Search for celebrities on Ancestry.com!Gordon King Haskell
Born August 15, 1917, Philapopolis, Ottoman Empire (now Plovdiv, Bulgaria) Died October 4, 2002, Santa Cruz, California.
Social activist, writer, political organizer and raconteur, Gordon Haskell was born the youngest of ten children to Edward Haskell, a second generation American Protestant Missionary in Bulgaria, and his wife Elisabeth Frohlich Haskell of Enenda, Switzerland.
Settling in California at the age of sixteen, he attended Vorhee’s School for Boys, Occidental College, and graduated from UC Berkeley. He worked for nine years as a locomotive fireman on the Southern Pacific Railroad while active as a union organizer in the Independent Socialist League. He moved to New York City to serve as Editor of the ISL’s newspaper, Labor Action, then as Director of Development for the New York and American Civil Liberties Union, and Care, Inc. After retirement, he continued his social activism with the Association for Union Democracy, served as Political Director for the Democratic Socialists of America, was active in a variety of reform democratic organizations in Brooklyn, NY and Santa Cruz, CA, serving in a variety of leadership roles and receiving numerous awards. He recently served as President of the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Monterey Bay, Inc.
Gordon devoted his life, both professionally and personally, to social and economic justice and equality. He thought globally and acted both globally and locally. His early devotion to social justice through social revolution evolved into a dogged determination to work in his own communities for obtainable and sustainable political and social change.
Until his death, Gordon maintained a youthful curiosity, especially about people. Young people and their ideas, from the conservative to the outlandish, fascinated him, and they were fascinated by him. At any occasion, he could be found deep in conversation with the most unlikely of partners.
He met his future wife of thirty-two years, Rachel, while she was stirring lemonade at a peace rally in St. Louis in 1969. He is survived by two children, Guy Haskell of Bloomington, Indiana, and Elisabeth Haskell of Sacramento, CA; step-children Garry Fathman of Portola Valley, Anthony Fathman of St. Louis, and Mary Fathman-Thomas of Miami; ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Contributions celebrating Gordon’s life may be made to the Democratic Central Committee Voter Registration Drive, P.O. Box 7763, Santa Cruz, CA 95061-7763 or Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, 144 School Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. Please designate gifts to the Restoration of the Historic Mission Adobe Gardens in memory of Gordon Haskell. He took walks there each evening with his beloved dog Annie, a devoted friend and companion.
October 8, 2002
Francisco B. Silva
Services will be today and Thursday for Francisco B. Silva, who died Monday in a San Jose hospital. He was 88.
Mr. Silva was born in the Azores Islands of Portugal.
He lived in San Jose from 1974 until moving to Watsonville in 1996. He returned to San Jose to live with his son after the death of his wife last year.
Mr. Silva worked as a cattleman at ranches in the Azores and in the San Jose area. He belonged to the IES Portuguese Lodge in San Jose.
Mr. Silva loved to play cards. He was particularly shrewd at the game of sewka, which is similar to spades, and was a popular partner who won many tournaments. He also enjoyed dancing and going to Portuguese festivals.
He is survived by sons Antonio C. Silva of Livermore, Celestino Silva of San Jose, Jose, Antonio and Serfim Silva, all of the Central Valley area, Moses Silva of Newark, Angelo Silva of the Azores Islands, Gabriel Silva of Portugal and Manuel Silva of Pico, Portugal; daughters Fatima Silveira of Freedom, Lourdes Silva of San Jose, Fatima F. Silva of Hayward and Fernanda Maria Pereira of Vallejo; 35 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
His wife, Isabel Silva, died in 2001.
Friends may call from 2-4 p.m. today at Mehl’s Colonial Chapel, 222 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville.
A rosary service will be 7 tonight at Our Lady Help of Christians Valley Church, 2401 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Thursday at Our Lady Help of Christians Valley Church.
A reception will follow Mass at the ISTW Hall, 124 Atkinson Lane, Watsonville.
Mr. Silva will be buried at Valley Public Cemetery.
October 9, 2002
Harry Andrew Reader
Services will be Friday in Patterson for Harry Andrew Reader, who died Sunday at the Veterans Administration hospital in Palo Alto. He was 68.
Mr. Reader was born in Santa Cruz and lived in Patterson for the past 38 years.
He served in the Air Force during the Korean War and worked as a farmer for 35 years and as an agricultural inspector in San Francisco and Stanislaus counties. He owned a nursery in Santa Cruz.
Mr. Reader was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Patterson.
