2024 at 4:37 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Once completed the project would provide a toll option to move motorists through the congested corridor from El Cerrito Road in Corona to state Route 74/Central Avenue in Lake Elsinore CA — Public comments are sought on a construction proposal to extend Interstate 15 toll lanes in both directions from El Cerrito Road in Corona to state Route 74/Central Avenue in Lake Elsinore The $550-650 million proposed project would add two tolled lanes in each direction within the I-15 median by widening pavement and bridges The project would also add southbound auxiliary lanes in Lake Elsinore — between the Nichols Road onramp and the SR-74/Central Avenue offramp and between the SR-74/Central Avenue onramp and Main Street offramp the project would provide a toll option to move motorists through the congested corridor The project would also increase opportunities for mass transit The public comment period runs through November 26 Comments can be submitted via email to 15ProjectSouth@rctc.org or by U.S Riverside County Transportation Commission RCTC will respond to comments following the closure of the public comment period and prepare a Final Environmental Document for Commission consideration Construction on the I-15 Express Lanes Project Southern Extension could begin in 2027 Three open house public meetings are scheduled this month to help residents and business owners learn more about the proposal on the dates below (the content will be the same at each meeting and Spanish interpretation will be provided): October 22The Retreat 8007 Soft Winds Drive Corona October 23 Lake Elsinore Cultural Center 183 N Main Street Lake Elsinore October 29Eagle Glen Golf Club 1800 Eagle Glen Parkway Corona RCTC began preliminary engineering and environmental studies work on the proposed segment of the 15 Express Lanes Project "Due to rapid population growth along the corridor and increased freight movement traffic congestion continues to make the commute to and from southwest Riverside County difficult," according to the RCTC "The project aims to provide alternative travel choices and traffic relief to this region." For more information on the 15 Express Project Southern Extension, visit: rctc.org/15ProjectSouth Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio Orchestra students at El Cerrito Middle School in Corona gathered early Friday morning to greet a special visitor: Yo-Yo Ma Welcome Mickeymickey@disney.comManage MyDisney AccountLog Out1 killed in bike gang shooting on 15 Freeway near CoronaByLeanne Suter and ABC7.com staff Sunday 2014A man was killed in a shooting between rival motorcycle gangs on the I-15 south near Corona on Saturday.EL CERRITO RIVERSIDE COUNTY (KABC) -- A man was killed in a shooting between rival motorcycle gangs on the I-15 south near Corona on Saturday An investigation shut down the freeway near El Cerrito Road overnight The California Highway Patrol said the shooting involved members of the Hells Angels and the Mongols an altercation began on the freeway around 6:30 p.m when members of the gangs possibly flashed their colors to one another and a motorcycle apparently crashed on the El Cerrito off-ramp El Cerrito is an unincorporated part of Riverside County near Corona Two men with gunshot wounds were taken to a hospital A third man was treated and released for similar injuries two were part of the Mongols gang and residents of Corona Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment Available for Interstate 15 Express Lanes Project Southern Extension (ELPSE) Project Name:  Interstate 15 Express Lanes Project Southern Extension (ELPSE) What Is Being Planned: The Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) in cooperation with the California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS) is proposing to extend the tolled express lanes in both directions along Interstate (I ) 15 in Riverside County between the cities of Lake Elsinore and Corona RCTC is the local Project sponsor and CALTRANS is the lead agency under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) RCTC and CALTRANS have conducted preliminary engineering and environmental studies to support the Environmental Impact Report and Environmental Assessment (EIR/EA) for the proposed I-15 Express Lanes Project Southern Extension (Project) The Project is intended to improve and manage traffic operations and travel times along the corridor by extending the I-15 Express Lanes an additional 15.8 miles The proposed improvements would extend from El Cerrito Road in Corona to State Route (SR-) 74 (Central Avenue) in Lake Elsinore The Project would also add southbound auxiliary lanes between both the Main Street (post mile [PM] 21.2) Off-Ramp and SR-74 (Central Avenue) On-Ramp (approximately 0.75 mile) and the SR-74 (Central Avenue) Off-Ramp and Nichols Road On-Ramp (PM 23.9) (approximately 1 mile) Other Project features include widening 15 bridges creating multiple express lane access points and signage that would be located within the Project limits between PM 20.3 and PM 40.1 is included in the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) 2023 Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP) under the Project’s FTIP ID RIV170901 (Amendment #23-16) and fiscally constrained The Project is also included in the SCAG 2024–2050 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP)/Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) Project List under its RTP ID 3160001 and the Project’s FTIP ID the Project cost is estimated to be $668 million and is proposed to be funded by local agency funds Construction activities are anticipated to commence in 2026 and be completed by 2030 Construction is planned to last approximately 36 months Why This Notice:  Caltrans has studied the effects this Project may have on the environment Our studies show it will significantly affect the quality of the environment This notice is to inform you of the preparation of the Draft EIR/EA and of its availability for you to read A hearing will be held to give you an opportunity to talk about certain design features of the Project with Caltrans staff before the final design is selected The tentative schedule for construction will be discussed Caltrans has also determined that this project is not a Project of Air Quality Concern as discussed below Air Quality Conformity requirements apply only in nonattainment and “maintenance” (former nonattainment) areas for the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and only for the specific NAAQS that are or were violated United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) regulations at 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 93 govern the conformity process Conformity requirements do not apply in unclassifiable/attainment areas for NAAQS and do not apply at all for State standards regardless of the status of the area The Project is in an area that is extreme nonattainment for the 8-hour ozone (O3) serious nonattainment for particles of 2.5 micrometers or smaller (PM2.5) and attainment-maintenance for carbon monoxide (CO) particles of 10 micrometers or smaller (PM10) a Project-level air quality conformity analysis was required The Draft EIR/EA explains the air quality conformity findings The Project-level conformity analysis shows that the Project will conform to the State Implementation Plan including localized impact analysis with interagency consultation for particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) and CO required by 40 CFR 93.116 and 93.123 This Project is not considered a Project of Air Quality Concern regarding particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) as defined in 40 CFR 93.123(b)(1) A detailed PM10 and PM2.5 hot-spot analysis was not completed because Clean Air Act and 40 CFR 93.116 requirements are met without an explicit hot-spot analysis The Project comes from a conforming RTP and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Comments are requested regarding the Project-level conformity analysis the Transportation Conformity Working Group (which includes federal [USEPA and Federal Highway Administration] State [California Air Resources Board and CALTRANS] regional [air quality management districts and SCAG] and sub-regional [county transportation commissions] agencies and other stakeholders) confirmed that the proposed I-15 ELPSE is not a Project of Air Quality Concern What Is Available: You can look at or obtain the Draft EIR/EA at the CALTRANS District Office (The Rosa Parks Memorial Building CA 92501) Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m Maps and other information are also available There are also copies of the Draft EIR/EA available at: Please call the city of Lake Elsinore at (951) 674-3124 to confirm availability of hard copies for review Where You Come In: Have the potential impacts been addressed Do you have information that should be included Your comments will be part of the public record If you wish to make a comment on the Draft EIR/EA you may submit your written comments until November 26 this document can be made available in Braille To obtain a copy in one of these alternate formats please call or write to the Riverside County Transportation Commission or use the California Relay Service 1 (800) 735-2929 (TTY to Voice) 1 (800) 855-3000 (Spanish TTY to Voice and Voice to TTY) 1-800-854-7784 (Spanish and English Speech-to-Speech) or 711 In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) persons with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations including auxiliary aids and services at no cost to participate in the public hearing by contacting the individual noted above at least three (3) business days before the scheduled event The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) assures that no person shall, on the basis of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance, as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987 and Federal Executive Order 12898 (Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations) Caltrans will make every effort to ensure nondiscrimination in all of its programs and activities and that services and benefits are fairly distributed to all people Caltrans will facilitate meaningful participation in the transportation planning process in a nondiscriminatory manner Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More (CNS) — A 21-year-old man accused of fatally shooting a couple on a date at a Corona movie theater must stand trial on two counts of first-degree murder and other offenses Joseph Jimenez allegedly gunned down Anthony Barajas Following a preliminary hearing at the Riverside Hall of Justice Riverside County Superior Court Judge Bernard Schwartz found there was sufficient evidence to warrant a trial on the murder counts along with special circumstance allegations of lying in wait and taking multiple lives in the same crime as well as sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations Jimenez has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity Schwartz scheduled a post-preliminary hearing arraignment for Oct 21 and ordered that Jimenez remain held without bail at the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning The witness whose testimony lasted all of Friday morning identified as "Ramon" and "Carlos," invited Jimenez to join them for dinner at a Corona restaurant before they all headed over to the theater to see "The Forever Purge," a horror film about societal collapse Velasquez said the recent Santiago High School graduates had been close at one time but Jimenez had "changed drastically" after the loss of his mother a year earlier The witness recalled how the defendant would wander off as he and the others tried to engage him in conversation or how he would sometimes blurt out irrelevant phrases Velasquez admitted growing tired of trying to "babysit" Jimenez but the witness and his friends wanted to attempt to include him in their camaraderie so they invited him to dinner and to watch the film looking at a wall and murmuring incoherently before leaving the restaurant and disappearing He said they didn't see Jimenez until 40 minutes later Velasquez noticed Jimenez carrying a backpack and told him he couldn't bring it into the theater but he got stranger as the movie continued," the witness said He was staring at us like he wanted to punch us in the face Velasquez said he clearly heard the defendant say "I can't do that to them; they're my friends." Within a few minutes of the movie starting Jimenez left and retrieved the backpack from his car In the row ahead of him sat Barajas and Goodrich Velasquez testified there was no interaction between any of them and the victims No one else was in the theater for the late-night showing Velasquez said he asked Jimenez what was in the backpack "a strap," which the witness took to mean "a pistol." He said he didn't look in the bag but picked it up and passed it to his friends concerned what Jimenez might do with the contents the defendant finally took back possession of the backpack.  Ramon and Carlos indicated they were going to the restroom "We wanted to ditch him," the witness recalled saying he's being weird and we're not going to hang out with him." Velasquez and the others learned of the shooting After agreeing that Jimenez was most likely the shooter Theater employees discovered the victims when they began cleaning the venue after the film ended and Barajas was taken to Riverside Community Hospital He was a social media influencer with nearly 1 million followers on TikTok A search warrant was served within 48 hours of the killings at a residence in the 19000 block of Envoy Avenue where Jimenez was arrested and a handgun was seized Jimenez divulged in a jailhouse interview with a newspaper shortly after the killings that he had been tormented by voices and had been diagnosed with schizophrenia but had stopped taking his medication He has no documented prior felony or misdemeanor convictions California — For Kate Hicken of the El Cerrito Ward Sunday’s Corona California Stake conference was a personal witness that God cares for each of His children one by one I have had confirmation after confirmation that the gospel is true and that this is the true Church,” she told the Church News we were able to hear from a special witness of Christ in our own stake The Spirit taught me today that what we heard from Elder Bednar was true.” Bringing with him the love of the First Presidency, Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles testified to listeners in Corona on June 9 that their Savior knows them individually “The Lord’s work is accomplished one by one.” Referring to the Savior’s Sermon on the Mount “He does not speak to a congregation; He speaks to a group of ‘ones’ seated on the hillside Elder Bednar remembers the world in commotion when he was a youth Having grown up near the start of the Cold War he still remembers nuclear bomb drills at his elementary school and not knowing if he would live to get married and start a family Yet despite the chaos, his relief was anchored in the covenants and ordinances of his home state’s Oakland California Temple “The house of the Lord was a reminder of the Lord Jesus Christ and who He is and what He did It provided perspective and power to do things that no boy growing up in that place at that time ever could have imagined.” “All of the things that matter most in my life are centered in and on the Lord Jesus Christ because of what is available in His house.” The Spirit reminded 16-year-old Donovan Avalos of the peace he has felt in the house of the Lord He said: “It’s become a very big place of comfort for me whenever I’m struggling in life It’s amazing the peace that the temple brings.” Daniel Finger of the Circle City Ward was reminded how precious temple covenants are to bind families together we’re going to focus more on the temple and increasing our temple attendance and take advantage of what the temple has to offer.” Elder Bednar shared that in the early days of the Restoration, Latter-day Saints around the world would immigrate to Utah to find Zion. Then in the 1970s, President Spencer W. Kimball invited members to build up Zion wherever they were attending the house of the Lord is an opportunity to take Zion back home “We do not go to the house of the Lord to escape,” said the Apostle so we can take what we learn there and bring it into our homes.” The Apostle took the opportunity to bear simple witness of the Savior because you and I owe a debt we cannot pay That is the grace of Christ through His Atonement.” Joshua Finger of the Circle City Ward recognized that in order to testify through the Holy Ghost “our testimonies don’t have to be something elaborate; we just need to focus on what we know and strengthen that.” Shandra Carlsen of the Citrus Hills Ward said that “it’s more about the connection we have with our Savior and our Heavenly Father,” such as through covenants “and everything else is incidental to it.” now serving in the California Riverside Mission Elder Tyler Coburn received a renewed witness of the simplicity of the gospel of Jesus Christ “but when we simplify it down to what it truly is — the four steps of faith gift of the Holy Ghost — if you keep it so simple it doesn’t matter what your question is; it’ll be answered.” treasured Elder Bednar’s apostolic blessing to those in attendance “He invoked a blessing on us to feel peace and comfort in our lives during this time and to stay strong.” Mark Lauritzen — a former resident of Riverside Utah — felt a spiritual confirmation that peace is possible through Jesus Christ “As we keep our covenants and are true and faithful He will endow us with power and great glory and will help us to endure to the end to return home to Him.” Despite the great commotion in the world that seems to get more difficult and Saints can look to the Savior for hope “We live in a remarkable season in the history of the Lord’s restored Church,” said Elder Bednar as this acceleration of the work continues in all the world please express your gratitude to be alive now.” 2021 at 9:57 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The California Highway Patrol was investigating the crash CA — A tractor-trailer struck and killed a 49-year-old motorist in a hit-and-run on Interstate 15 in Corona Tuesday The fatal crash happened at about 3:55 a.m according to the California Highway Patrol Joseph Corey told City News Service that the victim identified by the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner's Bureau as Michael Pashley of Santa Ana was in an Acura SUV when he was involved in a collision with a big rig which prompted him to immediately stop in the slow lane The trucker pulled to the shoulder of the freeway as the victim got out of his vehicle he was struck by an unknown tractor-trailer pulling two gravel trailers," Corey said "The driver of the tractor-trailer did not stop." Pashley was pronounced dead at the scene by Corona Fire Department paramedics The fatality and ensuing CHP investigation prompted the closure of three of four lanes for over two hours Officers searched the area for the hit-and-run rig but could not locate it No other vehicles were involved in the crash and the trucker involved in the initial accident was not hurt Anyone with information was urged to call the Riverside CHP office at 951-637-8000 2011 at 7:31 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}After months of speculation Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department officials have announced The county and the City of Corona have entered into an agreement to pass rescue emergency medical services and public service assists in the unincorporated community of El Cerrito to Corona CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department will still jointly respond for fire protection which lies close to Lake Elsinore on Temescal Canyon Road is located less than 2 miles from the City of Corona’s fire station at 3777 Bedford Canyon Firefighters from Station #15 were called out to last month's that burned just west of the Trilogy Retirement Community near Temescal Canyon Road The blaze ultimately charred 160 acres in the Cleveland National Forest “Closing the El Cerrito Fire Station #15 and entering into a contractual agreement with the City of Corona will avoid an overlap of services and create great cost efficiencies for both communities,” according to a Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department news release  “The City of Corona operates a municipal fire department and provides all of the emergency services currently provided by the Riverside County Fire Department in El Cerrito including advanced life support We do not feel contracting services to the City of Corona will significantly impact the level of service the residents of El Cerrito have come to expect and deserve,” said CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department Chief John Hawkins The agreement is one result of cost cutting measures designed to close a $9.9 million dollar budget gap faced by the Riverside County Fire Department The transition is set to take place effective July 5 and the agreement is valid through the end of the Riverside County fiscal year June 30 Continue to call 9-1-1 for all emergency services Robert Webber of Corona Centennial could have been listed as first-team multi-purpose on the all-state team for juniors but he had offensive totals that were the best among junior QBs in the state and we also had a high number of other versatile athletes that could have been multi-purpose as well There also does not seem to be a consensus choice about which junior QB in the state projects best to the next level Note: The all-state honor teams for underclassmen (sophomores juniors) are not intended as recruiting lists We realize there are many talented younger players who will greatly improve in the coming months and may not have yet received the playing time needed to prove how good they are Jaylen Harvey will not be the only highly recruited player next season at El Cerrito Teammates Derik Calhoun and Adarius Pickett also are promising recruits Find out how you can get access to more exclusive content one-of-a-kind California high school sports content Learn More Do you know when the small school all state football team will be announced Mark Grosz Assistant Footbal coach President of West Coast Football Camps 805 441-5157 mgrosz@me.com there’s nobody to call when someone gets sick All-state teams also are not something we want to rush to get out When are the All State Seniors going to be released A great majority of the first and second teams overall will be seniors large-school only players we will list for third team overall That’s ok more motivation to crush everyone from league again for an 8th straight yr Wayne Brooks really earned his spot #StaggState […] all-state junior first team features El Cerrito linebacker Derik Calhoun […] http://calhisports.com/2013/01/19/all-state-football-juniors/ […] Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page 2023 at 2:42 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The plaintiffs seek unspecified compensatory and punitive damages for their alleged emotional distress (Shutterstock)LOS ANGELES — Four men who worked through a temporary staffing agency at Fender Musical Instruments Corp alleging they were sexually harassed by a female co-worker whose behavior was tolerated for too long by both management and human resources The Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit was brought Friday by Daniel Gutierrez alleging sexual harassment and retaliation for reporting sexual harassment The quartet also names Cornerstone Staffing Solutions Inc The plaintiffs seek unspecified compensatory and punitive damages for their alleged emotional distress Representatives for Fender and Cornerstone did not immediately reply to a request for comment Gutierrez has worked at Fender's Corona warehouse as a sander since March 2022; De Rosas was employed there as a sander and material handler from April through June 2022; Taliaferro has worked as a washer at the location since September 2021; and Mercado had a sander job there from February through June 2022 Also assigned to Fender through another staffing agency was a female guitar inspector the woman started making inappropriate sexual comments at work to Gutierrez and some of his other male co-workers The woman also allegedly frequently touched Gutierrez and his male co- workers in a sexually inappropriate manner multiple times per week not stopping even after getting disapproving looks from Gutierrez Gutierrez was offended by the inappropriate and unwanted sexual advances He also objected to the alleged failure of Fender and Cornerstone to take swift measures despite numerous complaints to management and human resources from Gutierrez's co- workers De Rosas alleges that the woman on "virtually a daily basis" asked him personal questions about his body and his regularity of intimacy plaintiff De Rosas looked at her strangely because her sexual behavior made him very uncomfortable but he was scared to say anything because he just started his employment at Fender and did not want to get into any trouble," according to the suit One month after Taliaferro began working at the Fender warehouse the female colleague began making inappropriate remarks to him She also "ran her fingers down" Taliaferro's spine in a sexually provocative manner and grabbed him from behind The female co-worker's alleged sexual harassment continued despite two complaints by Taliaferro who then was singled out for retaliation by the woman and a supervisor including for using his phone during work even though other workers did the same thing without a reprimand The woman showed pornographic videos on her phone to another male colleague and one male worker quit because of her alleged sexual harassment Mercado also alleges the female guitar inspector ran his fingers down his back and says she ignored his pleas to be professional she began showing more attitude to Mercado by making his work harder and by being stricter on her inspections of his work on the guitars and complained that he had a poor attitude," the suit states Taliaferro and Mercado were asked by human resources to make a written statement about their complaints and more than a week later the female co-worker was removed from Taliaferro's work area so her staffing agency could investigate her plaintiffs were all subjected to