Andrea “Tig” Grace Glerum

Tig was born in Seattle on October 18, 1963, the eldest of four offspring born to Jay and Sallie (aka Sara) Glerum. The family moved to Wisconsin in 1972. Upon graduation from Wauwatosa East High School in 1981, Tig joined the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in England. With an early but honorable discharge, they moved to Colorado, eventually moving back to Wisconsin until they determinedly chose California as their home state of choice in 1985.

After working as a licensed massage therapist in the Bay Area, Tig became a full-time nanny for twin girls from infancy until they began school. Tig then went on to earn a degree in Civil Engineering from UC-Berkeley in 1997 and a Master of Science degree in Transportation Management and Policy from San Jose State University. During their career as transportation engineer, they worked for Caltrans, Nolte, Jacobs, and WSP|Parsons-Brinckerhoff, finishing their career at San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority (SFMTA) where they were project manager for Better Market Street.

When Tig retired in 2018, they took on a new calling, which they called Wanderer, Worshipper, and Witness to the World. They sold their house in Point Richmond, bought an RV, and went on the road solo. With interruptions of independence and comfort brought about by chronic health issues, Tig wintered over at Lakeside RVPark in Everett Washington in 2018, then remained there for the remainder of their life. Initially not envisioning themself as someone who would stay in one place for long, they discovered the RV Park was the warmest community they had ever experienced. Until the last day of their life, they were surrounded by supportive and caring friends at Lakeside.

An accomplished civil engineer partial to bridges, Tig worked on many projects in the Bay area. They believed they had made a difference within their industry and acted as mentor to many co-workers. On their own time, they were a passionate foodie and creative cook, an imaginative knitter, and art appreciator and multi-genre music lover. In their healthier years, they enjoyed hiking and camping and swam every morning. They adored their two cats in their younger years and later in life were devoted to two dogs—one being an abused rescue mutt named Toby. In the last year of life Tig wrote short poems, summarizing their life experiences and relationships to loved ones. Tig is survived by mother, Sallie; brothers Matt, Phil, and Pete along with their respective families: their wives Candra Canning, Denise Kenney, and Eleni Glerum, and their daughters Katie Glerum, Maddie Glerum, and Mae Glerum. Tig’s father, Jay, predeceased them in 2014.

Upon release from this life, Tig asked that these requests be shared with all who knew them:

Think of me whenever you cross a bridge, follow a sign that helps you find your destination, or see an interesting transit/roadway project, and say aloud: You were here. I saw you. You made a difference. I say your name: Tig (or Andrea)