Services set for RB man killed in crash

The family of Marc William Durham will meet with friends and community members from 6-8 p.m.Friday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 15750 Bernardo Heights Parkway in Rancho Bernardo.

The funeral service will also be at the church, set for 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 28.

Durham, 65, died at the 14600 block of Camino del Norte, near the intersection of Carmel Mountain Road, when Anthony Guarino, driving eastbound in a BMW, allegedly rear-ended Durham’s 2002 Toyota Corolla, causing a chain reaction crash with four other vehicles shortly after 9 p.m. Aug. 20, according to authorities.

Lt. Andra Brown said Guarino, 57, was to be arraigned on three felony counts on Wednesday. He was booked after the accident under suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter, driving under the influence causing death, and drunken driving.

Durham had lived in Rancho Bernardo for two decades with Elaine, his wife of 42 years, said their youngest son, Brandon Durham.

The week before the crash, Durham had retired as head of security at BAE Systems (formerly General Dynamics). For most of his 20 years with the company he also held a second full-time job as head of security at The Remington Club, his son said.

The Utah native had also served 12 years in the Marine Corps prior to moving to Rancho Bernardo and was a high priest group leader at their church.

“My father was the biggest family man I’ve ever known,” Brandon Durham said Tuesday, adding his father was looking forward to having more time to spend with his wife, five adult children and nine grandchildren.
His only other interest — one his wife did not share — was movies. In the week before his death, he started enjoying retirement by seeing several films.

Durham said his father was going to see a movie last Friday night. As always, he invited his wife, who as usual, declined.

“We’re very fortunate,” Durham said, explaining if her answer had been yes, both his parents might have been killed in the crash.

“Things like this (accident) happen far too often,” Durham said. “Being drunk and driving is never the right decision to make. When you do this, you do not just affect the one person killed but their family and friends. The driver’s family and friends are affected too.

“This is the most avoidable situation and it boggles our minds that this has to happen.”

Durham said his family is very appreciative of their fellow church members who have provided endless support since news of his father’s death.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to be made to the Marc Durham Memorial Fund for breast cancer treatment at any Wells Fargo Branch, account number 2375599715.

They chose that cause, Durham said, because his oldest sister was recently diagnosed with stage three breast cancer and was to begin chemotherapy this week.

Spending money to help fight the disease instead of on flowers would mean a lot to his father, he said.