a pattern and practice of third-party sexual harassment," according to the suit which further alleges that Fender and Cornerstone management were aware or should have been aware about her behavior Senior Aaron Maher was MVP of the Sonoma County League from Analy of Sebastopol and led team to 12-1 record as a dominating receiver and defensive back Note: Congratulations to all 60 players who have been selected to one of the two 2012 Cal-Hi Sports all-state football teams for medium schools We consider those schools to be medium if they were Division III for our traditional five-division state rankings Some schools also that were Division II for the CIF state football bowl games and Division II for the traditional state rankings also are medium schools for all-state consideration Those would be schools that have been medium schools for years (examples: Oakdale of CIF Sac-Joaquin Section and Garces of the CIF Central Section) This is the 34th year of Cal-Hi Sports all-state teams in football and all first-team honorees get listed in the state record book We didn’t have a tight end on the all-state small schools team but couldn’t resist with Stanford-bound Kevin Palma who had another outstanding season at Mission Oak of Tulare Congrats to the young men from Madison High […] announced their all-state medium schools team and it includes King El Cerrito defensive back Marcellus Pippins facebookenvelopeangle-double-rightThe pandemic’s toll:Lives lost in CaliforniaBy Los Angeles Times Staff Thousands of lives have been lost in the coronavirus outbreak Some patterns have emerged. Large metropolitan centers such as Los Angeles and San Francisco appear to be the hardest hit. More than 63 thousand people have died in California reported by Los Angeles Times staffers and six interns here through partnerships with the Pulitzer Center and USC Michael Ayala retired from the California Highway Patrol in 2009 after putting in 30 years He just shifted his focus to his church and local civic groups around his Sonora home “He had the heart and the talent and the personality to meet just about any demand,” said his daughter Erin Natter He was so charismatic that people just gravitated toward him Born in Burlingame and raised in San Bruno Ayala married his high school sweetheart Nancy in 1974 in Long Beach and joined the Highway Patrol five years later Though that choice of vocation was made with an eye toward stability Ayala soon realized that law enforcement was a good fit for his leadership and problem-solving skills retiring as a lieutenant commander in Sonora stepping in to be the executive director of the Tuolumne County Chamber of Commerce for three years when the organization was struggling Ayala also was active with the Kiwanis Club and Sierra Bible Church in Sonora Possessing a personality as big as his heart he was known and liked by just about everyone in the small community He was a high-energy guy and loved diving in to help out.” Being a huge San Francisco Giants fan – he and Nancy and their two daughters would drive from Modesto to Candlestick Park when they held season tickets – Ayala was thrilled to celebrate the team’s three championships during the past decade “He was a very present father,” Natter said Ayala was hospitalized and diagnosed with COVID-19 shortly after Thanksgiving The deadliest American epidemic of the 1950s was polio which killed thousands of children and paralyzed tens of thousands more better known in her grown-up years as Penny Foreman of Clovis was part of the effort that defeated the disease As researchers searched for weapons against the virus in 1954 6-year-old Penny and her 8-year-old brother Jim joined thousands of boys and girls in an 11-state medical trial receiving an injection that included either the new vaccine or a placebo when Jonas Salk's approved polio vaccine was shipped nationwide Their father later told the children that she had received the placebo wit and patience enough to earn a college degree raise children and work 35 years for Fresno County and Fresno's Community Regional Medical Center She was "incredibly resilient," said Jim Miller three of the seven Miller children would contract polio several surgeries and the implantation of steel rods to keep her spine straight looking out at the world from a tilted mirror that was just above her face," Jim Miller said after the family had moved to California's San Joaquin Valley "she spent a year in a full body cast in our living room." But she emerged strong enough to attend school alongside Erick From seventh grade to the end of 12th grade at Hoover High School in Fresno he pushed her wheelchair from class to class "She definitely knew what she needed and she was not shy about speaking up," said Erick Miller Her sister Joanna Miller Hoffman of Simi Valley remembers Penny braving risky rides at the Fresno County Fair sneaking out for a midnight swim at a community pool and bucking her father's wishes in order to attend rock concerts with a boyfriend where she earned an English degree and teaching credential She also learned to drive a specially outfitted van; campaigned for the rights of people with disabilities; and began work for Fresno County later helping hospital patients get help and handle paperwork "she was a single working mother with a baby and her house was cleaner than I was keeping my apartment." When her son complained about one small thing or another he remembers her telling him: "If you have something that’s a challenge gave birth to a daughter and became stepmother to six children from her husband's previous marriage "It was a family of 10 in the house for a long time," her daughter on many weekends and holidays Foreman steered her van toward Yosemite she'd often join one or two sisters for museum exhibits Family members said Foreman worked into the early 2000s when weakening muscles and lung problems forced her to retire Foreman spent the last 3 1/2 years at Pacifica Hospital of the Valley in Sun Valley She was dependent on a ventilator but remained in touch (and frequent “Words with Friends” competition) with loved ones She was there when the COVID-19 pandemic erupted in March About a week before Christmas — a few days after the first COVID vaccinations in the U.S. but before any vaccine could reach her — Foreman tested positive a notorious virus had reached her just ahead of a new vaccine her death attributed to pneumonia and COVID they would remember her excitement and laughter at a family Christmas party 10 days before her death two dozen relatives from three generations sang and rang chimes through three carols “She was someone who really took life and made the best of it,” said Josh Coddington Foreman is survived by daughter Holly Foreman of Fresno granddaughter Quinn Coddington; stepchildren Erik Michael and Paul Foreman and Amber Benoy; and siblings Jim Miller stood out among classmates in the pharmacy tech program at Pima Medical Institute in Chula Vista Rather than waiting to complete the eight-month training program he sat for his pharmacy license and passed the exam And he began working at a local pharmacy while still completing his studies That is quite impressive for a student to be able to pass that exam,” said his instructor impressing the pharmacy department at potlucks with dishes he mastered as a professional cook for the San Diego Yacht Club Ye studied psychology at San Diego Miramar College Montoya last saw the bright student in early March Ye returned to his mother’s home in Riverside County with what the family believed was a cold with a high fever By Paige St. John Other than his family and the young people he coached Lepisto grew up in unincorporated La Cañada and played football and baseball and ran track at John Muir High School in Pasadena As a defensive end on the "Gutty Little Bruins" football teams led by Heisman winner Gary Beban His performance on the rugby pitch earned an induction into the UCLA Rugby Hall of Fame and holds a spot in the Santa Monica Rugby Club's hall of fame Lepisto met 21-year-old Sue Henderson in 1970 A brief courtship was interrupted by his desire to explore Europe before marriage Upon learning that 10 witness signatures would be required at the American Embassy they took a ferry to Athens and found an American church whose minister's prime concern seemed to be the odds of the union lasting 'Did you know that one out of three marriages here ends in divorce?'" she recalled counselor and principal with the Los Angeles Unified School District "His children were the light of his life!" Sue Lepisto said "He was omnipresent on the sidelines at youth basketball and soccer games cheering from the dugout at baseball games and imploring runners to ‘GO’ down the homestretch at track meets." After 14 years as a Los Angeles County probation officer At El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills he taught physical education and coached cross country and track for another 14 years He retired in 2010 to have more time for family and love for his family," said his son Garrett always putting them ahead of himself and celebrating the success of those around him." a televangelist who founded the Crenshaw Christian Center a South Los Angeles megachurch with a 10,000-seat sanctuary His family said he had been in the hospital suffering from the virus infection for the last five weeks Opened in 1989 on the former site of Pepperdine University Price’s South Vermont Avenue church was topped by a massive aluminum sphere known as the FaithDome newspapers proclaimed it the largest geodesic church structure in the world and it remains a landmark visible to air travelers arriving at Los Angeles International Airport “He chose to build the FaithDome in the inner city because he wanted to minister to the disenfranchised,” said Angela Evans He wanted to lift them out of their ills and raise their hopes The Crenshaw Christian Center has served as a coronavirus testing site since early in the pandemic Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti described Price as “a towering giant of our faith community in Los Angeles and an inspiring force for justice worldwide,” and added: “His ministry had local roots and a helping hand to the most vulnerable in our city and far beyond our borders.” in the early 1950s when they were both students at Dorsey High School Price’s family says his religious awakening began when he followed her to a Christian tent revival service and preached for years while making a living at other jobs and that’s one of the hallmarks of his ministry and his life,” Evans said “That’s why his children are so devastated She said her father wrote more than 50 books on religious themes Price and his wife were married for 67 years They lost an 8-year-old son when a car struck him in 1962 “He was generous to his children,” said Evans Price founded the Crenshaw Christian Center in Inglewood in 1973 and his popularity was hugely boosted by his appearance on television and radio including a show called “Ever Increasing Faith.” Price was a preacher in the charismatic tradition He also preached what some described as the “prosperity gospel,” or the idea that God rewards faith with abundance Price dreamed of assembling his congregation in one room said his father got the idea for the FaithDome after walking into the geodesic dome that used to house the Spruce Goose seaplane in Long Beach ‘How can we get everyone in the same building How can we get a good seat for everyone in the house?’” he said The geodesic dome was also much cheaper than traditional architecture would have been for a sanctuary of its size The Times called it “the nation’s largest house of worship,” with a 16,000-member congregation that made it the largest Protestant church in Southern California where others might not want to come in and help,” said Price Jr “It was important to him to be that oasis in the desert The church has a school and a youth center the church has boasted membership of 28,000 a number the family says encompasses parishioners throughout its history the church had a congregation of roughly 6,000 people a number that he estimates has grown massively during COVID-19 lockdown with online videos reaching 20,000 to 30,000 viewers Price is survived by daughters Stephanie Buchanan and Cheryl Price By Christopher Goffard When Taurino and Silvia Rivera were laid to rest beneath a California pepper tree on a Friday morning their white caskets were surrounded by their three sons and daughters-in-law and members of the church they founded in San Diego and pastors who had grown close to them during their years of ministry who had grown up together in a small town in Oaxaca and had been inseparable since were buried together after dying weeks apart from COVID-19 Missing from the scene was their fourth son who watched the final moments of the ceremony on his phone while standing outside a restaurant in Tijuana held his phone over the grave as his brother sobbed on the other end of the Zoom call thousands of thoughts just raced through my head with one question lingering — why?” said Ismael Rivera had not been able to see his parents for almost a decade He had been counting down to the summer of 2021 when he would no longer be banned from the United States and could request a visa to visit his family read a letter from Silvia’s father in Oaxaca who hadn’t seen his daughter since she left roughly 30 years ago His hands shook as he held the piece of notebook paper The Rivera family immigrated to the United States in the early 1990s when the four brothers were young children They made City Heights in San Diego their new home Silvia and Taurino began working at a McDonald’s together to arrive on time for their morning shifts but the sons said their parents always found a way to celebrate birthdays and take care of them And even before the parents shifted to working full time as pastors remembered sitting on the floor as a child and watching his father play worship songs on a guitar “Just seeing dad so big and the song and his voice the adults were just clapping and singing — everything was so joyful,” Jesimiel said “I remember feeling in a magical place at that moment.” going as a teen with his father to minister at a rehabilitation center and the way his father’s words would ease the people there The family home would fill with people who needed help — a couch to sleep on “They left a big legacy for me and my brothers to follow,” Isaac said each son remembered intimate moments when they were alone with her and the safety and love they felt in her presence she could always sense when something was bothering him they remembered her food — her chilaquiles The brothers cannot cross the border to console with Isaac without also becoming stuck outside of the U.S. though the three are protected for now by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program which grants work permits and temporary protection from deportation to undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children Isaac was stopped at one of the Border Patrol checkpoints that are scattered across the southwestern United States and ended up voluntarily returning to Mexico he was barred from coming back for at least 10 years “What hurts me a lot is that for the last 10 years I wasn’t over there to tell them how much I love them hugging them really tight and telling them Mom,’ and being there on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day and their wedding anniversary and birthdays,” Isaac said One of the things that brings him comfort now is that even in death “They were two human beings glued together everywhere they went,” Isaac said “Now they’re in heaven together forever and that’s what makes me happy That’s the only thing that makes me happy.” Taurino and Silvia started a church called Fe Esperanza y Amor — faith according to the church members they left behind Daniel was the first in the Rivera family to show COVID-19 symptoms followed by his mother Silvia and then his father Taurino Silvia and Taurino remained on ventilators and the family began to grieve and to plan for his burial Doctors took her off the ventilator and moved her to a rehabilitation center but many believe that she figured it out on her own and followed after him “I think in a way she did know because my parents’ bond was so strong,” Daniel said Isaac got a call from his brothers across the border “I was barely dealing with the situation with my dad,” Isaac said I don’t know how I’m going to get myself back together.” Daniel is now pastor at Fe Esperanza y Amor in addition to his own church in San Marcos On his first Sunday preaching there after his father’s death he told the church they would follow the guidance that his father had given them — to serve God and to live in peace He urged them to find solace in one of Taurino’s most common refrains Vidal Garay looked like he was all muscle when he was young he was like a superhero,” said Richard Garay He remembered his father telling him and his brothers never to be scared of chasing their dreams “You guys are American citizens,” Richard recalls him saying Born in the town of El Nayar in Mexico’s Nayarit state grabbing satchels of corn and grinding it to make tortillas for dinner Vidal immigrated to the United States when he was 14 and finally arrived at QueensCare Health Centers in East Los Angeles as a security officer Richard remembered his father leaving in the morning before the sun was up But he said Vidal rarely spoke about how hard he worked Vidal would take a shower and grab his favorite Spanish language newspaper sitting on the porch with coffee and cigarette such as David Bellavia’s “House to House,” about the Iraq war and Marcus Luttrell’s “Lone Survivor,” about Navy SEALs in Afghanistan Vidal was known as a “cool dad,” Richard said He never got mad when we did something bad “We were always able to communicate anything and everything to my dad,” Richard said Vidal always told him and his brothers that he wanted to be their best friend first and their dad second The family spent a lot of time fishing at the Redondo Beach Pier he was known for his pork riblets in red salsa and was never ashamed of hugging or kissing her in front of their children He self-quarantined for four days at home and got a positive test result on June 4 The two spent days quarantining in the same room and briefly spoke about dying together then I’ll go,” Richard said his father told him Richard had mild asthma but hadn’t used an inhaler for more than 12 years shortness of breath and feelings of weakness as if “somebody pulled a bag over your head.” I don’t think I’m going to make it.’ And that was the last time my dad saw me.” Vidal died June 20 at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center but they don’t know how they contracted the virus Richard and Benjamin; multiple siblings (his son isn’t sure how many) Another granddaughter is expected to be born soon By Xinlu Liang After she tested positive for coronavirus in March nurse Brittany Bruner-Ringo quarantined herself in a Torrance hotel room but she never stopped taking care of people The first employee infected in an outbreak at a dementia care facility in West Los Angeles Bruner-Ringo called and texted colleagues that subsequently fell ill encouraging them daily to keep a good attitude and reassuring them that they were all going to be OK “Brittany was our cheerleader,” one recalled The hopeful messages stopped in early April when a clerk at the hotel’s front desk summoned an ambulance for Bruner-Ringo She was taken to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center where she died in the intensive-care unit 19 days later Bruner-Ringo saw a nursing career as a kind of birthright and her personality was a natural fit for the field: Upbeat She was so compassionate,” her sisters Breanna and Marriana Hurd wrote in an email to The Times After getting her degree as a licensed vocational nurse she worked in Ohio and then a position as a traveling nurse brought her to L.A She signed on full-time in 2019 with the Silverado Beverly Place which specializes in treating Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia and worked often with third floor patients with the mildest cases She loved sunflowers and coworkers described her as sharing the flower’s warm toughness she was known to speak up about residents she felt needed more attention I don’t think she really thought of it as a job,” Breanna recalled in an interview Bruner-Ringo was in her near constant contact with family members back in Oklahoma She and her sisters kept video chats open as they went through their days we would spend time texting and sending funny memes/videos in our group chat Brittany was the funniest person we’ve ever known,” her sisters recalled When Silverado allowed a new patient from New York to move into the residence March 19 Kim Bruner-Ringo told The Times her daughter said the man arrived with symptoms of COVID-19 The Silverado has denied this and provided medical records indicating he was asymptomatic when Bruner-Ringo initially examined him he was so sick the next day that an ambulance rushed him to Cedars-Sinai where he was diagnosed with COVID-19 89 other residents and staff contracted the disease Bruner-Ringo seemed sure to beat the virus The hospital nurses told her family “she would smile and her eyes were open most of the time Her vital signs were so strong that doctors discussed taking her off the ventilator but the virus ultimately proved too strong Her grave was covered with baskets of roses he phoned family members and friends each week He often broke into song during the conversations “He was the most caring person I ever met,” his sister Milo Minnis said Born in San Francisco and raised in Sacramento struggled with mental illness since his late teens he roamed San Francisco’s streets each day He befriended small-business owners and greeted people who patronized their shops “They always called him ‘The Ambassador,’” Milo Minnis said William Minnis spent the last several years at the Morton Bakar Center surfing the Internet on his iPad learning more about astronauts and space travel and the cosmos He fought COVID-19 for two weeks before succumbing to complications of the illness on Aug hospital staff arranged an iPad on a table next to his bed so he could FaceTime family members as long and as often as he wanted He had been in poor health before the illness and told his sister he didn’t want to be put on a ventilator “I think he really wanted to go,” Milo Minnis said “His health had deteriorated so much that he said William Minnis is survived by his wife of more than 40 years Carla Marion Minnis; his daughter Margaret Mae Moodian He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother Richard (Dick) Rutledge would put on a bright purple dress shirt who wore a flared skirt that matched his tie he was off to their weekly square dancing class Rutledge and his wife were the perfect match While their children remember their mother as the energetic steady presence who kept the family in balance “He kept us centered; he never got flustered,” his eldest son “Everything was under control when he was around.” Rutledge moved from their San Leandro home eventually landing at Oakmont Senior Living in Folsom along with 17 other residents and three staff members but suddenly his fever spiked and his breathing became troubled Rutledge died on May 6 at the nursing home with a hospice nurse by his side unable to enter due to COVID-19 restrictions The 87-year-old was a rare third-generation San Franciscan born into a small home in the Noe Valley district and remained a Bay Area resident for most of his life He attended Notre Dame University and went on to serve five years as a lieutenant in the U.S Air Force Reserve after which he went back to school at UC Berkeley to earn an MBA with the early realization that computers would be the wave of the future he enrolled at Holy Names College in Oakland to study mathematics and computer science and then began his long career as a computer systems analyst for various companies he saw it as a reliable way to support his family His children describe him as the ultimate family man but it’s true: Everyone liked him,” Bill recalled Bill remembered a story that captures his father’s charm: Rutledge and his wife first met on a blind date in 1960 By Megan Botel It was always one of the first questions Raul J Arce would ask his daughter when she visited him So she made certain before the three-hour drives from her home in Tustin to his El Centro nursing home to stop at the doughnut shop to pick up a couple of glazed pastries "He loved his sweets," recalled Adela Arroyo I'd make sure he had some Mexican lollipops to entertain him Guadalupe – who was married to Arce for 58 years until her death in 2017 – would bake him pineapple cakes and take tamales or plantains to him at work and met his wife at a nightclub near the border in Mexicali They moved to Calexico after obtaining U.S Arce made ends meet by working in the fields harvesting lettuce traveling throughout California to find the best crops a job he held for two decades before retiring and enjoyed attending celebrations for those in the community he was always the first one dancing," said Arroyo Arce was also passionate about table games He and his daughter would spend most of their visits playing with the tiles the games sometimes stretching on for hours the "other grandpas and grandmas would join," Arroyo said because her father had a reputation for being one of the most social residents After two employees at his nursing home contracted COVID-19 in March "He had survived so much -- collapsing twice from diabetes and having to be airlifted to a hospital," Arroyo said because then they closed and said we could only see him at the window," she said "He was just a simple man who liked to play his board games Arce is survived by his daughter and two granddaughters Desanka Mitrovich called her doctor to tell him she wasn’t feeling well He urged her to call a cab and come to his office immediately Only after arriving at the doctor’s office across town did she learn she was having a heart attack Mitrovich died in San Diego on May 23 due to complications of lymphoma and COVID-19 she worked as a school teacher in a small mountain village and later became the mistress of a one-room schoolhouse She approached her work with a strong sense of duty and was revered for her firm-but-fair approach to education still tell stories about how she was a “mean and wonderful” teacher noting that she was