Search for celebrities on Ancestry.com!October 1, 2003
Richard Beliveau
Richard Lee Beliveau, a longtime Sonoma resident whose upholstery shop was a gathering spot for his many friends, died Friday at his home. He was 59.
The cause was cancer, family members said.
Beliveau, who was known as Dick or Dickie, was born Sept. 28, 1943, in Wayzata, Minn.
His family moved west to Oxnard and then, in 1950, to Sonoma, where he would spend the rest of his life, forming a circle of deep and lasting friendships.
"He has a family in town -- he doesn't have friends, he has a family," said his wife, Kathy.
Beliveau went through Sonoma schools and graduated in 1961 from Sonoma Valley High School. He attended Santa Rosa Junior College, planning an accounting career, but left to help support his family by entering the upholstery trade.
His interest in that work was awakened through his hobby of working on used cars, Kathy Beliveau said.
She and Beliveau met in Sonoma in 1970, at a wedding where he was the best man and she was the maid of honor.
"He was gentle and funny, he just cared about everybody," she said.
They marriage in April 1971 and honeymooned at The Sea Ranch, driving there in a 1950 Cadillac.
The car, too, would remain a passion of Beliveau's. A member of the Devil's Darlins Car Club, he worked on the Cadillac constantly and in his illness was teaching his son-in-law, Mario Alioto of Sonoma, how to drive it.
Beliveau was established in the upholstery trade by the time he married, and before long he opened his own shop, Beliveau Upholstery.
"He called it 'Dickie's Playhouse' because all the guys went there," his wife said. "And after he was diagnosed, and they couldn't go there, they all came here to the house."
An inquiring mind, Beliveau had a particular interest in history and read avidly about the Sonoma Valley and also the Civil War, she said.
"He'd get one angle on something out of one book, and then he'd read another and get another perspective," she said.
Beliveau also was class historian of his high school's 1961 graduating class reunion committee, and "he knew everybody," said his longtime friend, former Sonoma Valley High School Principal Bob Kruljac.
"We're going to be lost without him," Kruljac said. "He was a wonderful man."
Besides his wife, Beliveau is survived by his daughters, Trista Beliveau and Amee Alioto, both of Sonoma; and his sisters, Nancy Beliveau of Petaluma and Linda Dozier of Folsom.
Funeral services are planned for 11 a.m. today at Duggan's Mission Chapel, 525 W. Napa St., Sonoma.
Benjamin Shimberg, licensing expert
Benjamin Shimberg, an expert on how occupational testing, licensing and certifying can protect the public, died Wednesday in Trenton, N.J. He was 85 and lived in Law-renceville, N.J.
He died after suffering a stroke Sept. 18, his family said.
Shimberg, a former senior research scientist at Educational Testing Service in Lawrence Township, N.J., was a founder of the Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation, known as CLEAR, a leading professional organization dedicated to issues involving the licensing of professionals.
His research is credited with reforming licensing procedures in many fields, including optometry, cosmetology, licensed practical nursing, insurance and real estate, as well as for the selection of officer candidates in the Coast Guard and the sergeant exams for the New York City Police Department.
He went to work for Educational Testing Service in 1953 as assistant to the president. He became the director of occupational studies and programs in 1967 and was with the organization for 35 years before retiring.
His writings include the 1973 book "Occupational Licensing: Practices and Policies," of which he was one of three co-authors.
He was president of the Association for Measurement and Evaluation in Guidance from 1965 to 1967.
September 30, 2003
A car salesman, business owner and world traveler, Jess Phillip Dunnagan was also a scuba diver who enjoyed some of the world's most scenic waters.
September 29, 2003
Mary Gutzman
For most of her life Santa Rosa resident Mary Agnes Gutzman was the glue of her family, helping her father raise five children on his South Dakota farm and acting as the storehouse of information for far-flung family members in her adult life.
Gutzman, who had suffered from heart problems for several years, died at her home Thursday. She was 81.
Born in the South Dakota town of Elktown, Gutzman grew up on her dad's farm, where they raised dairy cows, pigs and chickens in addition to growing crops.
