Tim Lindelli: Family Ties
By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter
SAN RAFAEL — As a third-generation employee at his family’s business, Tim Lindelli’s roots in the swimming pool industry go deeper than most. “My grandfather started Herb’s Pool Service about 58 years ago, and it’s been a family business ever since,” he says. “I started helping out during the summers as a kid, whether at the shop or on different jobsites, and following high school it just seemed natural for me to work here full-time and learn about other aspects of the business.” After 18 years, Tim says he continues to enjoy working alongside his family. “I’ve had friends who’ve worked for their family businesses, and most of them talked about how hard it was, but my own experience has been really positive. We don’t have any problems working together; rather, it actually brings us closer together, so I guess I’m pretty fortunate.”
As project manager for Herb’s Pool Service, Tim says he enjoys the process of working with customers to achieve their visions for their swimming pools. “I like going out to people’s homes, talking with them to get a feeling of what they’re looking for and then building the perfect pools for them. I love seeing how happy our customers are with the end results of our work.”
A lifetime North Bay resident, Tim grew up in Novato before later settling in Petaluma, where he lives today with his wife, Cindy, and their two daughters, Kayley and Ashley. “Both of my daughters are very involved in dance, so my wife and I spend a lot of time driving them to rehearsals and attending recitals,” he says. In his free time, Tim enjoys outdoor activities like golfing at the Petaluma Golf and Country Club and boating with friends and family at Lake Shasta.
When asked the first thing he’d do if he could retire tomorrow, Tim says he’d take a long vacation. “I’d probably take my family on a trip and go visit some places we’ve never seen. We’ve been to a few of the tropical islands, but other than that, we haven’t gone too far outside of the United States, so we’d start checking some of those destinations off the list.”
Ask Me Anything!
Q: What’s your favorite sports team?
A: The San Francisco 49ers.
Q: What’s your favorite restaurant?
A: Cucina Paradiso in Petaluma.
Q: What’s your earliest memory?
A: As a kid growing up in Novato, there was this big hill near my house. My mom used to bring home cardboard boxes from pool filters and we’d use them to slide down the hill, which was always a lot of fun.
Q: Have you ever had a conversation with a famous person?
A: Working in the pool business in Marin, I’ve had the opportunity to meet quite a few famous people. One in particular who stands out is Chris Isaac, just because he seemed like such a nice, down-to-earth guy when I talked with him.
Q: What was your favorite TV show when you were growing up?
A: “The Dukes of Hazzard.”
Q: What’s your favorite dessert?
A: Crème brûlée.
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