Al was larger (and louder) than life with his boisterous voice and quick wit. He enjoyed duck hunting, fishing, camping, bonfires, movies, gardening, painting and spending time with friends laughing at (and with) others
Born in Chico to Betty Jean and Bradford Benjamin Dell, he moved to Vallejo, CA in 1966. At 16 years old in 1968, he started working at Mare Island under a program that helped him obtain his GED and provided him with training as an Electrician, working as a civilian for the Navy in the shipyard. He worked on the crew of the infamous submarine USS Guitarro that sank in the bay pier side during initial testing, this drew national attention and they won the Flying Fickle Finger of Fate award on the TV show Laugh In.
Al worked on Mare Island until retiring in 1993. Upon retirement, he moved to Princeton and managed the trailer court for several years. Being caretaker of the trailer court allowed him to spend time duck hunting and on the Sacramento River fishing, while also being unofficial mayor of the bonfire, as his home was right in the middle of the trailer
court where several sportsmen came and stayed for the season.
Al had 3 wives and celebrated 4 marriages,marrying one wife twice. He married his high school sweetheart (Hazel in 1968) and had a son, Richard Alan Dell. Jane Dell his 4th wife were friends long before they got married in 2002 and kept separate homes in Princeton up until only about 6 years ago, which both joked was the secret of a happy marriage.
Al enjoyed gardening and set up a huge garden that supplied the whole town with vegetables. Al was a meticulous note taker; he took tangible notes on neon colored 3×5 cards
about everything and was very organized. His notes ranged from his health stats, his to-do lists, to his painting; he cataloged every painting he finished with the date finished, the material used, the awards received, and who he gifted it to. He also had them numbered in chronological order.
Al enjoyed staying curious his whole life through, he was a voracious reader and was always learning something new.
Al is survived by his son, stepdaughter Tina (Ben) Gordon, stepson Joe (Audrey) Young, grandchildren Courtney Jimenez and Richard Dell Jr, and 3 great grandchildren, along with his brothers Dan Hogan and Terry Kerp, and sister Chrisy Frickstead.
Al will be interred to rest at the Princeton Cemetery on May 8, 2026 at 10am.