Besides her farm chores, Gutzman helped raise her younger brothers and sisters following the early death of their mother.
She moved to California with her husband, Myron, now deceased, who was a Firestone tire salesman, following jobs in Sacramento, Visalia and Porterville.
Tired of the constant upheaval, the couple moved to Santa Rosa in 1955 when her husband took a job with Monroe & Co., a tire and auto supply store.
A few years later, her husband, nicknamed Whitey, opened up his own auto supply store, Whitey's T.B.A., on West College Avenue. They operated the business for 20 years. Mary Gutzman was the company's secretary and bookkeeper.
Despite those duties, Gutzman "was basically a mom her entire life," said granddaughter Amy Polos.
"She was the family matriarch. She was pretty much the glue of the family," said Polos, who recalled her grandmother's constantly writing to stay in touch with relatives in South Dakota, Minnesota, Florida and even Belgium.
"It's like losing your connection to everyone," Polos said of her grandmother's passing.
But Gutzman did more than write letters. She flung newspapers decades ago when her two sons delivered papers for The Press Democrat.
"When they were sick Grandma would go and and deliver it for them. She even collected money for them a couple of times," Polos said.
Gutzman loved to crochet and garden, and for a short time taught catechism classes at St. Rose Church. She was a member of the church as well as of the Gamma Eta Sorority.
She also had a not-so-secret sweet tooth. "She'd have stuff hidden in drawers and other places throughout the house," said Polos.
Gutzman is survived by two daughters, Marla Polos of Battleground, Wash., and Mary York of Santa Rosa; two sons, Michael Gutzman of Santa Rosa and Myron Gutzman Jr. of Orangevale; a sister, Helen Frawley of Santa Rosa; a brother, Robert Strubbe of Santa Rosa; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
A vigil is scheduled at Daniel's Chapel of the Roses, 4-5 p.m. Tuesday for family members and 5-8 p.m. for the public.
Services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday at the mortuary followed by Burial at Calvary Catholic Cemetery.
Donations to Memorial Hospice, 821 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa 95401 are preferred.
World's oldest man Chuganji, 114
Yukichi Chuganji, a retired silkworm breeder documented as the world's oldest man, died at his home in Japan at age 114, his family said Monday.
Chuganji was pronounced dead from natural causes Sunday evening, said his 65-year old nephew, Tadao Haji.
Bedridden in recent years, Chuganji had been living with his 72-year-old daughter Kyoko in the city of Ogori, about 550 miles southwest of Tokyo.
He had just finished drinking some apple juice when his family noticed he wasn't looking well, Haji said.
"As always, he had been thanking everyone for taking such good care of him and for cooking his meals," Haji said of Chuganji's last day.
Chuganji was born March 23, 1889 in the farming town of Chikushino on Japan's southernmost main island of Kyushu. He worked as a silkworm breeder and adviser after graduating from technical school in the early 1900s.
Kyushu is also home to the world's oldest person, a 116-year-old woman named Kamato Hongo.
There are an estimated 15,000 Japanese older than 100, and women make up about 80 percent of the total.
Cuban exile leader Luis Botifoll
Luis Botifoll, who turned Republic National Bank into the nation's largest Hispanic-owned bank while helping fellow Cubans start over in Miami, has died. He was 95.
Botifoll died of heart failure Wednesday night at his home, only hours after representing the Cuban American National Foundation at a gathering with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar.
Botifoll, who helped found the CANF in 1981, gave a short speech and later talked to reporters.
"It was his last mission," said CANF spokesman Joe Garcia.
"He had this clarity of mind, he knew how to lead."
The son of Spanish immigrants, Botifoll was born in Havana and had a law degree from Tulane University. Botifoll, his wife Aurora, and their three daughters fled Cuba a year after Fidel Castro came to power in 1959.
In 1970, he went to work at Republic as vice president and chairman of the loan committee. He lent money to Cuban exiles, many of whom had no assets and were being turned down for loans by other banks in Miami.
