CRA Executive Director Dale Blackwell Dies of Brain Injury
Blackwell was born in 1954 in Santa Monica, Calif., and moved with his family to Sacramento at age four, when his parents Gene and Betty moved to start Aba Daba. In 2000, Blackwell and his brother Bob became second generation owners. Blackwell served on the CRA board of directors for many years and became executive director in 2006, continuing to serve in that position until his death. Blackwell also served as chairman of the Insurance Committee of CRA for 14 years.
Blackwell was an extremely popular figure with the association, seeming to almost single-handedly keep the association going, particularly during the recession years, with the help of his wife Vicky and association executive assistant Carol Murphy.
Blackwell was a passionate football fan, particularly of the Oakland Raiders. Every Sunday during football season, Blackwell would go to church and then watch the Raiders. Blackwell loved to fish and would spend a month in the fall in Oregon fishing for salmon. An avid traveler, Blackwell loved to travel with his trailer, along with his wife, often visiting family members as well as CRA members around the state.
Blackwell loved animals and enjoyed his pets Leila and Jack. A statement from CRA said, “He loved watching his grandchildren and spending time with family. Dale was known for his infectious laugh, amazing advice, and his kind and generous spirit.”
Blackwell is survived by his wife Victoria, better known as Vicky; and his five children, Kerri Costarella, Scott, Jeffery, Randall and Jena. He is also survived by his parents, Gene & Betty, his three younger siblings Bob, Dianne and Christine, four grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Because of the current risks of Covid-19, Blackwell’s family will be hosting a celebration of life later this year. Details will follow when the risks are lower.
In lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations can be made to Rental Services Industry Foundation, or to your local animal shelter.
About the Author
Michael Roth
Editor
Michael Roth has covered the equipment rental industry full time for RER since 1989 and has served as the magazine’s editor in chief since 1994. He has nearly 30 years experience as a professional journalist. Roth has visited hundreds of rental centers and industry manufacturers, written hundreds of feature stories for RER and thousands of news stories for the magazine and its electronic newsletter RER Reports. Roth has interviewed leading executives for most of the industry’s largest rental companies and manufacturers as well as hundreds of smaller independent companies. He has visited with and reported on rental companies and manufacturers in Europe, Central America and Asia as well as Mexico, Canada and the United States. Roth was co-founder of RER Reports, the industry’s first weekly newsletter, which began as a fax newsletter in 1996, and later became an online newsletter. Roth has spoken at conventions sponsored by the American Rental Association, Associated Equipment Distributors, California Rental Association and other industry events and has spoken before industry groups in several countries. He lives and works in Los Angeles when he’s not traveling to cover industry events.