just as likely to bring cookies as she was to make them wash behind their ears in the nearby stream Mitrovich fought fervently against the Axis’ occupation of Yugoslavia during World War II moved to San Diego to begin a new chapter of her life She attended San Diego State University and was the first member of her family to graduate from college She went on to enjoy a decades-long career at the university’s library where she worked in the acquisitions department until retirement “She was forged in that crucible where women didn’t go off and have their own careers,” her niece said being a school teacher and then moving across the world and going to college Although Mitrovich never married (she said the suitors weren’t up to her standards) she was a loyal friend who made it her “job on the weekends” to call relatives around the world and check in She was so devoted to her family that when her niece graduated from law school on the East Coast Mitrovich spent nearly three days on a Greyhound bus to be there she would have found a way to do it,” Milica said relatives and students whose lives she touched family members said they’d remember her for her poise dark sense of humor and beautiful singing voice “She was an extraordinary woman,” her niece said but it was a life lived as much on her own terms Mitrovich is survived by her sister Beba and four nieces and nephews By Hayley Smith He started conversations with just about everybody he came across — cashiers at the grocery stores He had an arsenal of favorite jokes he liked to deploy in these moments “Because I just got diagnosed with A-G-E,” Young would say “He was talking about how old he was,” Young’s daughter Stacey Silva explained Young’s family believes that his handshaking may have been how he contracted the coronavirus “But it almost makes me happy at the same time Young died of complications from COVID-19 in an isolation ward at St Louise Regional Hospital in Gilroy on March 17 Because of the infectious nature of the virus his family was unable to be at his bedside when he died he signed “I love you” to his family through a set of glass doors Young was a retired cabinet maker who worked at Lowe’s Home Improvement during his final years He was a diabetic and recovered from throat cancer in 2004 By Laura Newberry Miljenko “Mike” Gotovac knew a thing or two about Los Angeles As a bartender at West Hollywood’s iconic restaurant Dan Tana’s for more than 50 years he was the one constant amid an ever-changing sea of actors he remained one of the oldest working bartenders in L.A He died due to complications of COVID-19 on May 14 at the age of 76 “Mike was a piece of iron in this city,” said Craig Susser owner of Craig’s restaurant and Gotovac’s longtime friend “No matter what happened in your life or what happened in the world Gotovac was born in the village of Lećevica he joined a wave of Croatians who traveled to Germany to escape the poor economy of what was then Yugoslavia where he quickly became part of the city’s tight-knit Croatian community He became the bartender and resident curmudgeon at Dan Tana’s a year later but despite his position at the center of the star-studded restaurant his sons said he couldn’t tell a movie star from a customer off the street “He liked old cowboy westerns and he enjoyed sports so what did he care if you’re an actor or actress in the highest grossing movie of the year?” said his son Domagoj “That was one of the reasons a lot of these famous people really liked him because it was really the only time they got treated normal.” So many customers relied on Gotovac’s steadfast presence that toward the end of his career he showed up as much for them as he did for himself It wasn’t uncommon for him to bring some of the bar’s customers home for the holidays because they had nowhere else to go “There were a lot of lonely people in L.A. and he did have a soft spot,” his son Matija said an avid soccer player and longtime president of San Pedro Croat Soccer Club His idea of a good time was dinner and dancing with his wife “He took care of people like nobody else,” said Christian Kneedler Ralph Duprey could be found biking around his Long Beach neighborhood Snaking through the streets he had called home for over 70 years on two wheels was calming It was Duprey's time to collect his thoughts and relax at the end of a long day But biking hadn’t always been a peaceful practice for Duprey he would bike down the Steep Shell Hill in Long Beach “I remember him telling me that his bike didn’t have very good brakes,” said Duprey’s son “he would get to the top of the hill and it had a pretty good grade.” “He talked about sticking his foot out and rubbing it against the front tire to slow the bike down he realized that it wasn’t the brightest idea.” Duprey’s life began far from the hills and sunny shores of Long Beach He was born in Canada in 1922 to Thomas and Amada Duprey his parents decided to head west and landed in California The family settled in Long Beach and lived in a small three-bedroom house Duprey ended his days just a few blocks from that house — at St Long Beach where he died on April 18 from complications related to Covid-19 Duprey celebrated his birthday just three weeks before his death While his children were unable to be in the same room due to coronavirus restrictions they improvised and found a creative way to share their love Karen and Arlene stood outside his assisted living facility in front of a big window that faces the street “We were writing messages and wearing crazy hats,” said Mark “we looked like idiots but dad got a big kick out of it The separation instigated by coronavirus was particularly difficult for the family who loved spending time together with their father “Mark and I would split the time” said Karen “between us we were usually there six nights a week.” They would bring their dad his favorite food .. Nurses at Duprey’s assisted living facility encouraged the children to bring their father healthier treats for fear of the almost 100 year old man developing diabetes Duprey’s confidence in his own physical ability was built on years of working in plumbing and construction After graduating from Long Beach Polytechnic in 1941 Duprey joined the Coast Guard and served as a motor machinist mate during the war working on new buildings in and around Long Beach He was also comfortable with most parts of construction work and put his skills to good use around the family home “He was fixing things like the furnace under the house well into his 80s,” said Karen “we practically had to drag him out of there!” “He just never moved like an old man” said Karen Duprey’s physical grace was also apparent when he danced “We would have parties at the house,” said Karen and mom and dad would also go out on dates to go dancing.” Mary Lee Smith after WWII and the couple married in 1948 and the couple were together until her death in 1987 at the age of 60 “It was a pretty tough time for about a year,” said Mark The children knew Duprey was beginning to heal when he got back on his bike he actually rode the bike half the length of the block backwards,” said Mark “he wanted to prove to himself that he could still do it — and he was satisfied.” Ralph Duprey is survived by his three children eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren By Chace Beech Even while suffering from fever and body aches Linares kept working by phone the week before Thanksgiving to connect needy families with turkeys for the holiday a 45-year-old gang intervention worker who quelled violence in different parts of the city for more than a decade a nonprofit organization that works with at-risk and gang-involved youth Linares was known locally for working to reduce violence he worked with the Mayor’s Office of Gang Intervention and Youth Development program to train intervention workers and police officers He also traveled the nation to train community workers with the Urban Peace Institute a group that works to reduce street violence “It was his mission to show young people across the city the power of faith of hope and of love in the face of violence and poverty,” L.A Born and raised in Los Angeles’ Pico-Union neighborhood Linares got involved in gangs by the time he was 13 When he reached his 20s and had his first daughter he began transitioning away from gangs and toward church “He mentioned that he wanted something different a different life for his daughter,” his wife said He became involved in Victory Outreach Ministries and eventually began working with different gang intervention agencies across the city “People would just gravitate toward him,” said Fernando Rejón the executive director of the Urban Peace Institute amid the pandemic and a rising homicide rate His organization handed out personal protective equipment in the South Park neighborhood where the agency is based and held weekly food drives his devotion to his work would wear on his wife Linares was eating dinner with his family when his phone rang annoyed that their meal was going to be interrupted yet again Linares told him: “Do not make a permanent decision based off a temporary feeling.” Andrea said that encounter helped her better understand her husband’s work “What if he didn’t pick up the phone call?" she said “He prevented somebody from probably going to jail.” Linares said her husband was a patient man If a person needed a job and didn’t know how to fill out the application he would sit and walk them through the process he would take the time to tell those he helped what it means to be presentable and what employers want to see Like many of the city’s intervention workers Linares wanted to contribute to making peace on the streets recalled longtime friend and co-founder of Resilient Guedel said he came to see Linares as a mentor over the years “He would always tell me never to be paralyzed by fear but to keep moving,” Guedel said Barbara Johnson Hopper was known for giving friends and family plum jam made with fruit picked from her yard and flowers — offered her a refuge when she was worried and needed to pray to God ‘I’ve got to go to the Earth,’” Hopper Williams said “That was her way of just getting centered.” died of the effects of COVID-19 on March 26 after spending five days in the hospital Hopper Williams said her family closely follows the news and she remembered discussing the coronavirus outbreak with her mother thinking it wouldn’t hit as close to home as it did watching this news and she’s now one of those numbers,” Hopper Williams said and “the ultimate producer,” her daughter said “She’s the one that brought people together and knew how to inspire people toward a purpose,” Hopper Williams said “She just knew how to talk to people and to get them back on track to what really matters.” Hopper was born in Milwaukee and studied social work at the University of Wisconsin while he was completing his residency at Milwaukee County Hospital as well as his future mother-in-law’s soul food cooking When the family moved to Alabama in 1971 for her husband’s new position as medical director of the John Andrew Hospital at Tuskegee Institute Hopper started the Tuskegee Laboratory and Learning Center In 1979 the family moved to the Bay Area and settled in Oakland where she continued to work as a real estate agent while also founding and participating in community groups and serving on scholarship boards for medical students she led a yearlong reading of the Bible that ended with a trip to Jerusalem She is survived by her husband of 55 years that is who I think of,” Hopper Williams said said she met Hopper through a mutual friend 13 years ago When Gibbs drove to Ohio to pack up her 93-year-old mother to move in with her in the Bay Area Hopper told her she’d have dinner waiting for them when they arrived One of the bridge groups Hopper organized had a Zoom meeting to share how they felt about her after they learned of her death “that brought us all together and kind of was the glue.” By Arit John Ronda Felder gave her life to people in need always doing whatever it took to make room in her home her heart and her family for anyone who was hurting A social worker for the County of San Diego 3 at Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center where she had been battling COVID-19 for a month said her mother leaves behind a legacy of love and service something she showed not just to her own daughters Treasure Felder and Chomedy Curry but to the dozens of foster children she helped raise her church family at New Creation Church of San Diego the children she watched over as a social worker and anyone else in need those related to her by blood and those related to her by love,” said Treasure her mom would take in her classmates and friends “whose moms weren’t doing OK,” sharing with them her family’s modest home and resources “Even though we didn’t have a lot she always made space,” Treasure said “Sometimes we were all sleeping on top of each other she worked full time after the family moved from New York to San Diego in 1998 She began pursuing a college education in 2003 graduating from San Diego State University with a degree in social work Ronda Felder graduated from San Diego State University in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in social work make sure we had what we needed and then she would go to school,” Treasure said “She’d come home late and do it all over again Once Ronda Felder graduated from college at the age of 50 She got a job as a social worker for the county and worked tirelessly for the children on her list even after the pandemic descended on California First she visited them on video chat services when the county directed social workers to resume visiting children Treasure said her mother felt her work was a calling and she answered the call even though she knew she was putting her life in danger with every in-person visit amid the pandemic she thought she was protected by God because she was doing God’s work,” Treasure said Carol van Zalingen fell in love with Southern California when she moved to the Los Angeles area in 2008 to take a job teaching English at the private Westridge School for Girls in Pasadena “She said she would never live anywhere else – it was a real ‘Harry Potter finds his Hogwarts’ moment for her,” her brother Michael van Zalingen said died of complications related to the virus on April 14 Carol’s affinity for the area stemmed in large part from her work at Westridge where students referred to her affectionately as “Ms she became dean of student support for its lower and middle schools Carol earned a reputation at Westridge for helping girls reach their fullest potential and for her “seemingly bottomless capacity for empathy and caring,” according to an online tribute posted by colleagues and students after news spread of her death “She never wanted a light shined in her direction and hold time and space for students and friends was uncanny,” the tribute said Michael van Zalingen says his sister possessed an introverted yet open-hearted nature from an early age patient and “the smartest person I ever knew,” but also as someone who was devoted to her students and the welfare of animals “She was a compulsive dog rescuer,” he said The siblings’ lives were unsettled early on because the family moved frequently was an international banker who received a different post every three years their American-born mother had grown weary of what Michael describes as their “peripatetic” lifestyle “So we got visas to come to the U.S.,” he said Carol worked as a teacher in Alabama and Ohio Michael said he intends to honor his sister by granting her final wish — to have her ashes buried in Scotland By Tyrone Beason George Chiu was a craftsman with an eye for detail and a passion for problem solving He carried both traits with him throughout his life a San Francisco Bay Area native with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from San Jose State began his career at Fairchild Semiconductor In 1968 he followed Fairchild colleagues Robert Noyce and Gordon Moore to a start-up the two had founded in the semiconductor chip industry Chiu spent most of his career designing and assembling “packaging” that would seal off semiconductor chips from moisture and other contaminants while still allowing the transmission of electronic signals “He was always a real hands-on engineer,” said his daughter Jenny Sears “They just had to be inventive back then — there was no class in semiconductor chip packaging your dad knew more about materials than some people with doctorates.’” In a company publication celebrating Intel’s 25th anniversary Chiu reflected on his career: “I was the first engineer doing package development at Intel I’m still doing basically the same thing and I love it,” he said “I can hold a product in my hand and see my contribution to it; my identity’s in that package I was supposed to retire almost 10 years ago In the 1990s Chiu also worked on a technology known as “C4” processing that enabled chips to simultaneously make hundreds and try and find out what the solution is — that was his satisfaction.” he came home every day and inspected the work asking the contractor to straighten something out “1/16th of an inch” even if functionally it was perfect Colleagues and his daughter recalled his penchant for rock concerts at the Fillmore in the 1960s where he would stand next to speakers to immerse himself in the music — a habit that may have contributed to his severe hearing loss “We couldn’t get enough of that,” Engel said Engel later left the company but continued to meet Chiu every week for years “We’d go to lunch and eat like pigs — and he’d go home that evening and right away ask He continued to live alone at his Palo Alto home By late last year much of his memory was failing but Engel said “he could still talk about Penang and the food there.” It’s not clear how Chiu contracted COVID-19 but his daughter said it could have been from a recent hospital stay or possibly from one of his caregivers By Nina Agrawal If you were fortunate enough to meet Ronald Harris in the late 1970s you likely had to answer two questions: What would you like to drink renowned as much for his charisma as for his eye-popping global excursions His mother was an aspiring vaudeville singer and his father a pioneer of the tourism industry who traveled on steamships Harris took over the family business and eventually went on to co-found Hemphill Harris Travel there was no limit between cultures and countries,” said his son-in-law Harris’s custom tours — fantasias of elephants and exotic dancers African trains and jumbo jets reimagined as flying piano bars — were enough to garner a 1986 write-up in the Los Angeles Times which dubbed them a “first-class spectacle” designed for “the rich and the restless.” A single ticket could cost upwards of $23,000 The trips were incredible feats of resourcefulness in a pre-Internet era and were often only feasible because Harris himself had done them first “He was definitely a visionary,” said his daughter Marissa “He had this drive to make things different And although the agency commanded much of Harris’s energy He enjoyed taking his children camping (or “glamping,” Marissa said) and pushed them to try new foods and experiences He also encouraged them to take an interest in the travel business “I felt so fortunate that he exposed me to different things,” said his son who worked with his father for several years “To go to Africa on safari when I was 10 years old was just mind blowing.” A longtime member of the Traveler’s Century Club — a club for people who have been to at least 100 countries — Harris also kept a baby crocodile and a pet piranha in his office that were meant to encourage visitors to “dream more,” his children said He wanted to outdo what anyone else had experienced in the world.” And although Hemphill Harris folded after a disastrous sale to Weststar it wasn’t enough to dampen Harris’s spirit He went on to found another travel agency with his second wife and also made time for two of his other passions: fishing and golf Harris maintained his sharp mind and sense of adventure to the end his son-in-law remarked that he was like those explorers who had flown around the world in a hot air balloon Ronald Harris is survived by his wife Sylvia Sister Paulita Bernuy posed a question to a group of eight nuns who had just moved into the convent at Holy Name Parish in South-Central Los Angeles As part of her ministry’s work with refugees from El Salvador her two young daughters and her paraplegic husband all living together in a garage Bernuy asked if the sisters would consider having the family live with them at the convent until they could find a home of their own but we came to the decision that we would give it a try,” Sister Rochelle Mitchell recalled “Thus began two years of having our hearts stretched and sometimes broken the greatest joy in watching the girls grow and the incredible pain as dad headed deep into a world of depression.” The family eventually found a home in Echo Park but their connection to Bernuy and the other sisters persisted the two daughters were pallbearers at her funeral Bernuy’s remarkable life unfolded as a series of chapters and when it was appropriate she moved on to another chapter,” she said 1929 into a large French Canadian family in Quebec Bernuy was 21 when she joined the Sisters of Social Service an order of religious women committed to helping those on the margins of society and changing the societal structures that push people to those margins Bernuy served in several parishes on the West Coast and took on leadership roles within Sisters of Social Service She received a master’s degree in social work from San Diego State University in 1974 and worked for several years as a therapist at Holy Family parish in Glendale Bernuy and four other nuns were handcuffed and arrested in 1981 after blocking the driveway to the Federal Building in downtown L.A in protest of the deportation of Salvadoran refugees “They’re sending these people to their death and we’re willing to put our bodies on the line,” she told the Los Angeles Herald Examiner at the time this time working as a doula working with infant children in Seattle “As a leader of our community and as an activist but that just melted away when she did her final act of ministry,” said Sister Maribeth Larkin general director of the Sisters of Social Service Bernuy was living in Encino at a home the Sisters of Social Service operate for their aging members when she contracted the virus When Elishia and Bobby Breed were walking home from summer school one day their mother surprised the two by pulling up in her car and asking “How would you guys like to go to Magic Mountain?” Patti Breed-Rabitoy had left work early to be with her children “That was the kind of person she was,” Elishia Breed said with a laugh “She was really trying to spend quality time with us.” Breed-Rabitoy worked 36 years as a human resources manager at UCLA’s administrative information system department “It literally took 3 people to fill her position when she retired,” Breed said Breed-Rabitoy made some of her best friends at work Mabel Lai and Dolores Cook would occasionally eat at the now-closed Norm’s in Westwood and chat for hours the trio continued to meet a few times a year said the two became friends after Breed-Rabitoy offered to help with her writing because English isn’t Lai’s first language Breed-Rabitoy loved nature and spent years as a troop mom for both the Boy and Girl Scouts She and her husband Dan loved taking road trips to Oregon and Las Vegas you just knew it was going to be fun and joyous and just full of love,” Breed said “And that’s what we’re missing right now.” Breed-Rabitoy suffered from various ailments She first experienced coronavirus-related symptoms on April 27 when she came down with a high fever after her thrice-a-week dialysis treatment She was immediately hospitalized and tested positive for COVID-19 the following day at Northridge Hospital Medical Center She was then transferred to UCLA Medical Center where her family decided to take her off a ventilator on Mother’s Day Breed-Rabitoy is survived by her husband Dan Rabitoy along with 11 grandchildren and five siblings “Nothing mattered more to Patti than showing love,” Elishia said Dan told her after her mother’s death “I feel like I was married to and living with a real life angel for 32 years.” By Tomás Mier There weren’t many things Mark Appelbaum wasn’t good at he conducted experiments in a lab he built in the basement of his parents’ home In college he fell in love with another kind of science earning a doctorate in quantitative psychology and going on to edit two respected psychology journals he participated in numerous groundbreaking studies and continued to contribute to the educational mission at UC San Diego long after he retired from the faculty in 2011 And away from the classroom he loved to cook and took up acting “Some people can be remarkably single-minded and discipline-specific,” said Steven Adler in the department of theatre and dance at UCSD He cast his net much farther afield both on campus as well as off-campus.” But being a renaissance man doesn’t always make you popular in your own home having a father who was a statistician wasn’t nearly as cool as having a father who was a businessman or an NBA player,” said Greg Greg now has an uncool job of his own as an associate professor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke He will soon be following his father’s footsteps to UCSD as well “He almost never expressed regrets,” Greg said of his father two days after being hospitalized because of COVID-19 “He was both an optimistic person and also he did what he wanted to and made a lot of right decisions." Appelbaum’s 79 years of life were more than rich in other ways As a child he was fascinated with chemistry mixing dangerous chemicals in his tiny lab and sometimes pouring them into his brother’s hands to see what would happen a career track that led him to teaching positions — and faculty leadership roles — at North Carolina His research focused on quantitative and data analytic methods and their applications to human development which led to a wide array of studies involving non-maternal child care He was also a member of the SAT Committee of the College Board and worked on the Head Start program he was perhaps best known for chairing a task force that sought to determine the link between violent video games and aggression in children but the evidence was insufficient to