Search for celebrities on Ancestry.com!Helen McLeod
Services have been held for Helen McLeod, Oct. 5 in her Santa Cruz home. She was 88.
Mrs. McLeod was born and raised in Seattle, one of nine children, and lived in Santa Cruz since 1974.
She loved the newspaper business and worked at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer as a young woman.
She marriage and moved to California in the late 1940s, and in the 1950s became an original co-publisher of the Saratoga News. She retired in 1974, when the News was sold.
Mrs. McLeod’s creative and adventurous spirit took over in Santa Cruz, when she took art classes at Cabrillo College. She became an artist, drawing on her other interests including travel, gardening and cats for subject matter and winning awards and exhibits in juried shows.
Mrs. McLeod was also a world traveler, who had journeyed to Europe, India, Sri Lanka, Macao, the Philippines, Japan, Morocco and China, where she went, alone, at age 73, shortly after the country was opened to foreigners.
She was also a gardener who shared her organic vegetables with neighbors and friends, and an animal lover who gave a home to many stray cats.
She is survived by daughters Donna McCarty of Contra Costa County and Dorothy McLeod of Santa Cruz; a son, Douglas McLeod of Maui; a sister, Babe Bredice of Seattle; a brother, Gene Hoover of Seattle; two grandchildren; and one great-grandson.
Contributions are preferred in her memory to a favorite animal welfare group.
Arrangements are by Benito and Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel.
October 12, 2002
Richard G. Peterson
Services will be Thursday for Richard Gene "Dick" Peterson, who died Thursday in Santa Cruz. He was 63.
Mr. Peterson was born in Huron, S.D., and moved to Southern California at age 5. He moved to Capitola in 1992.
Mr. Peterson signed as a professional baseball player for the Boston Red Sox in 1956, out of Chaffey High School in Ontario.
He later worked as a salesman for Firestone Tires and was transferred to Northern California in 1965. In 1968, he moved to San Jose, where he bought and operated a Union 76 gas station.
In Capitola, Mr. Peterson and his wife, Rose Marie, own the Café Violette/Polar Bear Ice Cream Parlor, which Mrs. Peterson operates.
He was also once a partner in the Watering Hole on Mission Street and currently owned the New Jury Room on Ocean Street in Santa Cruz.
Mr. Peterson was an avid sports fan, especially of the San Francisco 49ers and Giants. He also enjoyed golfing and fishing with family and friends. He was a member of the Elks Lodge for 37 years.
He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Rose Marie Peterson of Capitola; sons Mike Peterson of Sonora and Darin Peterson of Soquel; a daughter, Karen Maddox of Santa Cruz; a sister, Susan Peterson-Wygant of Riverside; five grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Oakwood Memorial Crystal Chapel, 3301 Paul Sweet Road, adjacent to Dominican Hospital.
A reception will follow at Adolph’s, 525 Water St., Santa Cruz.
Contributions are preferred to a favorite charity.
October 12, 2002
Clayton F. Bloomfield
A celebration of life will be Oct. 19 for Clayton Ferguson Bloomfield, who died Sept. 29 at his Santa Cruz home. He was 72.
Mr. Bloomfield was born in Middletown, R.I., and lived in Santa Cruz for 32 years.
He graduated from Rogers High School in Newport, R.I., and Colby College in Waterville, Maine. Mr. Bloomfield also received Naval OCS training and served in the Korean War.
He enjoyed sailing, golfing and was an avid reader with a passion for discussing books, movies and philosophical topics with family, friends and neighbors.
Mr. Bloomfield was a member and past president of SIRS.
He is survived by his former wife, Sally Oxx Bloomfield of Middletown, R.I.; daughters Lani Hudgins of Merced and Nancy Arthur of Evans, Ga.; an uncle; and eight grandchildren.
A celebration of his life will be 1 p.m. Saturday at the Crow’s Nest.
Contributions are preferred to the Santa Cruz Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or the Salvation Army.
October 12, 2002
Margaret B. Powley
No services are planned for Margaret Brown Powley, who died Tuesday. She was 91.
Mrs. Powley, or "Buddy," as her friends called her, was born in Oakmont, Penn., and lived there most of her life.
She and her husband, David, moved to Santa Cruz in 1990 to be closer to their daughters.
Mrs. Powley worked as a librarian in the Carnegie Library in Oakmont for many years before moving to Marlton, N.J., after retirement. She and her husband spent the best 10 years of their lives there, family members said.
Although her life was not easy, Mrs. Powley always managed to find the giggle in any situation, no matter how grim, and her daughters say that glorious gift was passed along to them.
Mrs. Powley enjoyed painting and bird watching.
She is survived by daughters Alice Vandergrift of Santa Cruz and Dinah Abbott of Aptos; a sister, Jane Dinker of Atlanta; grandchildren David Kardon, Max Fancher, Mira Kardon and Elizabeth Schiffrin; one great-grandson; two nieces; and one cousin.
Her husband of 58 years, David Powley, died in 1996.
Contributions are preferred to Heartland Hospice, 2511 Garden Road, Suite B-200, Monterey, CA 93940.
October 12, 2002
Warren Thornhill
Services will be Tuesday for Warren Thornhill, who died Friday in his Santa Cruz home of brain cancer. He was 61.
Mr. Thornhill was born in Warren, Ohio, and moved to Oakland in 1949 and to Santa Cruz in 1968.
He earned a bachelor’s degree and teaching credential from San Francisco State University and a master’s degree and education credential from San Jose State University.
Mr. Thornhill taught in the Pajaro Valley School District from 1968 to 1993, at Hall District and Calabasas elementary schools, and served as principal of Calabasas from 1994 to February, 2002.
Family members say he was most proud of working with the Calabasas School staff, which was as close as a family.
Mr. Thornhill was named in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers in 1996, and was a judge for the state History Day and National Geography Bee and a regional director of the California Association of Year Round Education.
He was a member of the Association of California School Administrators and the National Council of History Education.
Mr. Thornhill attended Santa Cruz Bible Church and enjoyed reading, history, traveling and attending Giant’s games.
He is survived his wife of 33 years, Jackie Thornhill of Santa Cruz; and sons Paul Thornhill of Santa Cruz and Jeff Thornhill of New York City.
Services will be 4 p.m. Tuesday at Santa Cruz Memorial Park, 1927 Ocean St.
Contributions are preferred to Hospice Caring Project, PO Box 670, Aptos, CA 95001, or Santa Cruz Bible Church Missionary Fund, 440 Frederick St., Santa Cruz, CA 95062.
October 13, 2002
Concepción Fernandez
Services will be today and Wednesday for Concepción Fernandez, who died Sunday at Watsonville Community Hospital. She was 96.
Mrs. Fernandez was born in Gomez Farias, Michocan, Mexico, and lived in Watsonville for 34 years.
She liked knitting, cooking, gardening and family gatherings, and she loved her family.
She is survived by sons Jesus and Porfirio Fernandez, both of Watsonville; daughters Josefa, Guadalupe, Isabel and Eloisa Fernandez, all of Watsonville; a sister, Teresa Magana of Los Angeles; 52 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren.
Her husband, Porfirio Fernandez, a son, Trinidad Fernandez, and a daughter, Leonor Fernandez, died before her.
Friends may call from 4-9 p.m. Tuesday or from 8:30-9:15 a.m. Wednesday at Mehl’s Colonial Chapel, 222 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville.
A rosary service will be 7 p.m. Tuesday at Mehl’s.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at Assumption Catholic Church.
Burial will follow at Pioneer Cemetery.
October 15, 2002
