John Paul Dabney, a longtime supporter of area bluegrass music and a Northern California Bluegrass Society member, has died. He enabled the Dabney Hicks Festivals (and campouts) at Bolado Park in Tres Pinos and the NCBS Bluegrass On Broadway Festivals in Redwood City with his financial and moral support.
In his younger years, he attended many bluegrass and other festivals and enthusiastically supported the arts in and near his hometown of San Carlos. In his later years, he livestreamed many musical events at home and occasionally made appearances at live music gatherings. He enjoyed all musical genres, especially bluegrass, traditional jazz, Fado, and Rebetica (urban Greek jazz). His principal non-arts-related hobby was rock and mineral collecting, a passion he actively pursued until his death.
He lived in San Carlos all of his life. John’s career was as a social worker with San Mateo County. He spent his career working with people with mental illness and counseling children and families. He also developed a program to assess seniors with depression and dementia. His wife of 42 years, Jane Dabney, was a social worker and computer programmer before her death in 2007. The adventurous couple traveled throughout the world after their retirement.