show it led to criminal violence or delinquency Retirement gave Appelbaum a chance to explore other interests — and they were plentiful as well He joined the board of the La Jolla Symphony and Chorus acting came out of left field,” his son said welcoming face frequently creased by a smile trim eyebrows and bald pate framed by a shock of white hair play a range of roles — and Hubbs cast him in many That’s why I kept casting him,” she said “He was a brilliant man I think he could have done anything he set his mind to “Acting gave him a chance to be a really different kind of a guy Mark Appelbaum the academic was a humble man of unparalleled accomplishment But Mark Appelbaum the actor was free to try out roles he didn’t get to play in everyday life Appelbaum would have called it releasing the psychology of expectations He loved telling a good story and hearing a good story.” It was close to midnight when Danielle Enriquez got a call from her grandmother what size shoes do you wear?” Danielle recalled her asking and saw a pair of boots she wanted to buy Danielle It was her favorite TV channel and she loved its advertised lotions and jewelry it was just another opportunity to care for her family “She would spend her last dime on her family Lord’s family found out she had tested positive for coronavirus part of a cluster of cases at Cedar Mountain Post Acute Care in Yucaipa She developed a lung infection and the sodium level in her blood began to spike though her breathing was strong enough that a respirator was not needed they said goodbye and told her they loved her Lord’s life revolved around her three sons she began working at a local boat motor factory to support them Ernie went to work with her when he was 15 she became a caregiver and worked another decade until retirement She kept things spotlessly clean and loved to decorate her home with handmade bouquets Her opinions were especially strong on matters of style I wouldn’t wear it,” Ernie recalled her saying with Danielle acting as her main caregiver She made fast friends with her roommate and several staff members so Ernie and Danielle regularly delivered some of her favorite foods: fast food tacos She’d dig into her meal with a grin and a throaty alto laugh Lord is survived by her sons; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren By Isaiah Murtaugh Carlos Oropeza Canez was 22 years into a 30 year prison sentence when COVID-19 began to spread through his correctional facility more than 900 people at Avenal State Prison were infected with the deadly virus to tell her he’d been written up for refusing an assignment in the prison’s kitchen Canez became the first inmate at Avenal to die from complications of COVID-19 His father died when he was just an infant Canez was full of charm and charisma; a bright and curious child who would grow into a smooth-talking Cassanova with confidence and style he was voted “Best Dressed” senior at Arvin High School who married into the family when Carlos was in fourth grade My husband used to call him ‘silver-tongue.’” But life in his Lamont neighborhood outside Bakersfield was full of temptation Canez got involved with the local drug scene and began using heroin It was an addiction that would plague him for much of his life Canez made a decision that would change his life and the lives of others he got behind the wheel of a car and got into an accident that killed two people: Ruben Pinon Canez was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to back-to-back 15-year sentences It took Canez a long time to process what had happened and the family didn’t have the resources to pursue an appeal a childhood flame who visited him regularly he made it a point to reconnect with many of his siblings He also began studying psychology and mentoring younger inmates in need of guidance noting that Canez had plans to become a counselor upon his release Canez graduated from the Avenal education program It was one of the proudest moments of his life Canez’s family doesn’t sugar-coat what happened but they also recognize the demons he battled the goodness he had within him and the lessons his life provided “His decisions in his life have given me the ability to have an open heart and open mind and to see people for who they are versus what they’ve done,” said his son Xavier said he thought about his father when he taught his own son to play baseball Sandra said she’ll never forget how her brother-in-law used to fill the house with music and dance Jimenez said she will miss her best friend whose smile could “light up a dim room.” who seemed most openly moved by his father’s story “A strength I took from him was never judging anyone,” he said Carlos Canez is survived by his wife Angie; children Xavier Emanuel and Adriana; grandchildren Gabrielle Birthdays and Christmas were special to Emma Patiño who would craft handmade blankets and pillows for her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren She'd add superheroes or cartoon characters or other interests from their lives Emma made her grandson Jaime Patiño an Elvis Presley blanket — both of them were fans but she had time and she knew how to sew,” he said “Those meant more than any gifts you could buy at a store because they were made by her died of complications from COVID-19 on April 13 at Kaiser Permanente in San Leandro five grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren and her husband took up seasonal work in the East Bay at the old Hunt’s fruit packing cannery When the cannery offered Ricardo a full-time job Emma agreed to relocate their family of five to Union City in 1960 at least we’ll have a chance over there,’” said Jaime Patiño Though neither Emma nor Ricardo finished high school they watched the next generations graduate college and earn advanced degrees The couple divorced years before Ricardo's death in 2004 Emma was a soft-spoken woman who enjoyed visits from her loved ones — when she'd insist they sit and eat something even if they weren’t hungry — and her 'novelas Emma moved into the Gateway Care and Rehabilitation Center in Hayward but still remembered her relatives and details about her family Jaime went to see his grandmother after receiving a news alert that there was a COVID-19 outbreak at the facility They communicated silently through the window of her room; Emma waved at him to come inside A few hours later he went to see her again through the window She became the 10th resident of the Gateway Center to die of complications from the coronavirus in an outbreak that killed at least 18 others She died less than two weeks before what would have been her 85th birthday the family took her out to lunch at a Mexican restaurant in Fremont It was the last time the entire family was able to gather around to see her she’s surrounded by her great-grandchildren “And for her to pass away just shy of a year later she got up out of bed and walked over to the window so I could say hi to her It’s just weird — five days later she passed away.” A Vietnamese soldier against colonial France a lieutenant colonel against the communist Viet Cong a leader of South Vietnam’s counterinsurgency training program "He was first and foremost a man who fought for peace independence and meaningful resolution," said his daughter "And he sacrificed everything to do what was right." after attempting clandestine peace talks with his brother then a senior intelligence officer in North Vietnam He spent five years in prison and two years at a communist reeducation camp and turned down numerous opportunities to escape "His American friends tried to help smuggle him out but it would imply that I was guilty,'" said Kapuscinska of the pro-Communist allegations that plagued her father "And when the communists were marching into the capital in 1975 Embassy said they had room for him and my mother to fly out on a helicopter but he refused because he'd have to leave his children." Chau and his family later fled to the United States and settled in Los Angeles His oldest children enrolled in vocational programs while he studied computer programming at a community college and worked nights on an assembly line "People ask him why he would take classes at a community college even though he's so old," Kapuscinska recalled 'You're gonna be 70 years old when you're done!' And he said Chau then started a successful desktop publishing business he battled aspiration pneumonia and was in the midst of recovering from a hip replacement when he was diagnosed with COVID-19 at a nursing home 14 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren "I definitely think if there was no coronavirus he would've lived longer," said Kapuscinska They met at the Silhouette Club in Oakland in 1954 Costell Akrie was 23 and stationed at the Air Force base in nearby Pleasanton Dianne Swanigan was 19 and an EKG technician at a local hospital On a break from his gig as a stand-up bass player with the jazz band performing that night Akrie went to Dianne’s table and asked for a cigarette ‘I have met the man I’m going to marry.’ I just knew it,” Dianne said Costell and Dianne Akrie would have celebrated their 65th anniversary on May 1 if Akrie had not died from complications of COVID-19 at the Gateway Care & Rehabilitation Center in Hayward on April 4 He did so many things for so many people and never talked about it.” Costell Akrie was born in Pittsburgh in 1931 and lived in an orphanage from age 9 to 16 He moved in with a sister and worked his way through high school as a busboy He entered the Air Force and was stationed in Korea before returning to the U.S Akrie earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public administration from Cal State Hayward package deliveryman and Lever soap company salesman — while supporting his wife and two kids Akrie went on to become chief of veterans affairs for the Bay Area Urban League procuring millions of dollars in grants for veterans looking to reenter the workforce and one of the first African American managers for United Airlines running maintenance bays at the Oakland and San Francisco airports one constant was Akrie’s devotion to community service He spearheaded fundraisers to purchase the land and playground equipment for Tassafaronga Park in East Oakland in 1964 He helped start a program called Bikes Unlimited which lent bicycles to children who couldn’t afford them He was an active participant in city council meetings Costell’ because he was so kind and compassionate,” said Scott Akrie “He was the least pretentious man you could meet if you were seeking advice or help to better yourself He loved to read and was an avid chess player collecting more than 50 chess sets from around the world He designed and built the couple’s retirement home in Rumsey for problems related to his diabetes medication He was sent to Gateway for physical rehabilitation on March 5 and diagnosed with a low-grade fever on March 28 He tested positive for the coronavirus on March 31 and died four days later one of at least 13 patients who have died at the facility from COVID-19 four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren family members could not visit Akrie in his final days “All he wanted was to get home and have a cup of my coffee,” Dianne said “It’s hard when you can’t see your loved one and you know they’re going to die.” By Mike DiGiovanna Tommy Macias spent most weekends with his two sisters and their children booming laugh” that brought a smile to those around him she was the butt of jokes Macias would make and the constant teasing had left a soft spot in her heart for her uncle An average weekend for Macias included barbecuing or cruising in a boat on Lake Elsinore with his mother It was at a barbecue with friends that he contracted the coronavirus apparently from a guest who had tested positive for COVID-19 but was asymptomatic Macias died June 21 of complications from the virus Lopez said that a day on Lake Elsinore with her uncle was “one of the best days ever” — even though she didn’t share his love of the water a feeling she often experienced in her uncle’s presence Danielle’s father and Macias’ brother-in-law cherished the relationship Macias had with Lopez’s daughters and he actually checked in with his extended family on a weekly basis,” Lopez said many family members have reached out to make sure he was taken care of because he would have done the same for them.” Lopez and his family were excited to move from Mission Viejo to Lake Elsinore and Wildomar to be closer to Macias They had already made plans for him to help unpack their moving boxes was heartbroken that her brother would not be around to see their family come together a year after their father passed away who lived five minutes away from her brother he would make friends.” Even from an early age he would strive to make people laugh and never wanted to make anyone angry urging people to wear a mask and practice social distancing he took full responsibility,” Macias Norris said and in the end all he wanted to do was take care of his family.” Michael Cook spent much of his life studying to deepen his knowledge of Christ a topic he wrote about extensively in several books including “Christology as Narrative Quest” and “Responses to 101 Questions About Jesus.” “He spoke in paragraphs if not volumes,” his niece A longtime professor of religious studies at Gonzaga University in Spokane Cook spent the final years of his life at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos where he contracted coronavirus and died of complications of COVID-19 on Dec Several other priests at the center also died of COVID-19 around the same time Cook and his family relocated to Seattle when he was around 5 but he and his older brother — Colleen’s father — briefly returned to Montana at the start of World War II motivated by fears that the naval base near the family’s home in Seattle could be bombed He attended a Jesuit-run high school in Seattle and sometimes helped out at a string of foundering ice cream parlors and doughnut shops that his father had purchased in the area her uncle — "Mike" to everyone in the family — entertained her with a story about how he spent long hours scooping ice cream while her father was out chasing girls recalled it differently: While he scooped ice cream his brother was holed up somewhere with his nose in a book reciting prayers Cook entered the Jesuit novitiate at 17 and continued to study throughout his life as well as earning a doctorate from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley and he did teaching stints at Catholic University of Chile in Santiago and Hekima College in Nairobi Despite his intellectual zeal for theology he used the term “abba,” a term for "father" in Aramaic “It was like that personal relationship,” she said Cook baptized her at Lake Goodwin outside Seattle sent her a card commemorating the important day focused on the strength of women told through the story of Mary June Pantages was always a natural caregiver even before the duty was thrust upon her later in life She was only 18 when her son Dick was born without an ear The young mom changed out his bandages and in subsequent years when he returned from one of his surgeries took their three kids camping off Lake Chelan in Washington it was Pantages who made sure the trips went off without a hitch cooking and cleaning while everyone else enjoyed the outdoors She even learned how to drive their RV and load his wheelchair so they could continue traveling with the American Clipper Owners’ Club After her husband died in 1991 and the RV stopped running Pantages still wrote the club’s newsletter “She was always behind the scenes,” Dick Pantages said “but she was the glue that held the whole thing together.” It wasn’t until Pantages was in her 90s that she stopped driving and traveling and decided to move into a senior living home Her health had worsened over the past year a little over a month after her 96th birthday Pantages left home shortly after graduating high school and married Harry the last five of which she spent caring for him as his condition deteriorated Although Harry was the more outgoing of the two her quiet warmth and compassion were her calling card Pantages was a busy member of her church for more than 50 years coordinating weddings and memorial services and making lunch for its men’s group every Thursday When a family friend began suffering from dementia She also spent decades volunteering with Kaiser Hospice out of gratitude for their help with her husband trying to take care of everyone,” her son Dick said Jerri Long; son Timothy Pantages; and grandson Geoffrey Long By Ryan Kartje Vernon Robinson was the kind of man who showed up for his friends unconditionally And he always gave people the benefit of the doubt “I used to say that even if something had happened to us and our marriage didn’t last I would still want him to be my friend,” said Willa Robinson He ran a landscaping business with his brother for many years in California a job he enjoyed because he was able to work outside and tend to plants He was a skilled dancer with a sharp sense of humor “A lot of the time he had me laughing so hard I was almost on the floor,” she recalled Vernon spent his final two years battling Alzheimer’s disease at the Alameda Care Center in Burbank but he never forgot who his wife and sons were He died from COVID-19 on March 26 at Adventist Health Glendale after a week in the hospital The 81-year-old was previously diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure as well as four grandchildren and one great-grandchild Lou Miramontes likes to think of his parents High-school sweethearts at San Francisco’s Balboa High School bought a home in Union City for about $4,000 and raised their four children there shuffling between sporting events and mapping out plans for their next trip to the beaches of Acapulco Mary had wanted to go to college but building a family came first working at the United Auto Workers Union in Fremont for 17 years and passing her passion for financial analysis onto her son Lou sought many aspects of his parents’ journey for himself But he did not see it ending this way — with Mary dying of complications due to COVID-19 in a Brookdale assisted living and memory care facility in Tracy but the disease took her before her time.” “My dad had dreams of bringing her home,” Lou said not even being able to be in the same room with her.” who lived in Danville the last three decades 11 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren she had to adjust to new rhythms of how her family could visit but they were able to celebrate her 90th birthday in an outside garden area Lou said there was an outbreak at Brookdale in August and soon after she tested positive they were not allowed to see her other than on Facetime “We all need to continue to protect ourselves and call out other people who aren’t behaving appropriately Loretta Mendoza Dionisio was a force of nature The kind of woman who would chase bullies through the streets of her Pasay City neighborhood in the Philippines with a wooden spoon when they made fun of her brother for being gay upon immigrating to the United States to escape martial law in the 1970s became a trailblazer in the advertising industry Dionisio became the first person in Los Angeles County whose death was attributed to COVID-19 She and her husband Roddy had flown into L.A on March 8 after a trip to the Philippines and died early the following morning at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center It was the last chapter in a love story that spanned decades Roddy and Loretta met in the art program at the University of Santo Tomas A painting they created together still hangs on Rowena’s wall where Roddy was in-store advertising director for a hardware company and Loretta was its creative director they began working with their son as co-owners of an automotive repair business Loretta was often the only woman in her department her family has been flooded with messages from people who said she took a chance on them when no one else would “My mom always did that for people,” Rowena said Loretta and Roddy had planned to retire and divide their time between their son’s home in Orlando “This virus is really damaging for people in their twilight years,” said their daughter-in-law “people who are looking for a life of retirement and relaxation and time with loved ones.” Loretta was preceded in death by two brothers and is survived by her husband Rodrigo; sisters Norma Quijano and Barbara Poole; daughter Rowena Dionisio-Connelly and her husband Christopher Connelly; son Rembert Dionisio and his wife By Alex Wigglesworth Joyce Marie Pierce Johnson had one of the meanest Mardi Gras spreads in Houma Johnson’s special potato salad; it’s the place people wanted to be for the first time her children can remember nursing Washington back to health from a double mastectomy lifting her daughter’s full weight to help her around the house or to use the restroom it was so jarring to hear her voice over the phone from the hospital joyful” voice that was the center of every party; in its place and all of us [children],” said Washington “We could not be there one second to help take care of her.” Johnson and her 10-year-old granddaughter were on vacation visiting her son and his family in Hemet when she began to have diarrhea and nausea She went to the doctor and tested positive for COVID-19 but she was convinced the hospital wouldn’t hold her long “Her last words to us were that she loved us and that she couldn’t wait to come see us,” said Kristie Johnson Johnson had retired after 25 years as a grocery store cashier that she would make people’s day with her banter Johnson dedicated her retirement to making sure her children were taken care of whether it was nursing through recovery from a surgery helping with a home purchase or just paying a visit Washington said Johnson was the person people would go to for confidence or inspiration In the middle of Washington’s battle with breast cancer Johnson spray-painted her hair pink to show support She taught her children to stick together and to be honest “She made me the woman I am,” said Washington Terrence Johnson and Frank Johnson Jr.; stepchildren Gregory Wallace and Ivy Wallace; 31 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews The first time someone met Bishop Anthony Pigee Sr. they might notice his “ever-glowing” smile or his laugh “like a lion in the jungle.” Maybe he’d pay for their meal or fill up their gas tank But if they asked him what he did for a living said his son and successor Elder Anthony Pigee Jr. all he’d say was that he was “in the business of changing lives.” Bishop Pigee was a powerful preacher who traveled around the United States and the world to preach but who also went out of his way to care for his community and the Life of Faith Community Center the nondenominational church he founded in Long Beach 15 years ago He just wanted to be a blessing,” said his wife Pigee was so well known in the community that when LaVicia called a friend to tell him of her husband’s passing the friend already knew: Someone at the corner convenience store Pigee frequented had heard it and shared it with the group that hung out outside It may have been Pigee’s care for those around him that led to his contracting the coronavirus in late March With stay-at-home orders about to go into effect Pigee was driving around town stocking up on staples “He was the epitome of a provider,” said Anthony Jr with Pigee’s breathing becoming more and more labored and doctors told him that the breathing problems he’d had for three months weren’t from allergies after all joyful belly laugh and a beaming smile that could turn a bad day to a good one in a moment said longtime friend Bishop Sherman Gordon of Family of Faith Christian Center in Long Beach Pigee loved to embarrass LaVicia with compliments he explained to the waiter that the couple was on a date then suddenly burst into a song about how beautiful she was Pigee had a few different catchphrases that he’d return to from time to time “The best time you have is the time you have.” In addition to his wife and son Anthony Jr. Laniya and Lanicia; daughter-in-law Tineisha Pigee and sons-in-law Albert Parish and Anthony Arzu An earlier version of this obituary contained errors It described the Life of Faith Community Center as affiliated with the Church of God in Christ; it is nondenominational It also said Pigee had founded the church in South Los Angeles a decade ago; it was founded in Long Beach 15 years ago Cornelia “Connie” Talbott grew up understanding the value of self-sufficiency Talbott had taken after the other women in her family owned and operated a grocery store in Aberdeen Talbott and her two older sisters were the ones tending to the house Strong will was a family trait that flowed through the generations and ultimately to Talbott's daughter who said her mother set an example as a curious “There was never that sort of focus on ‘You have to have a man do it for you’ or so you can't do those things.’ She had that kind of spirit,” Sarah said She wanted to make sure that I knew how a car operated and how to change a tire.” Talbott often demonstrated this through her ability to tinker with cars Talbott maintained the car on her own for nearly 20 years replace the spark plugs and take care of flat tires Sarah recalled the time they were dropping off a friend from school on a rainy Talbott never balked at taking care of anyone — or anything —in need In addition to hosting her nieces and nephews during summers Talbott had an affection for her furry family both began exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms on May 12 and after visiting the emergency room in nearby El Centro Talbott's pulmonologist “seemed really hopeful that she was gonna pull through days after receiving convalescent plasma therapy By Astrid Kayembe Alan Beal graduated cum laude with a degree in mathematics from Santa Clara University in 1961 “He really was brilliant,” recalled Warren Hein died from COVID-19 at a hospital a few miles from his alma mater on Sept Beal worked as a road surveyor for Santa Clara County but the routines of his life were often upended by struggles with mental health recalling trips he and his brother took together to Yosemite when they were younger Beal lived alone in a one-bedroom apartment in San Jose Hein and his wife stopped by on Wednesdays to take him to Safeway after Beal moved into a nursing home in San Jose After beating colon cancer a few years back “He did have more living to do,” Hein said their surviving siblings – a brother in Northern California and a sister who lives near Palm Springs – plan to hold a small ceremony to honor Beal “Oscar helped many students grow into the people they are,” said Samantha Rosas the current debate team captain at Rosa’s alma mater “He consoled me as I cried after losing in debate and he never failed to make all of us laugh.” Rosa put Cudahy’s Elizabeth Learning Center debate team on the map he returned to the school to help coach the team he’d even lend a hand to students from opposing teams He taught “our team everything we know,” students wrote on a GoFundMe page that has raised more than $17,000 for his family “He always listened and provided the best advice anyone could hope for.” Oscar Leonel Rosa died of COVID-19 complications on June 26 at St Although he commuted to Cal State Fullerton from his family’s Bell Gardens home he’d use his business smarts to help his dad with the paperwork and payroll at his mechanic shop in Commerce helping my dad with his job and would go back to Cudahy from Fullerton to coach the kids twice a week,” Irma said “It’s so strange to explain how he found the time to do everything.” he spotted a woman selling Salvadoran quesadillas He approached her and bought all of the slices she had left and even gave her some extra money “He did so many good deeds and he’d never say a word about them.” Rosa bought his two younger siblings their own cars so they could commute to their classes at Cal State Northridge He was paying the cars off and told them not to worry about the payments He wanted his siblings to focus on school and have a future “He always would tell them to echarle muchas ganas” his sister called the dealership to see when the next payments were due for both cars “Oscar left but he blasted a lot of love into the universe,” Irma said His family tried to keep him in isolation as his symptoms worsened He was taken to the hospital on June 15 as he started having trouble breathing and his body began to ache Rosa is survived by his parents Sonia and Oscar Eduardo and Noé and nieces Amarey and Adalie “It feels as if they cut off my right arm,” his mother said Margaret Romero was the picture of grace and elegance ‘What kind of gorgeous outfit is she going to be wearing today?’ ” said Earleen Williams a friend of 40 years who worked with Romero at a health center Most who knew her can call up an image of Romero flashing a warm smile in her flowing homemade dresses adorned with the patterns of her beloved Big Pine Paiute Tribe her look completed by matching native jewelry she’d picked up at local shops when they mostly saw each other occasionally at the grocery store Romero went into the Northern Inyo Hospital in Bishop with COVID-19 Romero was as beautiful in her character as in her appearance Her poise and benevolence aided her in a lifelong commitment to the wellness of the Paiute people in the Owens Valley to two members of the Big Pine Paiute Tribe Romero grew up in a tiny house in Big Pine a member of the Taos Pueblo tribe in New Mexico They married and together had two daughters she moved back to Big Pine with her young family where they filled a new house on the reservation and welcomed their third child Romero’s return to the reservation helped spark a revival of a cultural identity that had been fading among Owens Valley Paiute people who taught her traditional songs and dances and described the clothing worn for performances she formed the Tovowahamatü Singers and Dancers a group of young girls who perform traditional dances and songs at community events throughout the year She directed practices in her backyard and used her skills as a seamstress to craft traditional dresses for the group “All those girls that were part of the original group are mothers with their own children,” Sage said “They’ve kept their children involved with the learning and have kept the songs and dances going.” Romero’s devotion to young people was also a theme in her professional life she served as the director of family services at the Toiyabe Indian Health Project a healthcare provider for Indigenous people in the Owens Valley she created a number of wellness programs focused on combating addiction and lifting the self-esteem of children These programs were particularly important in communities beset by substance abuse Romero worked for the neighboring Bishop Paiute Tribe as an Indian Child Welfare Act liaison helping reconnect neglected native children with their roots Romero inspired Sage to become a cultural bearer in his own right Sage has spent the better part of his life sharing his Paiute and Taos Pueblo culture through dance and art Sage had been building a studio in Big Pine for the community to practice Paiute songs The Margaret Lucille Romero Memorial studio will open its doors this spring for the first time and continue its namesake’s legacy Marin would spend the weekend cooking up tri-tip and ribs for his family and neighbors he’d sit back and watch with a smile on his face as his wife and children ate his delectable meals “It didn’t matter how long he was away from home he’d spend his weekends barbecuing,” his wife Krystal Magno said Andres “Andy” Marin III died on July 1 of COVID-19 complications at Sierra View Medical Center in Porterville From tacos on his flat-top grill to Filipino lumpias and pancet Marin always knew the way to people’s hearts: his cooking When Magno took lunch breaks during her 12-hour shifts at the Sierra View emergency room where she worked “What’s our husband bringing us for dinner today?” her coworkers would ask jokingly Marin began living his dream of being a long-haul truck driver After working with truck drivers for much of his life at a shipping and receiving company he took on this new challenge to help his family He wanted his wife to focus on nursing school Marin loved being on the road and taking in the scenery One of his first road trips on the job took him across the country to Florida He came back inspired (and with some trinkets) “He wanted to see and absorb as much as he could,” Magno said Marin started developing COVID symptoms during a two-week work trip in early June when he started having headaches and a light cough “We were always afraid it would be me who would get it,” Magno said referring to her job at a hospital emergency room “I had seen so many people recover from it; I never thought it would kill one of us.” Marin later went on a second trip and cut it short after experiencing body aches after being diagnosed with both bacterial and viral pneumonia “It was a roller coaster ride from the day he was admitted to the day he passed,” Krystal said “I cry tears of happiness because so many people made it and with them a little bit of Andy [does] too,” Magno said In the days since Michelle and Christine Caley lost their father they’ve been consoled by being able to break through the fog of sadness and share a laugh “It’s funny; he was very much a ‘Girl Dad,’” said Michelle using the phrase made famous after Kobe Bryant’s death in January but he taught us all the skills he would have taught a boy We still hold that we caught bigger fish than he ever did On the wall of Ken Caley’s office in the family’s San Clemente home hang two stuffed trout the girls gave their 59-year-old father as a reminder of the strong young women he’d raised “He still displayed them proudly,” Michelle said As much as Ken Caley was a “Girl Dad,” Michelle and Christine could be called “Fireman Daughters.” Because of their father’s unpredictable schedule there were certain events he could not attend that most fathers could yet there were also moments he could take advantage of Caley would appear unannounced at the girls’ elementary school and bring them lunch or join in a basketball game during recess they could more easily handle his absence when duty called at an inconvenient time “It was that he was serving the community and making sure that someone else’s life was taken care of.” Michelle and Christine left Southern California after college moving to Chicago and the Pacific Northwest they had been planning a surprise golfing trip for his 60th birthday But they never got the chance tell him about it He fell ill with what seemed like a normal flu in mid-March he went to Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo and tested positive for COVID-19 “We couldn’t hold his hand,” Christine said “We had to exercise so much patience to wait for the doctor’s phone call every day to get an update That was the most difficult part of this horrible situation.” The daughters believed their father’s 38 years as a firefighter likely did not help his lungs in his battle with the virus “but retired a couple years ago and was really looking forward to just kind of living life By J. Brady McCollough In the one-room schoolhouse in Nebraska where she launched her teaching career Margaret Zwingman taught her pupils diligently when her days were immersed in raising her own six children in Salinas they too absorbed the basics of how to live honorably She was usually practical in what she did," said son Robert Zwingman which a caretaker had brought into her nursing home said his mom "was a homebody who figured things out on her own The way she learned to bake bread was when her mom told her 'Bake bread for dinner tonight' and left the house.” Margaret Spiekermann Zwingman was born Aug she boarded with some of her pupils' parents She steered grades one through eight in Elgin when she moved 80 miles south to Grand Island to work in an ammunition plant Among her tasks was installing safety devices in 250-pound bombs leased a farm with cattle and an apple and mulberry orchard before relocating in 1957 to California where Clarence Zwingman set up a fertilizer application business "She had five kids already and a '52 Plymouth," said Robert Zwingman of one of his earliest memories His parents "hauled a truck full of furniture” to Sacramento where they remained in a three-bedroom tract home a restaurant owner and an elementary school teacher she became a San Francisco Giants baseball fan and became active at the Madonna Del Sasso Catholic Church Margaret Zwingman is survived by her other five children: David Zwingman along with 14 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren "We had a meat and potatoes upbringing -- solid the former UCLA Health System president who is in his second year as vice president of Google Health in Mountain View a former Pepperdine professor of behavioral science who was 85 when he died of complications from COVID-19 on April 2 Feinberg recalled an assignment from Strom’s organizational behavior class that still sticks with him two decades later “It was a high-powered group of executives in the class ‘Do you want to be remembered for making a lot of money and that your stock went up or do you want to be remembered for helping humanity?’ I think it taught me to lead with empathy and that was the best thing I learned from Wayne.” who earned a bachelor of divinity degree from the Berkeley Baptist Divinity School and a PhD from UCLA became a full-time Pepperdine faculty member in 1970 He was a founder of the prestigious Pepperdine Presidential and Key Executive MBA program and was selected as a Harriet and Charles Luckman Distinguished Teaching Fellow in 1991 Strom’s primary interests during a 42-year teaching career were organizational performance enhancement and spirituality in business assessed and taught leadership to more than 1,500 company presidents and senior executives and served as a consultant to numerous corporations in the U.S. “He really helped create the business school that we have today,” said Ann E an associate dean and 27-year professor of organization theory and management at Pepperdine’s Graziadio School of Business “He believed you develop leaders through a better understanding of one’s self.” were married 38 years and lived in Thousand Oaks where Strom turned their backyard into something of a nature retreat planting several redwood trees and fruit trees — fig The couple also enjoyed biking along Pacific Coast Highway and hiking the highest peak in Japan—reaching the summit in time “to watch this beautiful sunrise,” Kathy said Wayne Strom’s health began to decline last fall and he moved into the Kensington Redondo Beach senior living facility in December He developed pneumonia in late March and was admitted to Torrance Memorial Hospital on March 30 He was diagnosed with the coronavirus and died three days later It was very hard to not be able to be with him when he passed and that we’re not able to have a memorial right now Mario Leos Lomeli was proud to be both Mexican and American But he spoke most often about his life as a carpenter His family had asked him to write a biography of his life which he was happy to do on his typewriter there was a phrase he wrote often: “I’m really proud to be a carpenter a retired lieutenant with the Los Angeles Police Department He often built cabinets or carved rosary beads and gave them away “His hands meant so much to him because that’s what made him a carpenter,” she said died April 14 after becoming ill about a week earlier where he tested positive for COVID-19 after living at a nursing home in Torrance for more than a year Lomeli learned woodworking at an early age in Aguascalientes where he suffered an accident and lost his left pinky finger Hernandez and Lomeli packed up and headed west with $42 in their pockets and three young children in tow They were headed to San Francisco but ran out of money and ended up in Los Angeles in 1952 where they raised their nine children and spent summers working in the fields picking fruit and vegetables in the San Joaquin Valley but before then he took night classes and studied history and English and his book of choice was a dictionary because he was determined to embrace the country as his He instilled in his children the love of learning and his descendants have gone on to become engineers He often wore a smile and had a sense of humor that never faded When his children were young and asked about what happened to his missing finger What did you do with it?” In a recent video one family member asked him how old he was dementia and Parkinson’s and needed a wheelchair she moved her parents into her San Pedro home But caring for both became difficult when Lomeli became sick in 2018 so she moved him into the Royalwood Care Center in Torrance The nursing home was already limiting visitors and her parents shared one last brief embrace and kiss before they were forced to separate and their nine children: Juanita Leos-Fullerton He also is survived by 18 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren Theodore “Ted” Lumpkin Jr.was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen whose service as a member of the all-Black unit during World War II helped desegregate the U.S He was drafted into the military in 1942 when he was a 21-year-old student at UCLA He was assigned to the 100th Fighter Squadron of the all-Black unit in Tuskegee He said his eyes weren’t good enough to become a pilot briefing pilots about missions during his overseas combat tour in Italy he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from USC while he was a student and got married soon after he retired from the Air Force Reserves as a lieutenant colonel He started a new era of his life working for Los Angeles County serving as a social worker among other jobs over 32 years becoming a real estate broker and opening his own real estate company Although Lumpkin played a role in changing the military’s culture his family knew only that he served during WWII not that he was one of the fabled Tuskegee Airmen He’d maybe mention some incident or a buddy but we were married for a number of years until I heard about them,” Georgia Lumpkin said “When I realized who these guys were and what they’d done I was just overcome at how much they persevered They achieved things that detractors said they couldn’t Lumpkin’s son said that when he was young he was watching the television show “That’s Incredible!” when the announcer introduced members of the Tuskegee Airmen but from there it took off like wildfire.” The Tuskegee Airmen received the highest civilian recognition in 2007 with the Congressional Gold Medal then-President Obama invited the surviving squadron members only eight original Tuskegee combat pilots and several support personnel are still alive said Rick Sinkfield of the Tuskegee Airmen Inc. Lumpkin traveled frequently across the nation and abroad with the Tuskegee Airmen Inc He served as president of the Los Angeles chapter a national board member and western regional representative He was also a board member with the Tuskegee Airmen Scholarship Foundation During presentations alongside other colleagues Lumpkin often encouraged people to do their best every day to overcome what he described as their “own Tuskegee experience.” Although these projects took up most of his bandwidth family members said he always carved out time to spend time with them even if it meant boarding a flight and heading directly to a music recital or a wedding “I think he really enjoyed doing it,” his other son “I couldn’t have kept up with his travel schedule.” Before Lumpkin tested positive for COVID-19 He enjoyed taking drives down Pacific Coast Highway and had recently purchased a new white Kia Sport He’d occasionally call in a takeout order at the Hilltop Coffee and Kitchen in Inglewood for a breakfast sandwich He learned how to use Zoom for virtual conferences and board meetings He still got to do everything anybody should want to do,” Kelly said several grandchildren and one great-grandchild Even if she was just heading to a doctor’s appointment with her daughter Emilia “She had a drawer full of it,” her daughter said died of COVID-19 complications on April 17 at Kaweah Delta Medical Center she had lived in Montebello for 40 years and for a dozen of those years worked in the cafeteria at Ford Boulevard Elementary in East L.A. ‘Good morning!’ in a happy voice,” Emilia said “She really never let anything bother her.” She’d tell you things as she saw them and didn’t hold back — but it all came from a place of love “She never said what she didn't mean,” Emilia said “And she always did what she said she was going to do.” She also opened the doors to her home to anyone who needed it her mother welcomed her and her three youngest children home If someone was in need of a place to sleep “We always had someone living with us,” Emilia said Martinez was a devout Jehovah’s Witness and would make it clear to all of her guests that “this is a Christian home.” She loved making tamales and her delectable chile verde Her favorite pastime was shopping at the “goody goodies,” the term she used when referring to thrift stores She’d roam around and check out the clothing Martinez tested positive for COVID-19 on April 15 yet showed no symptoms until two days later when her oxygen levels started to drop The family believes she acquired the virus at Redwoods Springs Healthcare Center where 124 residents have tested positive and 29 have died She had been receiving physical therapy at the facility after a serious fall a month earlier 14 great grandchildren and a great great grandchild “She was the icon of the family,” Emilia said When Stephen Maitland-Lewis was asked to describe his late wife “She basically spent all her life giving back.” A prominent leader of several charitable and non-profit organizations in Los Angeles Joni Berry died June 28 from complications of COVID-19 Berry was adopted by Joseph and Inez Eichenbaum at just five days old where her father worked as a real estate developer and her parents co-founded the Joseph K which has since donated millions to charity The family lived in Beverly Hills and Palm Springs and Berry graduated from Beverly Hills High School Berry eventually became president of their foundation including the Joseph and Inez Eichenbaum Wellness Center at the Jewish Family Services in Los Angeles and the Eichenbaum Laboratory of Alzheimer’s Disease at Tel-Aviv University she realized she was greatly blessed,” Maitland-Lewis said “She reckoned that [her adoption] was like a crapshoot: she got parents who were so wonderful she joined Merriel Abbott’s Chicago Baby Professionals She later went on to dance with beloved stars like Sammy Davis Berry’s love for dance remained throughout her life both on stage and in her philanthropic work she served as president of the Professional Dancers Society a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting dancers in need were awarded the Medal of Honor from the Actor’s Fund in recognition of their organizations’ decades-long partnership Berry was also a founding member and former president of SHARE Inc. which works to improve the lives of developmentally disabled She received that organization's Shining Spirit Award in 2019 in honor of her more than 60 years of service and she established the Jody Berry Theatre at RiverPark Center in Owensboro And although Maitland-Lewis said he’s proud of his wife’s many achievements it was the memory of their trips to the Satchmo SummerFest jazz festival in New Orleans Some of our happiest times were spent in New Orleans.” Berry’s many years of philanthropy and volunteerism were also recognized by the County of Los Angeles the City of Los Angeles and the City of Beverly Hills “I was blessed to be her husband,” Maitland-Lewis said Joni Berry is survived by her husband; a son Benjamin and Victoria; and five step-grandchildren He was a Holocaust survivor who yearned for acceptance from his Orthodox Jewish family trying to break through in the male-dominated field of science They met in a speech and debate class in New York City in their mid-20’s Soon she was riding around with him in his old Chevy He twirled her in dance halls across the city But the union between Israel “Izzy” Teicher and Luz Selenia Teicher (neé Colón) was initially fraught His siblings harassed them about their relationship Izzy’s father disowned him for eloping with someone outside the faith forming what would become the deepest trauma of Izzy’s life “Family is someone you can go to no matter what happens,” Izzy once told his friend who shared notes of interviews he did with Izzy in the 1990s The couple lived most of their life in New York in genetics from the University of Rochester She once predicted that a virus could wipe out the human race Izzy had a mathematics degree and worked as a computer engineer before starting a new career in social work said they were the type of people who “didn’t look back.” While her mother was prone to having sophisticated philosophical discussions Izzy and Luz were both diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease they were living in an independent living facility in Stockton so they could be closer to Vika and other family members They had frequent contact with home health care nurses and were in and out of the hospital in December heightening the possibility of contracting the virus Luz was hospitalized at a Kaiser hospital in Santa Rosa on Christmas and passed away there on Jan Joseph’s Medical Center in Stockton on Dec Both were 85 and died due to complications from COVID-19 Vika; son-in-law Andrew Shanken; siblings Jorge D Colón Miriam Navarro and Lydia Robinson; and two grandsons “The painful thing is they had to be alone,” Vika said there was one benefit to the way things played out “They never really knew the other one was dying,” she said Rosa Luna had a servant’s heart ---she loved her job and her family and would do whatever she could be the best mother She took pride in her job as an environmental services housekeeper at Riverside Community Hospital she would even scrub tiny surfaces with a toothbrush to make sure it was as clean as possible Luna died May 4 after contracting COVID-19 Luna migrated to the United States in the 1970s earned her Certified Nursing Assistant and CPR certificates the single mom became a United States citizen “She persevered every obstacle life gave her.” Reaza said she believes her mother contracted the disease while working at the hospital She tested positive April 25 after complaining about body aches and quickly lost her sense of smell and taste and her health declined so rapidly she couldn’t get to the hospital just minutes after her daughter checked in on her Luna is survived by her daughter and two grandchildren By Emmanuel Morgan A trucking company is not the typical environment for romance to bloom the Sacramento native had trained to become a dental hygienist but soon after graduating she changed direction and took a job driving trucks for the Snyder Company in Northern California She met fellow trucker LaMar Mitchell; their wheels crossed in the early 1970s -- the two quickly became a couple Looking for stability and a ‘normal’ routine the Mitchells got married and settled into a more stationary life in suburban Sacramento Mitchell returned to her original vocation before retraining as a special education teacher — at the same time as raising the couple’s two children In recent years Mitchell had been working as an administrator for the Sacramento School district “My friends all loved coming over,” Tesa said mentioning frequent summer backyard barbeques was particularly close to the Mitchell family and Tara specifically “Things weren’t always stable at my house so I spent a lot of time with the Mitchells,” Connolly said “Tara provided a lot of stability and warmth for me she was supportive-- always checking up on me -- the Mitchells are incredible people,” Connolly said Mitchell’s caring nature extended to the family pets — particularly her beloved dogs; Cooper Both Andrew and his mother developed green thumbs and would discuss their backyard pursuits experimenting with various vegetables and flowers throughout the year When Mitchell needed a change of scenery and wanted to see more than backyard foliage she would drive up the coast and visit some of the largest trees in the world given her previous career as a truck driver Mitchell felt comfortable on the road and the family would set off on regular adventures “She loved driving up and down the California coast,” LeMar said The family would take trips up the coast to see the ancient redwood trees and take in majestic sea views the Mitchell’s always made time to stop and grab a drink at local breweries along the coast porters and dark beers were her favorite.” Another favorite beverage that kept Mitchell fueled during long road trips was coffee “Coffee was a lifeblood of our relationship,” laughed Tesa Mitchell particularly loved an iced mocha and the mother daughter pair would grab caffeinated treats at Philz Coffee Mitchell would send her daughter a photo anytime she visited Philz “She sent me some Philz coffee beans a couple months ago.” Tesa said Tesa and her mother remained close and would chat on a daily basis “I called her every day on my way home from work,” Tesa said Mitchell would ring Tesa on her drives too -- to check in and say hello It’s those chats from the car Tesa says she will miss most “I’ll miss the little things -- just knowing that she was always there,” Tesa said her husband and Andrew contracted and tested positive for COVID-19 All three showed symptoms and Mitchell developed a high fever By mid July she had begun to get better but on July 22 Mitchell was having trouble breathing Mitchell died later that day from complications related to COVID-19 She is survived by her husband and children Melinda Wernick felt comfortable on the ice she learned to skate on frozen ponds in the Minneapolis suburbs or for admiration -- she skated to feel free “She marched to the beat of her own drum,” said her daughter during her freshman year at the University of Minnesota who asked her out on a first date to that weekend’s football game I’ll pick you up at five in the morning!’” He had been planning to take her to the away game against Wisconsin Wernick said she would not leave the state on a first date The couple were married in 1963 and raised two daughters just outside of Minneapolis Wernick became a full time mom and was unafraid to get messy with her children: “Growing we made forts played sports together and made mud pies -- she loved to play,” said Laura her playfulness and eccentricities were overwhelming “I was taking the bus home and saw my mom waiting for me at the bus stop shorts and homemade inline skates with neon wheels.” At the time Carrie was mortified she viewed it as a perfect example of her mother’s fearlessness Wernick spent family vacations with her parents in Palm Springs — living in California had been a lifelong dream Although she left the cold Minnisota winters behind Wernick made sure to bring her ice skates to the desert “Nina went to the local ice skating rink in Palm Springs all the time,” said Bob Wernick was also president of the Desert Blades Skating Club Wernick skated well into her sixties and founded an ice skating group specifically for seniors “She loved skating because it combined several of her passions,” Carrie said but it didn’t stop Wenick from visiting the rink “She went to volunteer and help at the rink seven days a week,” said Bob Much of Wernick’s athletic activities slowed down three years ago when she was diagnosed with lung cancer and some neurological disorders that made walking challenging “she became the center of my mom’s world.” And anyone who was part of Wernick’s world “One day we went to visit the ice skating rink,” Belinda said so we all went -- she helped us get our skates on.” Wernick delightedly watched Belinda and her family skate—she always revelled in seeing others succeed “her address book was thick,” Bob said.