"I knew who was good and who was not good," he once told the Miami Herald. "I based myself on people's character, not their financial statement."
Within eight years of joining the bank, he was chairman of the board. In two decades, he built the once tiny Republic into a major enterprise with 18 branches and $1.2 billion in assets. The bank was sold in 1999.
John Orrell, helped re-create Globe
John Orrell, a historian whose intellectual detective work laid the groundwork for the 1997 re-creation of Shakespeare's original Globe Theater, died Sept. 16 in Edmonton, Alberta. He was 68 and lived in Edmonton.
The cause was melanoma, his wife, Wendy, said.
The details -- from size to seating -- of what may be the world's most famous theater have long eluded historians, but Orrell brought new techniques, including mathematics, to the search. He was a rare sight, a Shakespearean scholar who carried a slide rule.
Orrell's breakthrough was to use a famous 17th-century etching, "The Long View of London," by the Bohemian artist Wenceslaus Hollar, and overlay it on a present-day map showing which 17th-century buildings survive.
He then did trigonometric analyses of building proportions to determine the size of the Globe.
Orrell added a disappointingly small amount of archaeological evidence, Shakespeare's own stage directions, a building contract for a similar theater, the writings of Italian theater architects and several other contemporaneous images, and came up with a description of the size and nature of the theater.
The importance of the Globe in theatrical history is hard to overstate. Shakespeare made a personal cash contribution to the theater and helped plan it. Some of his greatest works -- among them "Julius Caesar," "Hamlet" and "Macbeth" -- were written for it.
The Globe was built in 1599, and in 1613 was destroyed by fire. A new Globe was built on the foundation. In 1642, Oliver Cromwell's Puritans shut down theaters, and the Globe was pulled to the ground two years later.
It was the original Globe that enthusiasts, led by the filmmaker and actor Sam Wanamaker, tried to re-create.
"Not many scholars are able to get their stuff actually out there in physical form," said Dr. Barbara A. Mowat, director of academic programs at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington.
She hastened to add that there was no certainty that Orrell's answers would ultimately prove to be the right ones. For example, an Australian scholar has looked at the original Hollar etching and calculated that the Globe Theater was actually 35 percent smaller than Orrell calculated.
September 28, 2003
Claude Reynolds
In his 100 years, Claude E. Reynolds lived many tales, from life on a Montana homestead to traveling to California in a Model T, and he loved the telling, especially with a great-grandchild on his knee.
Reynolds, a Sonoma County resident for 35 years, died of complications from a stroke Monday at his granddaughter's home in Lodi.
Healthy and strong until his last few years, Reynolds played golf into his 90s. He carried his own bag and walked 18 holes twice a week with a trio of friends.
One of six children, he was born in Kansas on Dec. 12, 1902, a year before the Wright brothers built and flew the first successful airplane.
Reynolds was raised in Polson, Mont., on a homestead in the Flathead Indian Reservation. When he was about 17, his parents drove him to Berkeley to live with and help an older brother studying medicine at the University of California, said his son, Jerry Reynolds of San Jose.
After a few years, a homesick Reynolds began a series of jobs that eventually took him on a roundabout course back to Polson, via a cruise ship to Hawaii and riding the rails to work at a Washington sawmill. He later ran a service station in Montana and sold radios in Kansas.
He had marriage Pearl "Peg" Johnson in 1929 and they had three children. In 1942, the family moved to the Bay Area, and Reynolds worked at the Westinghouse factory in Emeryville.
In 1945, their eldest daughter, then 15, died of leukemia, devastating the family.
After 25 years at Westinghouse, Reynolds retired. In 1965 the couple moved to Sonoma County, living in Rohnert Park and later Sebastopol. After Peg Reynolds died in 1972, Claude Reynolds moved to Santa Rosa.
Over time he had a second chance at love, falling for the widow next door.
For about 25 years he and Gertie Davies lived side-by-side as constant companions. They turned their small yards into lush gardens filled with fruits, vegetables and roses.
