Search for celebrities on Ancestry.com!Louis J. Costa
Services are today for Louis J. Costa, who died Sunday at his Santa Cruz home. He was 65.
He was born in Manteca, but moved to Santa Cruz as a child and attended local schools. In 1956 he graduated from Santa Cruz High School, where he was a scholar athlete.
He joined the National Guard after high school and became a military policeman. He worked for local construction companies for many years, including Reese Construction, Bogard Construction and Rosewall Construction. He was a construction superintendent at Rosewall before retiring.
He enjoyed hunting and fishing, and was the longtime president of Clearwater Duck Club in Gustine. He was a member of the Forty Thieves. His family remembered him as an excellent cook.
He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Virginia Costa of Santa Cruz; daughter Michele Costa of Campbell; father Manuel Costa of Santa Cruz; brother Robert Costa of Fresno; sister Diane Smith of Santa Cruz; three nieces and a nephew.
His mother, Vera Costa, died in 1988.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. today at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 126 High St., Santa Cruz. Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
Contributions are preferred to the American Heart Association, 1514 Moffett St., Salinas, CA 93905.
February 13, 2003
Ethel Cornell Baumgardner
Services will be private for Ethel Cornell Baumgardner, who died Monday in Watsonville. She was 97.
She was born on the family ranch on Green Valley Road, and lived in Watsonville her entire life.
Her father, Harry Cornell, was one of 13 students in Watsonville High School’s first graduating class in 1892.
She also graduated from Watsonville High, and then obtained a teaching credential from San Jose Normal School, now San Jose State University. She taught at Mintie White Elementary School, and then Moreland Notre Dame for 20 years before retiring in 1975.
She kept in touch with many of her third-grade students, who remembered her flamboyant clothing and long earrings.
She enjoyed growing flowers, and her front yard was filled with shades of pink to blend with her rose-colored house. She was a member of the First Christian Church, the Pajaro Valley Historical Society, the Order of Eastern Star, Wild Lily Chapter No. 18, the American Legion Auxiliary and the Retired Teachers Association.
She was a Red Cross volunteer at Fort Ord during World War II, and played bridge weekly.
She is survived by sister-in-law Florence Cornell of Las Vegas; stepdaughter Marjorie Hagist of Pittsburg; niece Rita Browne of Dinuba; and several cousins, great nieces and nephews.
Her husband, Earl Baumgardner, died in 1951. Sister Blanche Cornell Johnson and brother Elmer Cornell also died before her.
Mehl’s Colonial Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
Contributions are preferred to Moreland Notre Dame School, 133 Brennan St., Watsonville; the Pajaro Valley Historical Society, 332 E. Beach St., Watsonville; or to donor’s favorite charity.
February 13, 2003
Arthur Manny Schaffer
Arthur Manny Schaffer, who as an assistant district attorney in San Francisco, prosecuted comedian Lenny Bruce on a profanity charge, died Jan. 28 in Bonny Doon. He was 85.
Mr. Schaffer was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., to a devoutly Jewish family. He had lived in Santa Cruz for five years.
He explored a variety of careers before settling on law. He was involved in psychology research, sang opera at Carnegie Hall, worked as a singing waiter in the Catskills and developed and implemented a radar countermeasure system for the Air Force during World War II.
He graduated from Hastings Law School, where he was editor of the law review. He worked for the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office from 1960 to 1969.
During his prosecution of Bruce, the two men developed a friendship, the family said. Mr. Schaffer is depicted in the movie, "Lenny," as encouraging the judge to make the errors that eventually led to the comedian’s conviction being overturned.
Later in life, he discovered a passion for teaching, and became an instructor at Western State University of Law.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Martha Schaffer of Santa Cruz; and sons Evan Schaffer of Bonny Doon and Joel Schaffer of Orinda.
Santa Cruz Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.
February 13, 2003
Shirley A. Spencer
Services will be Tuesday for Shirley Ackerman Spencer, who died Sunday at her Capitola home. She was 78.
A third-generation Californian, she was born in Santa Cruz and lived in the state her entire life.
She attended Holy Cross grammar school and graduated from Santa Cruz High School in 1941. She entered Hartnell Junior College at age 16.
