Montague “Monte” Middleton Upshaw, former chairman of Fidelity Roof Company, passed away due to complications from Parkinson’s Disease on July 26, 2017. He is survived by his wife Joan, his previous wife, Carol, and their four children, a brother and 13 grandchildren.

Monte took over the management of Fidelity Roof Company (FRC), located in Oakland, Calif., in the 1960s, following the death of his father. He grew the business into a premiere roofing company that gained local and national recognition. Monte was one of the first in the industry to hire women roofers, many who continued their careers beyond their initial experiences at FRC.

Monte held prominent leadership roles for the Union and Merit Contractors and the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA).

He was a graduate of Piedmont High School where he was a world-class interscholastic track star. He tied a national record of 18.8 in the 180 high hurdles, and a world-record-breaking long jump of 25’4-1/2, a record that was previously held by Olympic great Jessie Owens, and placed Monte as the fifth ranking long jumper in the world.

He studied business and political science at UC Berkeley and continued in track and field. He was inducted into the UC Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Monte’s name to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland, the Cal “Big C” Society, or a charity of your choice.