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Born in New Mexico to a father of Irish-American ancestry and a mother who was of mixed Native American heritage, Del was raised into modest circumstances. He joined the US Navy as a young man, serving three years before an honorable discharge in 1962. He attended Fullerton College, earning his AA in 1967, and then continuing to Cal State University, Fullerton to earn his BS degree in Sociology in 1969. He completed a Masters Degree in Anthropology in 1972. Del’s early years formed his life-long love of people and their diversity, so when he joined Fullerton College as a full-time instructor in 1974, it was a natural fit for him to teach both Sociology and Anthropology courses in the Social Sciences Division.
During his long tenure at Fullerton College, Del served on multiple committees, including co-chairing the Demographics Committee with Jerry Padilla from 1985-1992. He was a founding mentor in the FC Intern-Mentor Program, where he mentored two CSUF graduate students who later went on to become instructors at Fullerton College. He also participated in MEChA, Latino Faculty and Staff Association, and was always encouraging students to achieve betterment through higher education. He collaborated with the Bureau of Land Management and CSUF Anthropology Department on several archaeological field research projects, including several he published as archaeology lab manuals for use in the classroom. Del was an avid runner and camper, and spent countless weekends in the local deserts on archaeological digs with both FC and CSUF students.
Fullerton College loved a beloved and respected member of its family when Del passed away in January 2004.