He loved collecting and refurbishing antiques, camping, his dogs and exploring little-known areas of California with his family.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Zelda Souza Reader of Patterson; daughters Patty Harrison of Novato, Jeannie Asher of Patterson and Tina Graver of Modesto; a son, Harry Reader of Gustine; a sister, Marie Coulston of Las Vegas; and six grandchildren.
Friends may call from 5-8 p.m. Thursday at Hillview Funeral Chapel in Patterson.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Friday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Santa Nella.
Contributions are preferred to the Sierra Club, 85 Second St., San Francisco, CA 94105
October 9, 2002
Ralph R. ‘Pal’ Hunting
Private family services will be held for Ralph R. "Pal" Hunting, who died Monday at a Watsonville convalescent hospital. He was 85.
Mr. Hunting was born in Victorville and lived in Watsonville since 1930.
He worked at his family’s East Lake Avenue business, Hunting-Bye Refrigeration, all of his adult life.
Mr. Hunting was an institution in downtown Watsonville, where he made rounds every morning on a red Schwinn bicycle for many years, visiting and making friends as he collected cans for recycling. He was a Giants fan.
He is survived by a brother, John E. Hunting of Watsonville; and several nieces and nephews.
Arrangements are by Mehl’s Colonial Chapel.
October 9, 2002
Helen M. Gothrup
Services are being planned for Helen M. Gothrup, who died Friday at Dominican Hospital, with friends and family at her side. She was 81.
Mrs. Gothrup was born in Oakland and lived in Felton since 1982.
She marriage Jim Gothrup in 1941 and the couple raised five children.
A published author of more than 70 children’s stories, poetry and devotionals, she enjoyed writing, homemaking, square dancing, family gatherings and traveling.
In Oakland, Mrs. Gothrup was a member of Park Boulevard Presbyterian Church, where she taught Sunday School for 16 years, participated in the evangelism program and led Bible Study Fellowship gatherings.
In Felton, she was a member of the Valley Garden Club and Community Covenant Church.
She was committed to helping others and was a member of the International Order of King’s Daughters and Sons for more than 50 years.
Mrs. Gothrup suffered a stroke in 1997. Her courage, determination and sense of humor during her recovery was an inspiration, family members say, adding that she made many friends at the Cabrillo College Stroke Center.
She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Jim Gothrup of Felton; a son, Gary Gothrup of Oakland; daughters Carolee Baird of Pleasant Hill, Bernadine Barnes of Redding and Diane Gothrup of Felton; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Her daughter Linda Gothrup died in 1971.
Contributions are preferred to Valley Churches United, the Cabrillo College Stroke Center, Dominican Hospital or the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
October 9, 2002
Minnie Vilhauer
Services will be Friday for Minnie Vilhauer, who died Sunday at a local care facility. She was 94.
Mrs. Vilhauer was born in San Miguel, Azores Islands, Portugal, and lived in the Aptos/Watsonville area since 1943.
She and her husband, Paul, owned and operated Redwood Village, a resort near the entrance to the Rio del Mar area, from 1943 to 1957.
Mrs. Vilhauer was an active member of First Christian Church for many years.
She is survived by a son, Ken Vilhauer of Corralitos; a daughter, Joyce Sloan of Albuquerque, N.M.; a brother, John Soares of San Jose; two granddaughters; three grandsons; and several nieces and nephews.
Her husband, Paul, died in 1990.
Friends may call from 7-9 p.m. Thursday at Davis Memorial Chapel, 609 Main St., Watsonville.
Services will be 11 a.m. Friday at First Christian Church on Madison Street at East Lake Avenue in Watsonville.
Contributions are preferred to First Christian Church, 15 Madison St., Watsonville, CA.
October 9, 2002
Robert Allen ‘Sandy’ Griggs
Services will be held later in Kansas City for Robert Allen "Sandy" Griggs, who died of cancer Saturday at his Watsonville home. He was 60.
Mr. Griggs was born in Kansas City, Mo., and graduated from Paseo High School.
An Eagle Scout as a youth, Mr. Griggs had an independent spirit and a zest for life, family member say, and a passion for sailing that brought him great joy and solace.
He is survived by his wife, Ellen Griggs of Watsonville; daughters Jennifer Johns of Munster, Ind., Frances Hermansky of Sacramento and Elizabeth Griggs of Watsonville; a son, Wendell Koi of Long Beach; a sister, Janet Griggs Poole of Mission, Kan.; a brother, Bradley Griggs of Lenexa, Kan.; and four grandchildren.
His son, Timothy Brian Griggs, died in 1976.
Contributions are preferred to Angel Flight West, 3237 Donald Douglas Loop South, Santa Monica, CA 90405.
Cremation arrangements are by Davis Memorial Chapel.
October 9, 2002
