From Santa Cruz, California:
November 24, 2001
Claire G. De Vecchis
Services are today for Claire Georgina De Vecchis, who died Monday at her parents’ Santa Cruz home. She was 43.
Ms. De Vecchis was born in New York City and moved to Santa Cruz 20 years ago. She was a licensed vocational nurse for 20 years, caring for the elderly. She had two-and-a-half years of sobriety when she died.
She is survived by son Christopher De Vecchis of Santa Cruz; brothers Daniel De Vecchis of Santa Cruz; and Matthew DeVecchis of Santa Cruz, and her parents, Peggy and Cal De Vecchis of Santa Cruz and Sequim, Wash.
Services will be at 9 a.m. today at Holy Cross Chapel, 126 High St., Santa Cruz Memorial Park Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Susan Marie Chaffin
Services are pending for Susan Marie Chaffin, who died Nov. 16 in her Santa Cruz home. She was 54.
Mrs. Chaffin was raised in Chico and spent most of her life in Sacramento and Auburn. She had lived in Santa Cruz for six years.
She is survived by son Ted Elston of Ben Lomond; sisters Diana Scott of Manteca, Georgia Manzitto of Chico and Laurie McKeever of Auburn; mother Madeleine McKeever of Auburn; and brother Tom Barnes of Rio Vista.
Daisy G. Silva
Services will be Monday for Daisy G. Silva, who died Wednesday in Santa Cruz. She was 94.
She was born in Ohio, and had lived in Santa Cruz since the 1940s.
She owned and operated Silva’s Rest Home in Santa Cruz for 50 years. She enjoyed flowers and gardening. Her family remembered her generosity to those less fortunate.
She is survived by sons Carl Silva of Santa Cruz and Lester Silva of Virginia Beach, Va.; daughter Arline Coleman of Santa Cruz; grandson John Kountz of Santa Cruz; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
Friends may call from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Oakwood Memorial Chapel, 3301 Paul Sweet Road, Santa Cruz. Services will be 1 p.m. at the chapel.
Sam Spina
Services will be private for Sam Spina, the former manager of the Santa Cruz County Fair, who died in his Los Banos home Tuesday. He was 86.
Mr. Spina was born in Los Banos but lived for many decades in Santa Cruz County. He ran the Santa Cruz County Fair in Watsonville from 1969 to 1978.
After that he was in the running for a job as Scotts Valley’s city administrator, but pulled out after an uncomfortable meeting with the City Council. During his decade with the fair, attendance nearly doubled.
He was the first full-time manager of the Los Banos May Day Festival in Los Banos and served as the May Day parade grand marshal in 1986. Mr. Spina was a member of the Native Sons, Sons of Italy and Los Banos Golden Agers Club.
He is survived by wife Gloria Spina of Los Banos and daughter Celsa Spina Roy of San Diego.
Services are being arranged by Whitehurst Funeral Chapel.
Richard Skotland
Services were private for Richard Skotland, who died Nov. 16. He was 78.
Mr. Skotland was born in Stockton and lived in Santa Cruz County for 72 years.
He graduated from Santa Cruz High School in 1941 before joining the Marine Corps.
Mr. Skotland served in the South Pacific aboard the USS Enterprise and the Essex. He was also stationed in Guam with the 5th Marine Amphibious Corp and was discharged in 1945.
Mr. Skotland attended Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo and worked for the Santa Cruz Public Works Department for 32 years. He retired as a senior civil engineer in 1983.
He enjoyed traveling, bowling leagues, bingo, panning for gold, water skiing and whitewater rafting. He liked his afternoon coffee break with friends.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Laurel Lake Skotland of Santa Cruz; daughter Kathie Dignan of Bakersfield; sons Jim Skotland of Hawaii and Keith Skotland of Santa Cruz; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
His brother, Jack Skotland, died before him.
Arrangements are by Norman’s Family Chapel.
Anne L. Jordan
Services will be private for Anne L. Jordan, who died Saturday in Santa Cruz. She was 90.
Mrs. Jordan was born in Sweden and raised in Minnesota, where she graduated with honors from Minniehaha Academy and was active in the debate and glee clubs. She lived in Santa Cruz for 55 years.
Mrs. Jordan worked in retail sales for more than 25 years in shops downtown and on the wharf. She enjoyed reading and spending time with her family.
She is survived by daughters Bernice Herman of Santa Cruz, Beverly Peterson of Oregon and Dorothy Mobley of Nevada; son Donald Jordan of Santa Cruz; seven grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.
Her husband, Charles Jordan, died in 1952.
Contributions are preferred to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Arrangements are by Benito and Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel.