In his later years, Reynolds, known as "Poppy" to his great-grandchildren, liked nothing more than having a baby or child nearby, family members said.
He also was proud of his family history in the West, including his great-uncle, "Lonesome" Charlie Reynolds, written up in history books as Gen. Custer's chief scout.
"He had a good long life. He made it to 100 like he wanted to," said Reynolds' daughter, Marilynn Patton of Truckee.
At his request there will be no services. His ashes will be taken back to Montana.
In addition to his son and daughter, he is survived by six grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Bill Crayne
Tomales rancher Bill Crayne, who was known for his sense of humor and service on the Tomales Town Hall board, died Thursday night after a heart attack. He was 55.
Born in Petaluma in 1948, Crayne grew up on the family dairy in the coastal community of Tomales.
After high school, he spent four years in Rhode Island while serving in the Navy before returning to the 300-acre family ranch he would later inherit.
Crayne was a lighthearted man who saw the positive in everyone, said his daughter, Christina Bordessa of Valley Ford.
"He made light of everything," Bordessa said. "He always had a good word to say about everybody. It didn't matter what anyone else thought of them."
Crayne switched from dairy cows to beef ranching four years ago.
When he wasn't busy on the farm, he enjoyed building fireplaces, woodworking and hunting deer, Bordessa said.
Active in the community, Crayne spent three decades on the Tomales Town Hall board, which manages the historic building that is used as a community gathering place.
In addition to Bordessa, he is survived by daughters Tracie Crayne of Bodega and Jennifer Donaldson of Winters; son Michael Crayne of Tomales; brothers Richard Crayne of Tomales and Jim Crayne of Petaluma; sister Kathy Hughes of Rohnert Park; and granddaughters Chelsea Crayne and Mollie Donaldson.
A memorial service is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at Parent-Sorensen Mortuary in Petaluma.
Memorial donations may be made to the Tomales Town Hall, c/o Burt Cruz, P.O. Box 324, Tomales 94971.
September 27, 2003
Savannah Hill
Savannah Hill, an energetic fifth grader who loved to sing and swim, was only 10 years old when she died last Monday. But during her short life she taught family, friends and school mates worlds about living.
"The most striking thing about Savannah was that when she walked into a room it would light up. She was such a positive person her optimism was contagious," said her father Phillip Hill of Santa Rosa.
Savannah grew up as a member of a large, loving extended family with aunts, uncles and cousins who skied, snow boarded and sang together. But even in this sunny family Savannah was a star.
"Savannah was happy all the time. Every day was the best day ever. She was a child who looked for the good in everything," said her aunt, Charmaine Stainbrook of Santa Rosa.
Family and friends will gather today to celebrate Savannah's life and the joy she brought to so many people. The memorial service will be at 2 p.m. at the Forestville Methodist Church with a reception following in the church hall.
"I guarantee that when we talk about Savannah at tomorrow's service there will be more laughter than tears because Savannah was hilarious and that will come out in the stories," her father said Friday.
Savannah, a student at Village School in Santa Rosa, died Monday at Childrens Hospital in Oakland from arterial vascular malformation, a defect near the brain. Until she was stricken on Sept. 18 at school and rushed to the hospital, her family had no idea she suffered from the life-threatening condition.
"Savannah was very active and there was no indication that there was anything wrong with her until this happened," said her aunt.
Savannah was a top student at Village School where she was known for her upbeat outlook and enthusiasm for learning. She loved all of her subjects and relished physical education.
"Savannah was just a joy to have as a student and a pleasure to be around. She was a sweet little girl with a great personality," said her teacher Michael Herfurth. Last weekend Herfurth spent time with Savannah and her family during the bedside vigil at the Oakland hospital.
Savannah's death has been difficult for many students at Village School where counselors helped students grieve and cope with the loss.
Village School principal Juliana Hoewing said an assembly planned for Monday will honor Savannah. There will be flowers, music and tributes to the fifth-grader.
