Longtime Berkeley resident, René Jean Tournier, an architect and member of the Berkeley Lions Club, died Saturday, January 12, 2013, at the age of 86. He was active until the day of his death, living in his beloved home and meeting regularly with friends.

He was born in San Francisco on February 11, 1926, the youngest of three children by the late Arsene and Marie Aubry Tournier. After serving in the United States Army at the end of World War II, he was honorably discharged in 1945, receiving the American Theater Ribbon and Victory Medal, and then attended University of California at Berkeley, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

He later received his license as an architect by the State of California which he retained until 2011. In addition to self-employment as an architect, René worked for Reid and Tarics and Dukor Modular Systems, Inc. among others. Some of the most memorable projects he worked on included the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, the San Jose Airport, custom homes on stilts in the Berkeley hills, buildings at UC Medical Center in San Francisco, and churches.

Flying, music, art, photography, food, California wine and literature were his passions in life along with the knack for taking apart and rebuilding practically anything. He received his private pilot’s license from the FAA in 1945 and loved anything to do with aviation, including ballooning and parachuting. He once disassembled the engine of his 1959 Mercedes 190 SL on his bedroom floor and expertly rebuilt it back in the car. One harpsichord was not enough for him, so he also built one which he would play endlessly to the delight of all who had the opportunity to experience his expertise with Baroque music. René was proud of his French heritage, fluent in the language, and made several trips to France to meet with his relatives. In March 2012, the International Association of Lions Clubs awarded Life Membership to René in recognition of his outstanding community and humanitarian service as a Lion.

René is survived by his niece, Janice Parker of Portland, Oregon, nephew, James Parker of West Virginia and his grand nephew, Andrew Parker of Washington, DC.

A memorial service for René will be held at 5:00 pm, Thursday, January 31, 2013, at the Sunset View Mortuary, in El Cerrito. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent in honor of René Tournier to the Lions Eye Foundation of California-Nevada, Inc. For information on how to donate go to: http://www.lionseyeca-nv.org/contributions.htm