures. His eldest daughter, Sarah, who
has Down syndrome, considered Dad her favorite
person on earth; Dale cherished and protected
her.
Dale loved to play racquetball, grow fruit and
giant pumpkins, treat his family to In-N-Out
Burger, and make the best spaghetti sauce on
earth; but one of his greatest delights was being
Poppy to his young grandchildren. He would pick
fruit from his trees with them, take them on
errands, read to them, let them ''help'' him mow
lawns and do yard work, play toys, chase and
tickle them, and give them his famous
''whiskers''. On his last morning at home, Dale
laughed with delight at the round bellies of his
daughters who were carrying his fourth and fifth
grandchildren. Colson Dale was born five days
later; he carries his Poppy's name and got to
snuggle with his Poppy in the hospital.
Dale was devoted to his relationship with God;
some of his children's earliest memories are of
their father reading the Bible to them and of
accompanying their dad on walks while he prayed
fervently. He was actively involved in First
Baptist Church of Davis, serving for several years
on the elder board, and was a member of The
Gideons International for 32 years.
Unafraid of death, Dale was well-prepared and
talked about it often; despite all the blessings
of his life, he longed for his real Home -- where,
as one of his favorite Bible verses states, there
is ''no more death or mourning or crying or pain''
(Revelation 21:4). His hope and faith were vibrant
and strong, which provides great comfort to those
who survive him -- but so many will miss him
deeply: his devoted wife, Kimberly; adoring
children Sarah, Shiloh and Samantha, Richie and
Bethany, and Gracie; and doting grandchildren
Luke, Ezekiel, and Colson Dale Armstrong, and
Siena Sorbello (with a little sister on the way!).
Preceded in death by his mother, Sheri Sorbello,
Dale is survived by his father, Joseph Sorbello
and his wife, Marguerite; brother Robert Sorbello;
brother Samuel Charles Sorbello and his wife,
Pauline; dear friends and in-laws Richard and
Robin Pleau; as well as numerous aunts, uncles,
nieces, nephews, cousins, co-workers, and
friends.
A memorial service will be held at 6:00 PM on
Monday, September 6, 2010 at First Baptist Church
of Davis (38141 Russell Boulevard). All are
welcome. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent
-- per Dale's longstanding request -- to The Voice
of the Martyrs (P.O. Box 443, Bartlesville, OK
74005) or to The Gideon's International (P.O. Box
140800, Nashville, TN 37214). Published in The
Sacramento Bee on September 5, 2010
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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