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Thomas “Bud” Michel DeGrio

January 14, 2025


April 28, 1945 — December 21, 2024

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Thomas “Bud” Michel DeGrio

Thomas “Bud” Michel DeGrio passed away unexpectedly on the 21st of December, 2024, surrounded by family in Sonora, CA.

Bud was born April 28th, 1945, to “Mike” Roland and Margaret DeGrio in San Rafael, CA. In 1948, they moved to Alleghany, a small gold mining town in California, where his father was a mine owner/operator. Bud spent most of his childhood with the men and started working alongside them in the Mine at the age of 11.

Bud attended and graduated from the K-12 school in Alleghany. He attended Sierra College before enlisting in the US Navy at 21. Bud was a US Navy Seal Special Op in the Republic of Vietnam from 1967-71. After Vietnam, he attended the University of San Francisco.

Bud spent the next 50 years participating in mining and heavy civil projects around the world, working mining projects in the frozen North and the sweltering jungles of South America. His local mining experience included Gardner’s Point open pit Placer gold mine (80s), San Juan Ridge Underground Placer mine (90s), Design/construction/management of The Bear River hard rock quarry (Hansen Bros.), and several other small underground mines. His last civil project was The San Vicente Dam Raise before retiring from Parsons Corp. in 2012.

After 2012, Bud continued providing engineering and consulting services and construction management services through his company DECONCO. From 2016 until his death, he provided construction management services to Hetch Hetchy Water and Power. He held an active Contractors License, MSHA Contractors License, California Blaster’s License, and several other Operational and Safety certificates. He was also a long-time board member of the Underground Gold Miners Museum in Alleghany.

Bud is survived by his wife, Becky Higgs; Daughters, Melissa DeGrio, Melissa Santos (Syth), Sarah Gordon (DeGrio); Son, Thomas Maritz-DeGrio; Sisters, Patricia Russell and Kathleen McGuire, as well as 8 grandchildren (Brieana, Tanner, Tristen, Kaylee, Hailey, Trayton, Blake, and Alyssia) and 3 great-grandchildren (Elliott, Emerson, and Everett). He is preceded in death by his father, Roland (Mike), Mother, Margaret, and sister, Margaret (Micky).

Bud loved the Lord and his family, the MOST important joys in his life! He touched many people in his lifetime and has left a mark on this world. He will be deeply missed, never forgotten!


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