Mrs. Spencer enjoyed reminiscing about her youth in Santa Cruz. Her parents lived in the city for many years, and met while working at County Bank. She recalled riding her tricycle through the bank as a young child. Later she enjoyed roller skating from the Eastside to the rink by the beach.
She worked as a bookkeeper for her father’s Santa Cruz-based accounting firm in the 1950s, and in the nursing field in the 1970s and 1980s.
She marriage her first husband, Lloyd Zieber of Santa Cruz, in 1945. Her second husband, Bradley Spencer, was from San Francisco. They marriage in 1954.
She was a gourmet cook and an amateur astronomer. She loved the ocean and flowers, particularly the roses she would see growing in Soquel, Santa Cruz and Capitola. She attended church at Holy Cross and St. Joseph’s parishes.
She is survived by brothers Gerald Ackerman of Claremont and Alois Ackerman of Corralitos; sister Lois Lawson of Soquel; sons Robert Spencer of Alameda, and Barry and Steven Spencer of Berkeley; daughters Brennie Spencer Small of Capitola and Laurel Del Pozo of Las Vegas; and seven grandchildren.
Her daughter, Marie Rowe, died before her.
A Burial service will at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday at Oakwood Memorial Park in Santa Cruz, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 435 Monterey Ave., Capitola. After the service, a reception will be held at the church hall.
Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
Contributions are preferred to St. Joseph’s Ministry for the Elderly Homebound, 435 Monterey Ave., Capitola.
February 14, 2003
Ernesto Medina
Services will be Tuesday for Ernesto Medina, who died Tuesday in San Leandro. He was 46.
Mr. Medina was born in San Pedro, Jalisco, Mexico, and had lived in Watsonville for 38 years.
He worked for John Komello Farms in Watsonville for 30 years, and more recently at Turner Construction.
His sixth child, a boy to be named Ernesto Medina Jr., is due March 28.
He is survived by wife Maria Ester Torres of Watsonville; mother Maria Louise Medina of Bakersfield; sons Ernesto Medina of Salida and Rocky Ernesto Medina of Watsonville; daughters Veronica Ramos of San Jose, Anna Diaz of Oceanside and Ernestina Medina of Watsonville; brothers Felix and Roberto Medina of Watsonville and Jose Louis Medina of Bakersfield; sisters Maria Nieves Medina, Evila Fuentes, Elsa Medina and Obdulia Aguirre of Watsonville, and America Avila of Bakersfield; stepchildren Richard Torres of Arizona, Frank Zamora of Watsonville, Regina Castaneda of Watsonville and Susana Delgado of Arizona; four grandchildren; and 11 step-grandchildren.
Services will be at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 721 Main St. Watsonville. Burial is at Valley Public Cemetery. The rosary will be recited at a vigil service at 7 p.m. Monday at Davis Memorial Chapel, 609 Main St., Watsonville.
Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at Davis Memorial Chapel.
February 15, 2003
Earl A. Gould
Services were private for Earl Addison Gould, who died Thursday in a Watsonville convalescent hospital. He was 88.
He was born in Holtville, and had moved to Watsonville in 1985. Before retiring, he worked as a mechanic and auto body repairman in Holtville for 45 years.
He is survived by sons Gerald Gould of Watsonville and Earl R. Gould of El Centro; two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
He was buried at Valley Public Cemetery. Mehl’s Colonial Chapel was in charge of the arrangements.
February 15, 2003
Jeffrey Lyons
Services will be later for Jeffrey Lyons, who died Feb. 11 at his San Jose home. He was 46.
Mr. Lyons was born in Santa Cruz. He lived in San Jose and Santa Cruz counties.
Mr. Lyons enjoyed going to McDonald’s with his aunt Lila, attending dances, receiving his check on payday and spending holidays and special occasions with his family. He received several medals for his participation in the Special Olympics.
He is survived by sister Cindy Goodland of Scotts Valley; brother Ron Lyons of Garberville; aunt Lila Eaton of Santa Cruz; and several cousins.
His mother, Elsie Sweeney, died before him.
Contributions are preferred to the Special Olympics, 1445 Koll Circle, Suite 104, San Jose, CA 95112.
February 15, 2003
