Darryll Jabbar Thomas

When Darryll Jabbar Thomas walked into the room, those in his company felt his energy, a ray of light, an enthusiastic spontaneity. This was just one example of who Darryll was and how he impacted those around him. He was a funny and sociable person who always sought out the finest attributes in other people. He was a true friend to many. It was as if Darryll wanted to share all of their experiences, revel in their lives, and celebrate their discoveries. He was tireless and had boundless enthusiasm that would serve him well throughout his life.

Darryll was born on February 11, 1972 in San Diego, CA. He was the son of Lela F. Bell and Darryll F. Thomas. Darryll was raised in Poway, CA. Always ready with a good joke, he grew up to be quite a humorous person Those who knew him well would jokingly say "Darryll, you play too much". While some who knew Darryll might describe him as an idealist, his friends and family understood well that Darryll was always in pursuit of laughter, life’s enjoyments, and endless possibilities and opportunities available to him.

Darryll was raised with his younger brother, Marcus, and later a stepbrother Donald, step-sister Kym and was loved by his Bonus Mom" Sandra. Darryll was very accepting and supportive of his family. He was perceived as the central person in terms of keeping communication open between the family members. Along with his wit, outgoing personality, and understanding of others, whenever discord or tension arose within the home, Darryll was typically the member who brought about resolution and harmony. These traits remained with Darryll throughout his life.

As a young boy, Darryll had a vast array of friends, all with differences and personality types. This quality drew him into a diverse group of friends and acquaintances. Darryll was shining light. Intelligent, talkative, and sociable and had little trouble getting along with anyone he met. He was almost always the first to jump in when it came to playing games or participating in other childhood activities. Darryll took part in many sports which included soccer, baseball, and football. He had the ability to find amusement with almost any activity he discovered.

Darryll graduated from Poway High School in 1990. He was a very good student, but for Darryll, school often became an extension of playtime, thanks to his ability to turn just about anything into a game. Classmates considered Darryll a good listener, knowing that when necessary, they could go to him to discuss just about anything.

On January 15, 2004 Darryll's life truly began with the birth of his daughter Deja Jolie Thomas. Darryll was a natural and creative parent who was willing to provide Deja with all sorts of new and interesting experiences. Parenting was the most enjoyable and pleasurable part of his life. Every activity, from chores to bedtime routines, became a game in the Thomas home. Darryll made sure that she knew he was her #1 fan and was a great father who not only did all in his power to go above and beyond for Deja but was also big on showing his love and affection whenever and wherever he could.

On September 19, 2015 Darryll married Sacha Glassner at The Japanese Friendship Garden of San Diego, CA. Darryll's skill at “building bridges” played an important role in his ability to make his new family happy. He was always sensitive towards Sacha's needs, showing his constant love and affection. Darryll was tenderhearted and his sensitive qualities nurtured his family. Through their union Darryll was blessed with two stepdaughters; Jade Davis, Autumn Asoau, and one stepson Kimo Asoau. They were also blessed with 3 G-babies: Samiya, Jerik, and Zion.

Darryll was uplifted by new ideas and was excited by life’s possibilities, traits that made him an exceptional worker. His primary occupation was an outside service tech. He was employed for 20+ with AT&T. Darryll was inventive and working against deadlines seemed to energize him. Darryll had the uncanny ability to identify a win/win solution to just about any problem, possibly because of his gift for insight. Darryll's fellow workers saw him as a supporter and a mentor.

Darryll loved to have a variety of activities in his life, he took advantage of the opportunity for free time. His favorite pursuits were fitness and working out, long and short getaways with his wife, and most of all supporting and living for every athletic event, every adventure, and every dream of his daughter Deja. Darryll had a knack for being able to multi-task in order to create time for all of his favorite pastimes.

His charisma, athleticism, and ability to improvise when called upon made perfect attributes for enjoying a great many sporting activities. In school, Darryll played baseball, soccer, and football and continued to stay active by playing football at Mesa College. Darryll was also a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite team the Pittsburgh Steelers whenever he got the opportunity.

There was always a certain style and inventiveness to Darryll. He was a dynamic, self-expressive person who was forever looking to celebrate the endless possibilities life had to offer. He had a knack for being clever, creative, and witty, and the life of any party. He was fiercely independent, and it seemed as if many others looked to Darryll Thomas for leadership, inspiration, wisdom, and even courage. Darryll was always more than willing to share life’s experiences with his loved ones. He was one of a kind and enjoyed every moment of life to the fullest.