Savannah loved music in all forms, often singing Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash songs as her father played guitar. When she was four she started asking to play the "guitar you hold under your chin." Her parents got her a violin and she started taking lessons. Her father handmade her second violin and was working on her third. She was a member of the Santa Rosa Symphony Preparatory Orchestra.
Savannah was born June 4, 1993 in Santa Rosa. When she was one year old she moved with her family to Oregon. The family returned to Santa Rosa in 1999. Savannah attended first, second and third grades at Steele Lane Elementary School. In third grade she was named Steele Lane's student of the year.
She started at Village School when she was in the fourth grade.
She is survived by her parents, Phillip and Andrea Hill of Santa Rosa; her sister, Ellen Hill of Santa Rosa; her grandparents, Mary Hill of Windsor and Carl and Kathryn Uebel of Sebastopol.
A music scholarship has been established in Savannah's memory. Memorial donations can be sent to the Savannah Hill Music Scholarship in care of the Community Foundation of Sonoma County, 250 B St., Suite 205, Santa Rosa, 95404.
Kenton Edwards
Kenton Edwards, a seasoned actor often seen about town on local stages, died Sept. 19 at his home in Santa Rosa. He was 37.
Born in Calistoga, he spent most of his life in Santa Rosa, attending Slater Middle School, Montgomery High School, Santa Rosa Junior College, American University in Washington, D.C. and Empire Law School in Santa Rosa.
A summer theater workshop was all it took to turn him on to the art form at the age of 7, but he had been acting long before that.
"He really started acting when he was 2," said his mother, Cheryl Edwards, who now lives in Redmond, Ore. "I remember reading him "The Three Little Pigs" and he would act out the parts of each pig and the wolf."
Even though he was born with several birth defects and suffered from extensive health problems after a car wreck at age 17, he transcended them in daily life, attracting a wide circle of friends and working both on the stage and behind the stage for the Santa Rosa Players and Old Vic Dinner Theater.
"I got the lead in my very first show," Edwards said in a 1994 Press Democrat article. "I just had a grand ol' time, hearing the applause and laughter. It went on from there."
"I think what you have to have on stage is vulnerability and he did that perfectly," said Old Vic dinner theater director Brian Calloway, who first worked with Edwards when he played Mr. Granger in "Are You Being Served" and later "Fawlty Towers."
"He was very much into theater and always gave a hundred percent. He was a joy to work with."
In addition to his mother, Edwards is survived by his father Dr. Harold Edwards and brother Curtis Edwards of Santa Rosa.
A celebration of his life will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Burbank Garden Center, 2050 Yulupa Ave., Santa Rosa, 95405. Donations can be made to The Support Group for Families of Disabled Children c/o Community Presbyrterian Church of Redmond, P.O. Box 1689, Redmond, OR 97756.
Stanley Fafara, 'Whitey' on 'Beaver'
Stanley Fafara, who played Jerry Mathers' pal "Whitey" on the TV show "Leave It to Beaver" but led a far-from-idyllic life as an adult who battled drugs and alcohol, has died. He was 54.
Fafara, a recovering heroin addict who contracted hepatitis C, died Sept. 20 in a hospital in Portland, Ore., after complications from surgery in late August.
Fafara had been living in a single-room occupancy building in Portland's skid row, paying $153 a month for his 12-by-12 room out of his Social Security disability check of $475 a month.
The former child actor had been clean and sober since 1995, said Tom Hallman Jr., a reporter for the Portland Oregonian, who had kept in touch with Fafara after writing a lengthy profile of him last December.
During his interview with Hallman, Fafara chronicled his life after "Leave It to Beaver," the family sitcom that ran from 1957 to 1963.
"My life was a blessing and a curse," Fafara said. "At one time I had money.There were times when I'd walk around with $16,000 in my pocket."
Growing up in Los Angeles, he was pushed into acting by his mother. He appeared in his first commercial when he was 4 and later had parts in numerous TV Westerns.
His mother took him and his brother, Tiger, to an open casting call for "Leave It to Beaver," and they were both hired: Stanley as Hubert "Whitey" Whitney and his brother as Tooey, one of Wally Cleaver's friends.
