Obituary: Kenneth Charles Traum, July 17, 1971 – November 5, 2016

Kenneth Charles Traum passed away suddenly at his home in Martinez, Calif., on Nov. 5, 2016. He was 45.

Kenny was born on July 17, 1971, at Alta Bates Hospital in Berkeley, Calif. He moved to South Lake Tahoe, Calif., with his mother, Judy, and brother, Mike, when both boys were toddlers. He attended pre-school at Under the Magic Pine Tree, followed by Meyers and Al Tahoe elementary schools, South Tahoe Middle School, and graduated from South Tahoe High School in 1989.

Kenny was a football player in high school and a member of the ski team. As teenagers, both he and his brother had Heavenly season passes, where the boys and their friends spent countless days together on the mountain. Kenny was also an accomplished drummer. He was in both the symphonic and jazz bands in middle and high school.

Upon graduating, Kenny attended UC Berkeley, where he became a drummer in “the pacesetter of college marching bands” and “The Pride of California,” the University of California Marching Band. Kenny embodied the band’s adage of “spirit, drive and excellence.”

He lived in the band’s Tellefsen Hall and was fortunate to travel the country, including performing in the 1991 season’s Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla. At Cal, Kenny also became an active member of the Delta Deuteron charge of the Theta Delta Chi (TDX) International Fraternity and lived in the Delta Deut house for a couple of years. After receiving his degree at Cal, Kenny moved to the East Coast where he earned a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the University of South Carolina.

After returning to the West Coast, Kenny met fellow Cal grad Tina Morris. The two were married in 2001 and had their only child, son Jacob, in 2004. The family spent many years living in Bend, Oregon before returning to and settling in the Bay Area. For most of his working career, Kenny was a human resources executive in the Bay Area’s burgeoning technological industry.

Kenny’s formative years at Lake Tahoe, the relationships and friendships he made during his time at Cal, and most of all the role of being a father, wholly defined the person that he was. In fact, just a short time before he passed, Kenny enthusiastically shared with the family that the time he spent with Jacob during the summer of 2016 was the greatest couple of months of his life.

Kenny is survived by his parents Judy Brown (Alan) of South Lake Tahoe, Calif., and Robert Traum (Valerie) of Henderson, Nev.; his wife Tina Morris-Traum and their 12 year-old son Jacob of Martinez, Calif.; his brother Michael Traum (Tracy) of Davis, Calif. and their two children (Tylar, Miller); half-brothers Matthew (Sharon) and Jonathan (Susan) Traum who each have two children; and his aunt Barbara Riggs of South Lake Tahoe. He is predeceased by his uncle David Traum.

The family plans a private interment at Happy Homestead Cemetery. A casual celebration of life is planned for Sunday, Dec. 4, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., in the convention center at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe. The family would be honored to have you join them to remember Kenny on that day.

Please contact his brother, Mike, at memoriesforkennytraum@gmail.com to RSVP and for information about a custodial fund established for Kenny’s son.