“She made friends easily and kept in touch with people just to say hello and I love you,” said Laura decided to go stay with her parents in Palm Springs While Wernick and her family took precautions against COVID-19 she contracted the virus in May and it was too much for her already weakened immune system Wernick died on June 29th at the age of 78 The last few weeks of Wernick’s life were spent with her family Sasha would take his grandmother out for strolls in her wheelchair “and mom told Sasha about her childhood,” the four wheels gliding beneath her Antelmo Candido Garcia is remembered by those close to him as a provider and a family man who left behind five children when he died of complications from COVID-19 in May “He took care of everybody's burden,” said one of his sons in 1984 to escape the poverty and crime in his homeland Antelmo moved to Pasadena and worked as a chef He also loved to write poetry and sing along to his favorite crooner Emmanuele believes that his father likely contracted the virus while working at a fast-food restaurant Garcia had high blood pressure and diabetes and was trying to be cautious But at work he was discouraged from wearing a mask out of concern it would scare off customers Garcia was admitted to Huntington Hospital in Pasadena in early April and for the next two months suffered through blood clots after a discussion with the attending medics “We decided to end his suffering,” his son said Garcia’s wife had died of cancer three years earlier and the impact of losing a second parent was devastating to Emmanuele and his siblings “He was the mortar holding everything together,” Emmanuele said Emmanuele said he also tested positive for the virus and ended up losing his job and being evicted He moved in with a cousin and launched a GoFundMe account to pay for his father’s funeral costs In the rush to admit his father to the hospital “I am angry that this pandemic was so mishandled and so political that we have lost loved ones,” Emmanuele said he discovered creative ways to make extra cash Valero would set up shop outside the town’s famous spa He was working in a food truck near the famous 7th Street Produce Market when he met Pedro Astorga “He was selling mariscos and seafood,” said Astoga a wholesale company with a stall in the 7th Street market “He would come around the market and offer us ceviche or shrimp cocktail.” Astorga recognized Valero’s determination and drive: “I said ‘Would you want to work for me?’ He didn’t believe me Valero loved the work and learning new skills “He could just pick things up so quickly.” Astorga was particularly impressed by how well Valero connected with others “People would come to the market and look for him," he said “They would call him ‘The Goose,’ or ‘Ganso,’” after soccer player Paulo Henrique Ganso because of Valero's deep love of the sport Valero spent his weekends playing soccer with friends or rehearsing and performing music with his band Valero’s specialty was a bass drum called la tambora But his typical weekend activities changed 10 years ago a 14-year-old boy Valero adopted from another family member who could not raise him He went from kicking soccer balls to watching ballet rehearsals “He would always go and watch Ullisa’s dance rehearsals,” said Astorga “He would bring fruit from the stand for the other kids —oranges friends would poke fun at Valero for taking such an interest in ballet and dance Valero would often inflate a wading pool and splash around with his three children or the family would pack a picnic and head to the beach “He was the most amazing father,” said wife Maria Isabel even as the rest of Los Angeles Country closed down But Valero was vigilant about safety precautions “He was so so careful about wearing a mask,” said Astorga “and made sure everyone was using hand sanitizer all the time He would look out for me and make sure everyone had masks on.” So it was surprising when Valero began to feel sick in early June “We thought he had a virus,” said his wife “but not coronavirus.” Valero died from coronavirus-related complications June 14 at age 35 he sold 320 tomatoes from the hospital bed But he was so dedicated to the business.’” He saw everyone as part of an extended family The customers whom he sold the tomatoes to have donated $1,000 to a GoFundMe page Astorga put together for the Valero family Valero “loved people so much," said his wife Valero is survived by his wife and his three children Leonard “Lenny” Auerbach was just three months away from being released to a halfway house when COVID-19 began to spread in California in late March Auerbach was being held at the federal correctional institution at Terminal Island as it experienced the worst prison outbreak in the federal system The first case was confirmed in early April 700 out of 1,000 inmates had tested positive for COVID-19 “It was a blatant mismanagement of all the warnings they had,” said Auerbach's son Ben Auerbach already had a slew of underlying health problems — heart issues diabetes — and news of the coronavirus ravaging state prisons was circulating In line with the U.S attorney general’s recommendation they tried to get him compassionately released to a facility or a hospital — anywhere out of the prison “which was basically a tinderbox for COVID,” Ben said “We were just watching the number go up every day on the bureau prison’s website,” Ben recalled After days of frustration and unanswered calls but it was not from the unit manager as he was expecting the chaplain informed Ben that his father had died earlier that day six days after he had tested positive for COVID-19 Auerbach was born in New York but grew up mostly in Chicago he was young for his class and then skipped a grade allowing him to finish high school at 16 and graduate from the University of Wisconsin in Madison at 20 he had received a doctorate in operations management from UC Berkeley on a full scholarship He sold puka shell necklaces on the beach and became an avid surfer he moved back to the East Bay and became a professor at UC Berkeley and St but would spend the winter quarters in Hawaii surfing all day and teaching classes at night Auerbach wanted to provide a better financial life for his family so he transitioned from academia to finance Auerbach began a relationship with an underage girl in Costa Rica When the girl’s family alerted local authorities Auerbach became a fugitive and fled to Cuba Immigration and Customs Enforcement confiscated his laptop He was convicted in 2008 for production of child pornography and received a 15-year sentence It was later reduced to 12 1/2 years for good behavior and then rush home to coach his sons’ sports practices Ben remembers him as a hard worker and a down-to-earth guy “He was a big role model for me,” Ben said and embark on a path of self-development and healing Ben will remember his father for his mana — meaning spirit or energy in Hawaiian “He could connect with people from all walks of life,” Ben recalled A celebration of life will be planned once restrictions on public gatherings are lifted Carol Stern took her father to the emergency room but no matter how bad the symptoms of COVID-19 became with a life that took him across continents and generations so long as it came at the place that was the center of his world for the past 60 years took turns grating potatoes for latke parties where his family settled after fleeing their homeland in 1936 Stern often told stories about leaving Germany but still played a prominent role in the Jewish community in their hometown of Cologne Austria and Holland before settling in England he recounted experiences to his curious children He was just one of those old people who never covering Stern's childhood through his time in the Royal British Army in occupied Italy to his journey to the United States The longtime computer programmer at Kaiser Industries in Oakland spoke four languages: German After buying his son Michael a tree 50 years ago He built furniture and designed dresses for his daughters Carol and Jessica making sure to call each of his grandchildren on Zoom to say goodbye He called his sister Eva Blumenau in London His kids surrounded him in his bedroom during his final moments “He lived a good long life with no regrets about anything,” Carol said Evelia Rubio had a special request for her daughter Reche Canyon Regional Rehabilitation Center in Colton was short on personal protective equipment for its staff to take two hundred dollars out of her bank account to pay someone to make cloth masks for the staff She always wanted to help somebody,” Garcia said Garcia said her mother seemed sleepy and out of breath Rubio tested positive for COVID-19 -- part of a cluster of 45 cases at Reche Canyon Rehab -- and was hospitalized But then her blood began clotting -- hospital staff found clots in the dialysis machine and in the port they had installed to monitor her blood pressure “She had made peace here on earth,” said Garcia “The only reason she was pushing was pretty much for my kids and me.” Before moving to Reche Canyon Rehab she lived with her older sister and the two would plot massive meals for family gatherings She rarely measured out ingredients and preferred to eyeball the ratios for tamales potato salad and arroz con leche -- everything with “a touch of love,” said Garcia a slightly sassy Shih Tzu that Garcia said was like her mother’s second child she bought a brand new white Ford Thunderbird She grabbed her nephew Pierre Fero -- Garcia called her “the cool aunt” -- and took off down the highway to show him how fast it could go Rubio moved to Reche Canyon Rehab after a severe kidney failure Garcia said Rubio was expecting to be released soon and was just waiting for a surgical procedure that would make dialysis easier She had to go through dialysis up to three times a week and there were moments the stress on her body could be overwhelming Sister Anne Lehner never forgot her narrow escape from communist Hungary in 1952 She and two other nuns were about to cross the border into Austria on foot when they were spotted by guards Ducking beneath the bushes to avoid the bullets whizzing past her head Lehner found a hole in a fence and crawled through it eventually making her way to a farmhouse where she knew she would find shelter Her two traveling companions were less fortunate “The political structures of the Soviet Union made life really terrible for nuns in Hungary,” said Sister Maribeth Larkin “Even though there were a couple of hundred sisters there at the time they all had to go underground and stay underground until the Cold War ended.” 19 at age 96 after being hospitalized with COVID-19 She joined the Sisters of Social Service in 1944 just after graduating from college The Sisters of Social Service is an order of religious women who are called not to the contemplative life of the cloister but instead to work in centers of urban life The mission is twofold: Help those on the margins of society and work to change the systems that create injustice The order was founded in 1923 by Sister Margaret Slachta a social worker and the first woman elected to the Hungarian Parliament The two traveled to the United State in 1953 Lehner worked at the Catholic Charities in Lackawanna and at the House of Providence in Syracuse — a residence for children with difficult backgrounds She took a leadership role in the order in 1975 Cuba and Puerto Rico to work with sisters in those countries who had been cut off from the more modern teachings of the Catholic Church “She was an effective leader who challenged the community a lot,” Larkin said “She appreciated more than some sisters do the idea that our ministries are about transformation of systems and society where the order has a residence for older sisters who can no longer live alone Lehner and other aging sisters took on a new ministry: one of prayer “After dedicating their lives to social work but they are very devoted to storming the heavens with prayer,” Sister Patricia McGowan said Lehner remained committed to social justice until the end “She was an avid reader of the New York Times,” Larkin said “It gave her inspiration for what needed her prayer.” The virus seems to have entered the home after another sister and a caregiver spent a significant amount of time in a hospital waiting room “The caregiver tested positive a couple of days later so that’s how we think it came in,” she said Lehner was one of three sisters who died in the outbreak Marylou Armer’s law enforcement career started in high school when she joined the Explorer Program with the National City Police Department “She fell in love with the work she did there,” said her older sister Armer joined the Santa Rosa Police Department in 1999 as a field evidence technician and became a police officer in 2008 she worked as a detective for the department’s sexual assault and domestic violence unit died on March 31 from COVID-19 after being hospitalized on March 23 was denied testing for the virus three times Thousands of people have signed a petition for the “Armer Law,” legislation to ensure access to testing for first responders during an epidemic or pandemic “If they persist on being tested and tell you that they’re ill and they’re so sick that they can’t breathe “And they can’t deny people because of the protocols that are in place her sister and their younger brother grew up in National City and San Diego They celebrated birthdays and special occasions such as Easter and Christmas with parties and family gatherings at home “That’s how our parents raised us,” Lau said Armer moved to Sonoma County after joining the Santa Rosa Police Department and most recently lived in American Canyon with her husband of nearly five years and her stepdaughter Armer enjoyed the outdoors: she grew her own fruits and vegetables and would go camping and kayaking at places such as Lake Berryessa “It’s in her nature to just be that person that you want near you to comfort you and be there to support you,” Lau said “She’s just that caring person and everything she did she always put others before her.” Angel De La Fuente made sure to attend all his kids’ football and soccer games De La Fuente going?’ They liked him because he was able to handle the children who were out of control,” said his wife including with the Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium “He had patrolled every district in Fresno P.D.’s jurisdiction,” said a department spokesman who said De La Fuente joined the gang enforcement unit in 2015 as a detective “He liked to work on the East Side because he grew up there: ‘We arrested these gang members and the streets are going to be safer.’ He never told me any of the bad stuff He was a wonderful father; he did everything for his kids “Of course I was scared; there was always a chance he might get shot or something But this was what he wanted to do with his life ‘I can’t believe they pay me to do this job.’” ‘I can’t taste.’ He got tested and they told him he had COVID.” 7 at Clovis Community Medical Center; fellow officers sometimes conducted briefings outside his room “They’re the best,” said Lilia of Angel’s fellow officers “They had someone outside my husband’s room 24-7 24/7.” he doesn’t have any underlying conditions; he can fight this,’” said Lilia He just wanted to get better and come home.” According to the FPD Fresno Police Department “I like to remember how happy he was when we would have all our family together Now the kids were old enough to get on all the rides and attractions; we were all together Angel De La Fuente is survived by his wife Marissa and Anthony; two grandchildren; and his mother Scott Blanks seemed to be able to tackle anything in life with good humor he put his worries on the back burner and focused instead on the good things in life dancing many nights away with a seemingly endless circle of friends a 34-year-old dental assistant from Whittier but didn’t exhibit symptoms or require treatment as an adult because it didn’t feel real,” said Karen Blanks “We couldn’t even go see him or be with him.” Jessie Funes-Macdonald recalled the times she and Blanks had gone dancing at West Hollywood clubs as Pasadena City College students Blanks was involved in academic fraternities worked at Starbucks for several years and later decided to study to become a dental assistant he had an ability to not only keep in touch with dozens of people those friends shared memories and old photographs with a goofy credited Blanks with lifting him up in dark times and seeing him through life changes from being jobless and struggling with his identity as a gay man to starting a new career as a sheriff’s deputy and getting married “It was very difficult for me to accept myself and he made me feel proud about myself,” Estrada said I don’t think I would have been able to get here without his inspiration.” By Alejandra Reyes-Velarde Stephen Butters found great joy and solace in nature He hiked from Tahoe to Yosemite and climbed to the top of Half Dome He navigated the twists and turns of Havasu Canyon to the Colorado River and he traveled the John Muir and Pacific Crest trails he rode 100 miles on horseback from Florence Lake into Evolution Valley and beyond crossed the country to Florida and found their way north to Newfoundland he enjoyed the out of doors,” said his son who fondly recalled the backpacking trips he and his brother Butters died of complications due to COVID-19 in San Jose Butters was warm and gregarious with a dry sense of humor and he and Mona were known for throwing parties and visiting with friends His father owned a large farm in the Imperial Valley Shawn said his father always considered himself a farmer at heart and that he had empathy for the immigrants and farm laborers who worked the soil He graduated from high school at 16 and went to college before moving with his wife to attend seminary school at Florida Christian College He served as a minister before becoming a teacher He retired as director of business services for the Chaffey High School District in San Bernardino County a lot of young kids had looked up to him,” said Shawn “He was well respected by the students as well as the faculty.” Butters lived for 60 years in the house he built in Alta Loma Known affectionately as the Butters Compound “He had a full life and accomplished a lot of things,” said Shawn Butters began suffering from dementia and spent the last six months in an assisted care facility The last thing he asked for was a dish of ice cream Butters is survived by his children Mark Butters Timothy Shawn Butters and Cheryll Vosburgh That Carmelita and Federico Calindas were from the same province in the Philippines gave them an instant connection when they met in San Francisco more than half a century ago Both had come to the United States in search of better futures for themselves and their families They understood each other’s past and present lives “It was kind of like a meant-to-be story,” their son Frederic said of their 52-year marriage he harvested crops and worked at a flower shop before he was drafted into the Vietnam War as an aircraft mechanic stationed around the nation and the world particularly comforting to single Filipino soldiers Carmelita found jobs on the military bases – in billeting offices She continued to work on bases after Federico retired from the Army He went on to spend 18 years as an aircraft mechanic for United Airlines were both long retired when the coronavirus hit Their six grandchildren had been getting much of their attention Federico served as the grandchildren’s chauffeur and chaperone If a waitress asked him how he liked his eggs “Everything was a joke for my dad,” said daughter Carmela Yamamoto of Sacramento The two were the backbone of their Filipino families They loved to bring everyone on both sides together – which made the pandemic challenging Carmelita and Federico joined Carmela and her family at Frederic’s house in Elk Grove various relatives came to their house to help them pick persimmons off their tree but Carmelita later admitted to her daughter that they also ate together; she said Carmelita and Federico both felt sick that Monday Carmelita got much worse as the week progressed who visited each day to take care of her parents Federico had to be hospitalized three days later he insisted on going over all the arrangements for his wife’s funeral The family was waiting until he could be present A funeral for one became a funeral for two the couple’s children say they are grateful to be able to lean on the extended family that their parents always kept so close In addition to their children and grandchildren Marilou Dabi Abuan; and Federico is survived by his brothers Paul Hernandez was eager to make up for lost time so the best strategy is to be thankful and accepting Then he stepped outside the motor home in which he lived on the streets of East Los Angeles did a few calisthenics and was ready to start his day coaching young boxers in the mystery of the sweet science “There are the three basic moves,” he told his students he taught these skills to fighters at the old Cleland House before it was torn down and then more recently at the Capatillo Boxing Academy The lessons had as much to do with delivering a hook or dodging an uppercut than facing the blows of life and over the years had learned that kindness and strength are not incompatible “He told me to always think of others,” said his daughter Desiree Hernandez “He believed that it is always better to make someone else happy than yourself.” contributed to his getting sick with COVID-19 He told her that he had been at a carwash where an older man without a mask had fainted Hernandez stepped close to help him and put a wet towel on his neck Soon Hernandez came down with a fever in mid-January and dismissed it as just the flu Hernandez was admitted to Beverly Hospital in Montebello the principal had suspended him for a day and his father took him to the Teamsters Gym in downtown Los Angeles his father began to train him as a bantamweight in the family garage led to amateur events at the Olympic Auditorium and another in Las Vegas Hernandez found it easy to talk about himself ”He hoped to go professional and had the 1980 Olympics in his sights “The python spirit is a subtle foe,” he said Hernandez spent time on the street and in prison which he described as a dark and narrow cell but I soon realized that a higher power was making the moves ”With sobriety in his heart and Alcoholics Anonymous in his corner he returned to his neighborhood and an old gym once known as the Cleland House and now the East Los Angeles Community Youth Center He parked his motor home nearby and went to work mowed the lawn and stood beside his young boxers in the ring as they went through their paces “I’ve been called here to do exactly what I have been doing,” he said Hernandez learned that the center’s board of directors planned to sell the property to a charter school He enlisted his boxers and their parents in protests and marches through the neighborhood always looking for any opportunity to open his own gym described Hernandez as “a born hustler” on a mission “He wanted to put up a boxing ring to serve the youth of East L.A.,” said Aguilera “It was what the barrio needed to keep them away from gangs and give them a sense of purpose and a sense of direction.” Lions Club and recently at a library where Aguilera was signing copies of his book “Mexican American Boxing in Los Angeles.” Hernandez never shied from the mic and worked passionately to help preserve the history of East L.A and he was proud of his boxers,” said Desiree Bill Kling could often be found tinkering with computer parts in his home office He liked to take laptops and old desktop monitors apart Kling was known as the go-to person when someone had a computer malfunction Computer connection for Kling was ultimately about human connection ‘Take me out to dinner!’ when he’d helped out a neighbor or friend,” said Sandy Kling “He never did it for the money and he loved going out for meals with friends.” Kling and Sandy met as teenagers at Camarillo High School “We were both 19 when we got married,” said Sandy The couple divorced in 2017 but remained close friends but by April 8 Kling’s condition had worsened He died the following day from complications related to COVID-19 The family held a small service to honor his life on May 1 at Camarillo’s Conejo Mountain Cemetery “I went through our text messages and the last thing he sent me was a picture of his beer at Cronies his favorite sports bar in Camarillo,” said Ben Kling could often be found at Cronies catching a game (he loved all sports) or chatting with his friends from work Kling began working on the assembly line at 3M assembling data storage back-up cartridges He later worked in analytics and quality control at Imation Corp “Bill could pick up on things really quickly and had a photographic memory.” Kling was a master at Trivial Pursuit and could remember minute details from history and current affairs “He loved Marvel comics and all the lore behind them,” said Jake “We would go see the Avengers movies the day they came out and he would explain all the secret information from the comics; it was awesome.” Jake last saw his dad the week before he died drove to a nearby parking lot and munched on fries “We just had a normal conversation about a few Netflix shows he had been watching the kids have been a saving grace in the midst of so much sadness “It’s so hard to be isolated and unable to grieve with people,” she said “But they all worked together on the memorial service.” Rachel wanted to make sure her father’s memory was properly commemorated like her father with his beloved computer pieces she began to tinker and fiddle in a creative way I wanted to make something personal just for him so we got wood and made a box and I painted it.” Ben and Jake covered the lid with their handprints Rachel painted images of her dad’s favorite things; the Cronies’ logo one side was devoted to Kling's expertise: a desktop computer Kling is survived by his children; his father and stepmother Dick and Shirley Kling; and siblings Mike Kling and Teresa Jolliff Baza found a place where he felt like he finally belonged: the arts community San Diego’s theater and visual art communities “opened new worlds for me as a student at San Diego High School,” he said in a 2016 Union-Tribune interview “My first arts and cultural experiences took place in Balboa Park where my summer job was working at the concession stand in Balboa Park and at Starlight (Bowl) performances.” Those formative years laid the foundation for a deep-rooted career in — and passion for — the arts He served as chair of San Diego’s Commission for Arts and Culture before being appointed to the California Arts Council in 2016 20 at UC San Diego Medical Center of complications from COVID-19 changemaker,” San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said in a social media tribute “Larry Baza’s life and work made a difference in San Diego and across California.” where as a senior he began to show an interest in civic matters in a 2011 interview with the San Diego Gay and Lesbian News said of his social justice awakening: “The racism and prejudice endured by Mexicans was no secret I was very well aware from the time that I was a child that I was different and didn’t fit into mainstream White America I gravitated towards civil rights in high school but really got more involved with the Chicano movement in my early 20s” while attending San Diego City College Baza used his voice advocating for San Diego’s artistic and cultural community at the local including the National Endowment for the Arts California Association of Local Arts Organizations National Association of Latino Arts and Culture San Diego Community Foundation and Diversionary Theatre his artistic influence went far beyond the Little Italy gallery he ran with his husband Tom Noel where he served as executive director from 1990 to 1999 he was associate director for Sushi Performance and Visual Art and executive director of San Diego County’s Public Arts Advisory Council He was most recently a trustee at the Museum of Us But his zest for advocacy wasn’t focused solely on the arts he was known as a champion for the Latino and LGBTQ communities fighting for issues of equality and social justice as the gay community worked to repeal Proposition 8 he acknowledged it was a battle that needed to be fought “I know how long and hard-fought the battles were to get to the place where Mexican-Americans have gotten,” Baza told the San Diego Union-Tribune but oh so wise,” said Patricia Frischer of the San Diego Visual Arts Network “He was politically astute without being a politician I believe that is why he had the respect of so many people.” co-founder and producing artistic director of San Ysidro-based Teatro Máscara Mágica and a longtime friend we were just talking about how he was going to help us navigate the California Arts Council grant process Baza’s unwavering commitment to advocacy went back decades Christine Kehoe recruited him to join a committee with San Diego Pride eventually becoming co-chair with Vertez Burks in 1992 — a pairing that made history as the first time San Diego Pride was led by two people of color Larry Baza,” County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher said in a tribute on social media “He was not only a fierce advocate for the LGBTQ+ community but was also an ardent supporter of the arts His work paved the way for a more equitable and accepting world.” Baza is survived by his husband and two brothers It seemed as if Sallie Jones was always playing the piano When her granddaughter LaDaena Thomas would leave for school early in the morning Jones’ fingers would already be flickering over the keys playing a gospel tune she’d be welcomed by the smell of Jones’ delicious meals and by the sound of her piano as well seeing her grandmother’s instrument brings back memories from Thomas’ childhood and reminds her of the unstoppable woman Jones was I open it and I just play the songs she used to play for me,” Thomas said It’s almost like every problem that I had just goes away.” Mary Medical Center in Long Beach on March 27 Jones’ grit and determination were sources of inspiration Thomas serves as the first female mayor of the borough of Penns Grove in New Jersey ‘I don't know what you're going to be when you grow up but make sure you leave this Earth better than what you found it,” she said Living with one leg never stopped Jones from doing whatever she needed to do Jones’ right leg was amputated at age 18 after being diagnosed with a cancerous tumor Thomas never even noticed her grandmother wore a prosthesis “She could do everything that anybody else could do,” she said Jones worked as a nurse for nearly six years and spent most of her adult life as a stay-at-home mother and homemaker Jones also instilled in Thomas a love for God and the church where she saw what looked like a church with stained-glass windows and a large cross sitting on top of a cloud She said it was God’s way of letting us know he was with me.” Jones contracted the coronavirus at the Country Villa Belmont Heights Healthcare Center in Long Beach where she was waiting before she could receive chemotherapy for a cancerous lump in her throat The center has reported three positive patient cases and nine worker cases five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren When she was a student at the University of Michigan Catherine Apothaker was elected president of the Women’s League because the sorority system had been unwelcoming to her as the daughter of Greek immigrants “They said it was because of her heritage.” Born Catherine Sotir in Detroit in July 1930 she went work after college at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York as a buyer for the young women’s section She later moved to Philadelphia to work as a buyer for Bonwit Teller and started a tiles and ceramics shop called Country Floors in Philadelphia Apothaker moved to Los Angeles in 2006 to be closer to her daughter after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease She was living in a senior care facility when she became ill with COVID-19 She had been living at Silverado Beverly Place for six years and was accustomed to regular visits with her daughter families and nonessential caregivers had been barred from the residence So for weeks she wasn’t allowed to see her daughter except through the bars of the gate of the outdoor smoking patio “She kept asking me why I wasn’t in the building,” Helena said Helena said she believes her mother caught the virus because Silverado admitted a resident who was infected but was not immediately quarantined Helena said she knew the virus would kill her mother and had her placed on hospice care immediately This allowed her to visit face-to-face again “The only way I could get myself in there was if she was on hospice care and so I got myself in there,” Helena said I loved my mother to the moon and the stars and back again — and I lost all of that in one person.” “Women are where we are today because of people like my mother,” Helena said “She was tough as nails and kind as could be the coronavirus beginning to take its toll But Pastor Alex Bernard was still making the rounds to pick up food donations for the church food bank As shutdown orders spread across the state he found that many grocery stores had stopped donations and tried to leave the house to pick up more donations “His whole life was serving other people,” his wife Blanca wrote in an email The 57-year-old outreach pastor at Desert Reign Church in Downey likely contracted COVID-19 in mid-March A fever and cough developed into more serious respiratory issues he was admitted into Kaiser hospital in Downey He called his wife to tell her he was going to be intubated and that he loved her after six days of hospitalization and more than three decades of service came to ministry from difficult circumstances he wrestled with a heroin addiction before enrolling in a rehab program through Teen Challenge He dedicated the rest of his life to ministering to people who were suffering He knew where he came from and that’s why he loved people,” said South Pasadena Assembly of God Pastor Jose Reyes who counted Bernard as a mentor and father figure always available to anyone who needed it.” said his daughter he got a call that a woman he mentored through Teen Challenge had been stabbed remembers loading into the car and driving through Skid Row in the middle of the night to look for the woman Just to let them know they had somebody who cared,” said Harris Bernard ran the church’s food delivery program married couples and conducted funeral services a volunteer chaplain at the same Kaiser hospital where he would eventually die and a masterful cook who would barbecue hundreds of pounds of tri-tip at big community events He was the guy you could call in the middle of the night if you needed to find shelter a drug rehab program or just a last-minute airport pickup Just give me the flight number and who I’m picking up,’ ” said Pastor Phil Cookes who worked with Bernard for more than two decades at Teen Challenge and South Bay Celebration Church Bernard wasn’t afraid to ruffle a few feathers for laughs One April Fools’ Day -- his favorite day of the year -- a manager at the church thrift shop stopped by to help out with a youth program he and a few co-conspirators jacked up her car pulled off the tires and replaced them with bricks a near-call to the police and a riot of laughter Bernard’s greatest joy was his family -- his wife He loved children and he loved to make people laugh,” said Blanca Perez went on about 100,000 calls for the Los Angeles Fire Department “We went to all different types of calls — medical calls “There were multiple times where we were pulling people out of structures and shortly after the house would flash over — when everything in the house reaches ignition temperature; It's almost like everything spontaneously combusts.” The 44-year-old Perez — known to his friends family and fellow firefighters as Joser (pronounced “Hoser”) Phil — was an even-keeled man who worked much of his career out of a South Los Angeles fire station only three streets over from where he was born The Lakewood resident was also a prankster who once swapped out a coworker’s tile glue with pancake batter He was the kind of guy who paid for an elderly stranger’s medications and helped refurbish a fire engine to send to the Dominican Republic after it was painted Dodger blue and he realized the family had a bunch of kids sleeping on the floor,” said Torres he went down the street and purchased some bunk beds for the family.” Perez took in his two nephews when their father was lost to gang violence and raised them went on to have three children of their own the apparently healthy firefighter tested positive for the novel coronavirus “He didn’t think he was going to have to stay But he checked in on a Thursday morning and that Friday he was telling me I needed to make out a will” for him “So I had to hurry up and get it to him the next day Perez became the first Los Angeles firefighter to die of COVID-19 we're doing a procession to Rose Hills [Cemetery] “It's very hard for me to believe that happened “To live a life where you’re constantly giving and never asking for anything in return .… You can’t replace a person like that.” young Samira Atiya’s family moved from Palestine to a farm in Lebanon to escape Israel’s War of Independence including for the director of the medical program at the American University of Beirut (having lied about her age to get the job) The experience may have driven her eventual move to America “Leaving the Middle East at 18 was heroic; to come to the United States with no family or friends,” said her daughter Sabah Al-Hadad agreed; he and Samira married and moved to San Luis Obispo in 1963 Samira became known for her love of dogs (“She went so far as to cook their meals,” said McLennan) and plants they would put a tree in the backyard,” McLennan said Samira often brought floral arrangements to friends and family She blazed the trail her three younger brothers followed to the United States She became the “Auntie” to whom others turned for wisdom “The best things in my life came from my mother,” said McLennan “And it wasn't just because she slept in our bed when we might have sniffles or something; it was also because she was so interested in all the opportunities life could give if you came from a place where you were displaced and didn’t have Samira developed ailments that slowed her down in her 70s She lived in a long-term care facility in San Luis Obispo for about five years making up colorful tales he’d often leave on cliffhangers to make her anticipate his next visit all the more She tested positive for COVID on the afternoon of Jan the day before she was scheduled to receive her second vaccination “She was my best friend as well as my mom,” said McLennan “She was like a sister and a mother all wrapped up in one She was fun and funny and a joy to be around.” Samira Al-Hadad is survived by her husband Bill McLennan; son Sig; three brothers and their wives Tony Atieh (Claire) and Melad Atiya (Zeina) as well as two granddaughters and a coterie of 21 nieces and nephews and their spouses and children Wickham spent much of his adulthood in San Jose seeking success and money He later became vice president of Ampco Auto Parks and would go on to hold various positions in the automobile industry “He would blow his savings or quit good jobs to chase his dreams But some people never chase it and they regret it.” Following the deaths of his two wives — Peggy and Mina — Wickham stopped the dream chasing and leaned into his spirituality A movie lover who had a particular affinity for “Casablanca,” Wickham also took up screenwriting — but “He was just trying to bring the world together in a peaceful way,” his son said He nurtured his artistic talents in other ways He had a passion for painting and making metal sculptures he had an art gallery in an industrial park in San Jose where he’d display his art and the work of others Wickham served in the Merchant Marines during World War II he hitchhiked from Watsonville to New York City and back “He just wanted to see things,” his son said Wickham didn’t talk much about the adventure preferring instead to hear about what his family and friends were up to going to an occasional movie alone or venturing off on a solo fishing trip to Mexico or simply spending time in the studio above his home His son described his father as a kind man — the sort of person who would walk around ants careful not to crush them; if he caught a spider in the house Late in life Wickham developed dementia and moved into senior housing apartments in Watsonville that were directly across the street from the house where he was born Wickham’s family moved him into Watsonville Post-Acute Center The facility experienced a COVID-19 outbreak with several residents and staff members contracting the disease 20 after a 10-day stay at Watsonville Hospital His death occurred about three weeks after he tested positive for the coronavirus “He’s the nicest person I've ever met in my life and the way he treated people and all living things was so loving To care for others and that there's more to everything than our existence here on Earth And it's just so much easier being kind and generous.” Wanda DeSelle could be counted on to be the first one to show up in her office at 8:30 in the morning and the last to leave at 7 in the evening Her early arrivals held true even when she was sick “We’d have to send her home,” said Mohammad Ashraf the cardiologist who was her longtime boss Always being there was only part of what made DeSelle an extraordinary employee The nurse’s versatility in filling every conceivable role was unmatched she could type—she could do anything,” Ashraf said “She left her mark on everything in the office.” Ashraf didn’t even know where his bank was located in the central California town of Madera until DeSelle died April 3 from complications of COVID-19 because she handled all of the office finances retrieving documents from the bank for him to sign and then returning them DeSelle fell ill after attending the funeral of Maria Rodriguez another nurse who had worked at Ashraf’s clinic and died in a car accident in late February DeSelle was among a group of mourners who sat one table over from a man who was an asymptomatic carrier of COVID-19 and likely unknowingly contracted the virus that causes the disease She was eventually hospitalized as her condition deteriorated and the family learned that her daughter and pregnant granddaughter had been exposed to the virus as a result of caring for DeSelle Those who attended DeSelle’s funeral April 8 at the Arbor Vitae cemetery had to watch her casket lowered into the ground from their cars because of restrictions on public gatherings Ashraf said friends and patients cried when they learned they could not attend the funeral in a more traditional manner Robert; five grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren Now that the cemetery has been reopened to mourners Ashraf said he has visited DeSelle’s gravesite every day after work “It broke my heart to lose you but you did not go alone,” Ashraf said reading from a passage he found that captured his feelings for DeSelle “because part of me went with you the day God took you home.” By Ben Bolch Sister Susan Kam was just two years into her job supporting adoptive families at Holy Families Service in Los Angeles when she was tapped by the Catholic Welfare Bureau to direct its Indochinese Resettlement program in Los Angeles and Orange County in 1975 “After the fall of Saigon there were hundreds of thousands of people fleeing the region and Los Angeles had a huge resettlement program,” said Sister Maribeth Larkin the order to which Kam belonged for 72 years “She was in charge of that effort for the diocese of Los Angeles.” Kam identified local Catholic families willing to house new immigrants until more permanent housing could be found The work also included helping families with other necessities Kam joined the Sisters of Social Service in 1948 — an order of nuns who feel called to serve in the center of urban life rather than pursue a life of contemplation at a cloister Kam served in the Stanford Home for dependent high school girls in Sacramento and in the Stanford Settlement for children as well as in the Catholic Youth Organization In 1963 she and four other nuns were sent to Taiwan to help establish their social service ministry there seven and a half years later and earned her master’s degree in social work from the University of Hawaii Following graduation she went to work at Holy Family Services in Los Angeles and her friends said she was adored by everyone who knew her “She was just a sweetheart,” said Sister Patricia McGowan “I never saw her be harsh or short-tempered or anything.” Toward the end of her life Kam suffered from dementia and was living in a facility in Encino for people with memory issues The facility experienced a COVID-19 outbreak in November and Kam was among those who tested positive “The staff was devastated to lose her because she was such an upbeat person,” McGowan said From the day Guillermo Ramirez held his first daughter The 47-year-old father was his family’s provider and protector But he couldn’t fight back when COVID-19 attacked each member of his household after a few days in the hospital with difficulty breathing Ramirez never had much time off from his many jobs first in the restaurant industry and then as a truck driver going from coast to coast taking them to the movies or to explore different California beaches lending his wisdom when they needed advice and a helping hand to make their dreams come true you have an appointment and you can’t be late,’” said his wife He knew that Luciana had wanted to be a hair stylist since she was a teenager She couldn’t believe it when she showed up to the address he had scribbled down for her A receptionist told her that her cosmetology class began the following week “That’s how amazing that guy is,” she said “I’m grateful for every moment he gave me and that he gave me all my children at the end of a club date by Oscar Peterson Doris Rowe persuaded the jazz piano virtuoso to come home with her and her husband and show Ron Rowe a thing or two on the keyboards had an enviable and very expensive Steinway piano he had brought from Germany to the couple’s Hollywood condominium Peterson sat down and improvised for a couple hours “showing him different ways he could play a tune,” Rowe’s nephew 14 of COVID-19 at a Kaiser hospital in Los Angeles Rowe was born into a Detroit family that had displayed no particular musical affinity — his father was a salesman and his mother a homemaker he trained his ear on vinyl recordings of Peterson and George Shearing he joined the burgeoning Los Angeles jazz scene He attended the now-defunct Westlake College of Jazz in Hollywood He played with the Claude Gordon Band and spent a summer on Catalina Island with Eddie Grady and the Commanders a Los Angeles Unified School District teacher who sometimes sang in clubs had one too many and nodded off between games of pool He awakened to find a beautiful blond with the cue in her hand at the pool table They were married in the Mrakich family home in El Sereno Rowe was steeped in straight-ahead jazz and bebop and jazz popularizers ”weren’t for him,” said Stefan Mrakich who studied piano with his uncle after he retired in the 1980s His favorite song was the Count Basie Orchestra’s “Lil Darlin’”; he and his wife made it their song Rowe was hired for the Disneyland Jazz Orchestra’s Pearly Band which played in front of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle in Fantasyland and in New Orleans Square The combo’s natty suits with rows of white mother-of-pearl buttons were modeled on a British music hall tradition; an animated Pearly Band was featured in the 1964 Disney musical “Mary Poppins.” For the Disneyland Christmas parade of 1968 an awkward and entirely unfamiliar instrument playing with a comically solemn expression that belied his genial temperament “Ronnie was the easiest-going guy you’d ever want to meet Everybody liked him; he was one of those nice guys,” George Mrakich said Ron and Doris never considered living anywhere but Hollywood near the clubs and then-office of Local 47 “They liked to be where it never sleeps,” George Mrakich said They loved MOCA and the Norton Simon Museum including a Picasso lithograph and works by Carol Jablonsky Rowe was residing in an assisted living center in Glendale when he was hospitalized with stomach pains A precautionary coronavirus test turned up positive and raised his boys in a small two-bedroom apartment in San Francisco’s Mission District he managed to save enough to buy a dream car for his family – a new 1986 Dodge Ram van with fuzzy seat covers He carefully pasted a huge decal on both sides of the van to remind him of his Durango Mexico: A prized bull with a big bump and long horns play some rancheras and treat them to ice cream “It was his way of giving us all the things he couldn’t have all the things we couldn’t have ourselves,” said his son Abel Guillén When a massive earthquake struck the San Franscico area in 1989 Guillén huddled his family in his van to keep them safe “He was the kind of man who would do everything to take care of us.” the 71-year-old great-grandfather of three died from COVID complications after battling the virus for weeks in the hospital His family was with him in his final moments via an iPad screen the Bay area suburb where Guillén last lived He was the first to die out of a family of 13 siblings the brothers and sisters had migrated north from a tiny following the path of