Joseph Paul Bianco

Joseph “Paul” Bianco, affectionately known as JP but best known as Paul, passed away on October 4, 2024, at the age of 78, in Reno, Nevada. Adventurer, storyteller, one-of-a-kind character, and a sometimes self-proclaimed know-it-all, Paul was a man of remarkable talents, relentless curiosity, and a zest for life that defied convention. Paul’s journey was a masterclass in living boldly; he didn’t just live life—he rewrote the rules. His time on earth was a rich tapestry of adventure, craftsmanship, and heartfelt connections that left an indelible mark on all who knew him.

The oldest of four Italian boys, Paul was born in San Francisco and raised between San Mateo and San Diego counties. During his formative years, Paul was a Boy Scout and a talented trumpet player and swimmer, graduating from Vista High School in 1964. Inspired by his stepfather, who was a drummer, Paul later developed a passion for big band music, enjoyed dancing and theater, and even landed the lead role as Professor Harold Hill in The Music Man.

Paul had an insatiable thirst for knowledge, leading him to study at Foothill Community College, Palomar Community College, Stanford University, and the University of Southern California, focusing on Law and Business Administration and International Politics.

The Vietnam War pulled Paul away from the classroom in 1968 when he was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he worked his way up to become a drill sergeant. Stationed between South Carolina and California, he served honorably, earning the Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

Paul was naturally mechanically minded, driven by creativity as well as a good challenge. His career spanned technical and supervisory positions at IBM, Watkins-Johnson, Finnegan Instruments, and Burroughs Computers. After completing a successful year-long research project for a Silicon Valley startup, he was offered advancement and compensation of his choice. Instead, in 1971, Paul opted out of the corporate world and ventured on a two-year motorcycle journey across Europe. At age 25, he traveled to 18 countries, making history as the first American to cross the Iron Curtain through Checkpoint Charlie on a motorcycle. Paul often described this eye-opening time exploring Europe as the most transformative experience of his life.

Back on the West Coast, embracing his entrepreneurial spirit, Paul founded Bianco Tile Contracting Co. in San Diego. His artisanship earned him recognition, including features in Sunset magazine and a commission from the California Historical Society. While living in and around San Diego, Paul enjoyed offshore boating, fishing for trout and marlin, and was a member of the Sea Ray Yacht Club.

Paul’s journey eventually led him to the Sierra Nevada Foothills, where he founded Grass Valley Tile Co. and indulged in his passion for stock car racing and destruction derbies. For a number of years, you could find him every Saturday night at the Ernie Purcell Speedway in Grass Valley, where he answered to “Berserko,” his given nickname for his thrilling – and occasionally reckless – driving style.

Paul didn’t just follow paths; he blazed them. It was in 1985, while riding his beloved horse named Fez after a three-month journey on the Pacific Crest Trail, that Paul discovered the little town of Graeagle, California. He quite literally rode in on a horse and never left. Over a span of almost 40 years Paul made Graeagle his home and playground. There he worked for and later owned Graeagle Stables, transforming it into a thriving horse-pack tour guide service while simultaneously perfecting his design skills through his third tile business, Graeagle Tile. Paul was particularly proud of the fact that during the time he owned and ran Graeagle Stables, he exclusively played Jimmy Buffet music rather than Country Western. Paul’s talent for clever wordsmithing led him to write and self-publish the book Finding the ‘Why’ in Graeagle – a whimsical collection of small-town tales. He also contributed columns to local newspapers, including Sierra County’s Mountain Messenger. Over the years, in and around Graeagle, he gave numerous talks on Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Veterans Day, commemorating veterans for their services. Additionally, he created his own self-funded organization, One More Military Mission, a passion project inspired by his own military experience, which helped veterans gain support for their entitled benefits after serving their country.

Paul was the type of person who made small-town living feel like a grand adventure. He was often seen driving his Army truck or one of his rusty Chevy Blazers through the backcountry roads, always clad in a denim Wrangler snap-button shirt with a pen in his pocket. His quick wit and thought-provoking conversations made him a fixture in the community. In later years, Paul was an avid reader on topics ranging from politics and history to presidents and war. Some of his favorite writers and humanitarians included Martin Luther King Jr., President John F. Kennedy, and Mark Twain. Over the last few years, you could find Paul on any given day reading a book at Graeagle’s Mill Pond or at the local tavern enjoying a 7UP after giving up his chosen former best friend, “Bud”(weiser).

There was only one Paul Bianco. You could say that he was an assortment of nuts and chews. No matter what he was doing, he had a way of making the mundane memorable and the ordinary extraordinary. His life centered around homespun folly, wilderness (mis)adventures, and brilliant ideas. Paul will be remembered throughout the rugged mountains, lakes, and streams of Plumas and Sierra counties, where he spent half his life exploring, camping, fishing and horseback riding. Paul, your humor, wisdom, and spirit will echo in the hum of each motorcycle, the gallop of every horse, and the memory of all the unbelievable tales you lived to tell. You taught us all to laugh loudly, live boldly, and always ask, “Why not?”

Paul is preceded in death by his mother, Carola Wright Bianco Diven; stepfather, “Friday” Diven; father, Joseph Domenico Bianco; and youngest brother, David Bianco. He is survived by brothers, Steve Bianco of Vista, CA, and Tom “Merlin” Bianco of Kingman, AZ; daughters, Rene Aragon of Nevada City, CA, and Kayle Martin of Grass Valley, CA; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, cherished friends, and a town full of neighbors who will miss his unforgettable presence.

A “Happy Trails” celebration of Paul’s life will be held on his birthday, June 4, 2025, from 2–5 PM at the Historic White Sulphur Springs Ranch in Clio, CA. For memorial service details, visit https://tinyurl.com/PaulBianco. Memorial contributions can be made in Paul’s honor to your local veterans organization or the Mohawk Valley Stewardship Council (PO Box 25, Clio, CA 96106).