their father who had once worked in the fields of California as a bracero Guillén eventually settled in the Mission District and found work at the Hilton Hotel Union Square He started in the laundry room and moved to the kitchen Guillén became known for his baking skills He’d show up at family celebrations -- in his cowboy hat and boots – to indulge everyone with his homemade cakes He used to surprise neighbors with his cheesecakes and make German fruit cake each Christmas his cream had to be perfect and his fruit had to be fresh,” Abel said “Everything he made had to be just right.” Guillén is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years Faith and family were central pillars in Crispin Rojas Ortega’s life So was an uncompromising work ethic that was tempered by compassion for those he met in his wholesale food distribution business which he started more than 40 years ago by delivering chile pods vegetables and tortillas to restaurants and markets in East Los Angeles He attended Mass regularly and for years returned to La Magdalena Tetela is the only one of Crispin and Petra Ortega’s eight children still living in the Montebello home he bought in 1977 she noticed a change in her father’s religious devotions where he had his Jesus image and his Virgin of Guadalupe and he would pray every day before he would go to work or drive “I would wake up at that time and see him and hear him though he saw COVID-19 spread through the food distribution industry and several of his children fell ill He continued to do invoices and deliveries as he was committed to providing for his son Javier he was going to breeze through it,” said Danny Ortega who earlier this year had a lot of anxiety issues And my dad always talked that she was the weaker one.” 6 but resisted going to the hospital until finally conceding he needed help and he protected us and would tell us he was fine,” Maggie said After about 10 days he insisted on going home surrounded by a family that has grown to include 15 grandchildren and one great-grandchild “We got to spend every minute with him to his last breath We were proud of him,” said Anabelle[cq] Jalowska I’ll always remember that about my father.” At one point she feared she wouldn’t recover “My father would call me every day — every day — and say “It just breaks my heart because he had to work I wish he would have just listened to what he was telling me.” She so admired her father that she vowed as a young woman she’d marry a man just like him lovingly lifted her father and administered painkillers to keep him comfortable near the end He was stern with his eldest children but had mellowed a bit by the time the younger ones arrived He impressed on all of them the importance of being responsible we saw some people who fell into criminality and bad things and he was happy that all eight of us were outstanding children,” Danny said Crispin Ortega loved mariachi music— he’d take his family to the Mariachi Festival at the Hollywood Bowl every year — and he was known to start dancing if a song he liked was on the radio while he was making deliveries to restaurants He had a tequila collection and favored a shot of Don Julio 1942 on special occasions Maggie said he’d scold her for spending time and money decorating the house for holidays but he enjoyed it and would post photos on social media “Dad was a quick learner and so quick-witted as well as his friends and clients,” Maggie said She and her siblings knew their father was generous and had helped a former employee kick a drug habit but they didn’t realize how many lives he had touched until they began receiving tearful condolence phone calls People told them of his kindness in giving money or gifts to workers at Christmas Another spoke of seeing him for years at her family’s restaurant “It’s interesting to hear the stories,” Jalowska said “A lot of people really respected my dad because they were old school.” Petra Ortega tested positive a week after her husband but had only mild symptoms I kissed him — I gave him everything you’re not supposed to do,” she said “I didn’t care anymore because he had told me that he wasn’t going to make it before he was hospitalized He had told me to let him be at peace at home and if God takes him Maggie works for the nonprofit Abilityfirst which helps children and adults with learning disabilities but she’s also trying to learn how to run her father’s business “I’m going to grieve for the rest of my life.” Wowa Zev Gdud spent his life cheating death and celebrating life a city that would be claimed by three countries during World War II he narrowly escaped the bullets of Nazi soldiers or their accomplices three times He spent much of the German occupation hiding with his father in the snow of the surrounding forests yet that made him one of the lucky ones: 98% of Vilna’s Jews did not survive the war change his name to the anglicized William Z where as a family physician in La Puente he not only saved lives but delivered more than 2,000 infants 25 at an Azusa elder-care facility due to complications caused by COVID-19 one in which compassion and goodness pushed out vengeance and hate most people are very angry,” he said of Holocaust survivors I decided that that’s a dead emotion and I better get rid of that.” After the war Good crisscrossed Europe to escape Soviet occupation before arriving in Italy with only a shirt Within months he was studying medicine in Italian – one of 11 languages he would eventually master Few of his patients knew any of these stories but many of them benefited from the lessons learned from them Good thought any of his working-class families couldn’t pay their bill who followed his father into medicine and then followed his example by devoting a morning a week to making old-fashioned house calls to his frailest patients remembers being late for many an appointment as a child His father refused to leave anyone – waiter post-office clerk – without striking up a conversation first “Over time I began to see that there was something deeper than just making acquaintances What he really wanted to know was what problems do you have – and once he extracted that deeper secret his mission was clear: Now he had to help For [him] there was nothing more enjoyable in life than helping his fellow human beings in distress.” That was something he learned at home at an early age then had reinforced during the darkest days of the Holocaust his father would hire workers in his turpentine factory based on their poverty and need for work while his mother made sure any beggars that passed by the house would leave with a warm meal either by hiding Good and his father from the Nazis or by refusing to betray their location when they were in the forest When the Red Army liberated Vilna in July 1944 He had given the rest away to families more desperate than his own “It was this drive to help people that caused him to choose a career in medicine,” Michael said of his father “And it’s why he threw himself totally into the task of caring for his patients Who has ever seen a doctor who practiced for almost 60 years?” Good’s mother and 14-year-old brother did not survive the war; they were captured then killed by Nazi sympathizers in the Lithuanian police force Good got his chance for revenge when he and an escaped Russian prisoner got the drop on two Lithuanian policemen They disarmed the two and marched them into the swamps where the Russian urged Good to shoot them both in the back aimed his pistol – then let the policemen go half his family and his father’s modest business But it hadn’t taken the most important thing Two generations of children in the San Gabriel Valley benefited from that reality Good delivered me and nurtured me through childhood beginning just 16 years after he gave two Lithuanian police officers their lives back in a swamp outside Vilna Harry Sentoso moved to Southern California in the 1970s in pursuit of higher education and fleeing anti-leftist violence and persecution in his native Indonesia that targeted his family for their Chinese ancestry but he chose to go by the short version of his middle name After a few hard years scraping by in downtown L.A. an import-export operation moving construction materials between California and Indonesia after classes at Glendale Community College he earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and an MBA from Cal Poly Pomona he landed a steady job as the warehouse supervisor at an oxygen sensor manufacturer he had socked away a healthy retirement fund and taken up day trading as a hobby and a passion gracious and kind — former coworkers recall his upbeat attitude and insistence on paying for lunch Harry Sentoso had lived the kind of life that can flourish for immigrants and refugees in Southern California’s sun-baked suburban soil But things went wrong after Sentoso was called back into his job at an Amazon facility in Irvine on a Sunday in late March Sentoso saw the warehouse job as a last chance to earn some cash before settling down to retirement A small business he had started with a friend a few years earlier selling forklift tires hadn’t taken off and he didn’t want to touch his savings if he didn’t have to and the coworkers he befriended who were his sons’ age that working at Amazon was great for his health — long days on the warehouse floor meant he always got in all his steps — but he began to feel sick by the end of that week Harry fell unconscious on his driveway as his wife The Sentoso family is still reeling from Harry’s death but his son Evan says he draws on his father’s memory for strength say this isn’t fair and cuss my life out,” Evan said By Sam Dean When Herbert “Herb” Segall learned he had missed a single math question on the New York State Regents exam in 1947 He insisted on a meeting with the exam board and roundly proved that his answer was correct The small victory confirmed what those around him had known for some time: Herb Segall had a special kind of mind The exam was just the start of Segall’s lifelong intellectual journey a stint on Linus Pauling’s research team at Caltech and more than three decades as a professor of physics at Occidental College in Los Angeles “My father was a giant,” said his daughter Segall stood as a towering presence to everyone in his orbit his fellow faculty members and the numerous students he nurtured throughout his long career but his great intellect lacked the great ego that so often accompanies people of such abilities Segall was a humanitarian and an activist who participated in the Civil Rights Movement the Chicano Movement and the Women’s Movement He dedicated more than 20 years of his retirement to weekly volunteer guitar shows at the Jewish Home for the Aging in Los Angeles where he played and sang in four languages: English Both the music and the company brought him great joy “What distinguished my father wasn’t just his scientific mind,” his daughter said through the chaos of the world and through knowledge itself Segall doted on Adrienne and her sister Carole whom he met at City College of New York when she approached him for help with math and the two of them could often be found lost in conversation about obscure topics such as the politics of 13th century China He was so steadfast that when a friend’s garage caught fire the friend didn’t call the fire department—he called Herb That Segall’s daughter should compare him to a sequoia is fitting given his lifelong sense of wonder for the natural world In the vein of the great American transcendentalists he admired he often sought out big adventures and even bigger skies “He didn’t like being hemmed in by the small and multiple trees of the East Coast,” Adrienne said noting that her father fell in love with California during an early teaching stint at Deep Springs College in the desert beneath Mount Whitney He drove that car with my pregnant mother across the country and he never looked back.” And although Segall’s intellect won him many accolades the judge asked him to disclose the occupations of his adult children Segall replied that he couldn’t answer the question because the phrase “adult children” is an oxymoron The judge took such offense that the ensuing kerfuffle (which included a court officer consulting a dictionary) was covered by the LA Times Wrote Times columnist Steve Harvey of the incident: “Nothing gums up the judicial process like a display of intellect.” Alby Kass was the owner of a popular resort along the Russian River north of San Francisco But the former Los Angeles schoolteacher was also known as the lead singer of a Yiddish folk group and as a passionate theater performer So when the 89-year-old was left alone and voiceless as he battled COVID-19 in a San Leandro hospital his loved ones knew there was only one way to comfort him Kass was surrounded by the sounds of his friends children and grandchildren playing the piano and singing the Yiddish folk songs he had taught them uploaded them to an old cellphone and delivered it to his nurses but there’s still a lot of echoes,” his son Larry Kass said he was often left to care for his younger sister as his mother worked in the garment industry It was the tail end of the Great Depression they would sing Yiddish songs together as they cleaned Kass joined the Air Force and was stationed in the Travis Air Force Base in Northern California taking various jobs — including working at a furniture factory and hammering serial numbers into engine blocks at General Motors — before getting his teaching credential at Los Angeles City College He taught sixth grade for 20 years in Los Angeles schools as well as in schools for the children of military personnel in Japan where Kass began running the Riverlane Resort Kass and his wife founded the Russian River Jewish Community group and a local choir They performed often as Tevye and Golde in local productions of “Fiddler on the Roof.” once fighting for residents affected by sewage dumping into the Russian River Pedro Zuniga and his wife Norma always threw a party for their oldest son when he visited home in Turlock I just wanted it to be like any other normal day but he and my mom would always just make it a big deal,” Jose Valencia said He worked at the Safeway distribution center in Tracy where at least 51 workers have tested positive for the virus Valencia said he was 2 when Zuniga met his mother Valencia described his father as a stern parent but a lenient grandfather If the grandchildren were acting up and someone tried to scold them He gave them gifts and treated them to dinners Zuniga and his wife also took in foster kids until it became too difficult to separate from them “He would be in so much pain when those kids had to go home because he got so attached them,” said Alfredo Sanchez when he and his mother needed a place to live Zuniga — a co-worker of Sanchez’s mother — took them in Sanchez said he remembered little moments from that time like going out with Zuniga to get Mexican bread as a snack every night “Throughout the years we always stayed in contact,” Sanchez said He was the person I would turn to for advice.” Sanchez said Zuniga was “the nicest person I’d ever met.” he was the type of person you’d want to talk to Zuniga attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Turlock and Sanchez said he “always spoke highly of the Lord “What bums me out is this virus didn’t give me a chance to say goodbye didn’t give me a chance to spend some more time with him,” Sanchez said “I feel like the world has lost a great person — or the Lord has gained a great person.” Zuniga loved to cook — friends and family always wanted him to make tacos for them — and was a huge soccer fan who rooted for the Chivas of Guadalajara Elsa Claybaugh sat in the living room of her Clovis home carefully operating the brown Viking sewing machine her husband bought her in the early 1970s Claybaugh taught herself to fashion leather cushions for chairs attach suspenders to a ballet dancer’s tights create costumes for her three children and doll-sized outfits for their Barbies prom dresses and even the dress she wore at her 25th anniversary celebration Claybaugh was the one who connected the threads of her family she was 12 when her family moved to the United States to work on farms in Texas before settling in Central California Six years after graduating from Clovis High School Having lost her hearing during childhood because of an illness Instead of allowing her lack of hearing to isolate her Claybaugh was determined to play an important part in the lives of family and friends She opened a sewing business from her home and later worked as a cosmetologist and a caretaker for the elderly Her handmade tamales at Christmas were “the best gift of love she could give,” Weaver said Weaver’s friends approached her to learn the recipe for her mother’s signature enchilada sauce But her mother never passed it down via written recipe she would show others how she added oil to the pan Friends knew they could stop by her home for a visit without needing to call first Claybaugh suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease before succumbing July 31 to complications from COVID-19 Jim Claybaugh; eight grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren She was preceded in death by her husband and a daughter who went from selling cemetery spots at Crystal Cathedral to becoming the face of “The Hour of Power” broadcasts across the nation became the interim pastor of the internationally famous Orange County megachurch in 2012 and the host of the religious television show after the church entered bankruptcy He was remembered by friends and family as a gregarious man quick with a joke and a knack for speaking to old and young alike that one of the reasons he did that was to get people’s attention so he could start to have a conversation with them,” said his daughter Christine Dey She recalled birthday parties she would have as a teen where she would watch her friends fall into long Dey believes that his approach dates back to how her father found religion Wilkes was uninterested in religion as a boy A Gideon’s Bible he received in grade school sat unread for many years until Wilkes was 20 and kept waking up with an urge to “read the book.” and then found a pastor who made stories about Jesus come to life The Anaheim couple would have celebrated their 50th anniversary in July After working in the cemetery sales division and manning the lobby entry table Wilkes worked his way up to becoming the evening pastor at Crystal Cathedral and then dean of the Robert Schuller School for Preaching three days after a test confirmed he had COVID-19 One of Dey’s best friends has a 3-year-old daughter who was shaken by the news “That’s what his personality was like,” Dey said By Seema Mehta Whenever Lourdes Pizarro put her hands in her pocket It was more valuable to her than a $100 bill Her Catholic faith was ingrained years ago as a child living in a convent of Paulinian nuns in the Philippines went through her diary and discovered she was helping strangers and family members by sending small amounts of money even though she was working only part time at a Walmart and earning about $600 a month “She has a list of friends and family members she’s been wiring money,” Kevin said “I’m just finding out she’s a mother figure to a lot of people Her parents sent her to be raised by nuns and distant relatives They had three children and came to the United States in 2012 Lourdes loved to research family ancestry on the internet and kept a notebook containing the names of ancestors dating to the 18th century Kevin discovered that his mother loved saving photos of herself with family and friends his mother was smiling “with her teeth showing.” “The only time she was in tears in the pictures was at my wedding and she was smiling,” he said By Eric Sondheimer Artemio Ramos met his wife Sylvia on the dance floor The two would dance to música norteña at the weekly bailes that drew other young Mexican Americans on weekends “It took awhile for me to date him because I really didn’t like him,” Sylvia said his hardworking nature and the love he had for his grandchildren Ramos died April 4 of COVID-19 complications at Mission Community Hospital in Panorama City when he became a quadriplegic after falling from a tree Ramos and Sylvia settled in Reseda in the mid-1960s where Ramos worked in construction for 30 years he was known for being the handyman in his neighborhood If the drain was clogged or the toilet needed plumbing he helped his family pick crops in the South before he decided to move to Los Angeles at 19 he worked full-time but took English language classes in the evenings the same year his son Andrew graduated from high school “You can never have enough education,” his daughter Sandra said her father would say He loved going to casinos with his wife and watching soccer Ramos’ quiet nature shifted once Sandra and Andrew started having their own children “The grandkids brought out a whole different Artemio,” Sandra said adding that she would set her youngest son on his lap and he would sing him Mexican lullabies Sandra said Ramos became a father figure for her children and they’ve emulated his special work ethic as they’ve grown up “I can see where they’re like my dad,” she said Ramos contracted the coronavirus at the Windsor Terrace Healthcare Center He had been recovering from pneumonia and respiratory syncytial virus since late February He started running a fever March 24 and was put on antibiotics the next day A week later he started having trouble breathing and was transferred to the hospital where he tested positive for COVID-19 “Grandpa was like their superhero,” Sandra said “That’s the best guardian angel they can have.” Ilene Westmoreland remembers when her father took a year off from work when she was in third grade and devoted his time to helping her in school where he would take out books to read to her She remembers having a project for school about “Beauty and the Beast” and how her father stopped at mall after mall during an eight-hour stretch to get her exactly what she needed Marine Corps veteran who fought in the Vietnam War 10 at Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego from complications of COVID-19 Ilene said her father was a full-blooded Cherokee Indian a dedicated husband to his wife of 41 years “I think after he lost his first son from his first marriage he understood that time was precious and making memories was important,” Ilene said “My dad never really cared about anything that was material Stanley Westmoreland was born in San Diego on June 11 to Louis Westmoreland and Willie Mae Watson the third of four children and the only boy About a week after graduating from San Diego High School Westmoreland joined the Marines and served four years in Vietnam After an honorable discharge as an E-5 sergeant attended Mesa College and the University of San Diego started a family and was a warehouse manager at the original FedMart a chain of discount stores started by Sol Price of Price Club fame After a divorce and the tragic loss of his 10-year-old son Westmoreland met Ivy at work at FedMart subsidiary International Distributing Co had children and lived together in Lemon Grove He enjoyed taking trips to Cabo San Lucas with his family buying chocolates for his wife at See’s Candies and attending plays past president of the Lemon Grove Historical Society said "the Stanley Westmorelands of the world are rare and precious.” “He approached all people as equals and expected — and received — the same in return This accounts for the neighborliness in his corner of the world the feeling that all’s right with the world when you can walk planet Earth with such as Stan.” Ivy Westmoreland said her husband embraced diversity and enjoyed attending cultural events especially plays at the San Diego Repertory Theatre Among the things that Arcelia Martinez could not tolerate was the sight of someone hungry When young co-workers at the FoodMaxx grocery store in San Jose where the 65-year-old woman worked as a clerk took their breaks in the back room without anything to eat and spread the groceries out in the break room before them How are you going to do that?” said daughter Maryann Martinez “We were always living paycheck to paycheck And she always wanted to make sure that everyone was OK.” Arcelia Martinez grew up and still lived in San Jose working early in life at a cannery with her mother a fact that her daughter only later learned realizing that was the reason for the neat perfection with which her mother kept the family home Martinez and her husband raised four daughters in San Jose she attended the birth of a grandchild before traveling to Disneyland in Anaheim to celebrate the birthday of another grandchild She began to fall ill while on the trip and returned home She died of complications from COVID-19 on March 21 Shana and Alexandria Dees compare being their father's daughters to walking with a giant they wrote: “You're up with good down with bad in every walking stride.” That’s what he would like to always put forth in front of the world but deep down inside he was a marshmallow.” Nicholas Andre Dees worked as a groundskeeper for a golf course on a naval base Dees followed the beat of his heart and played drums cymbals and xylophone with the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps with his brothers Dees failed an audition to place in the higher rank of the organization he continued to use his talents by volunteering to train students at Hogan High School so that they were prepared to join the Corps Dees guided the members of his community to become giants He got his steadfast spirit from his father and his kindhearted nature from his gentle mother Although Dees struggled in his schoolwork growing up because of his dyslexia he excelled in his extracurricular activities A champion is not somebody who always wins not somebody who always loses,” Shana remembers her father saying His time training youth for the Blue Devils was interrupted by a struggle with substance abuse and through his faith was able to recuperate Dees paid his sobriety forward by helping others recover from substance abuse “My brother's whole life was always about taking care of everybody else He was immersed in the Church of Christ,” Dees’ older brother Dees was admitted to Sutter Solano Medical Center and was diagnosed with COVID-19 “When I found out that my dad was diagnosed with COVID ‘COVID has his work cut out for him because no way it’s gonna kill my dad,’ ’’ Shana said “I don't care if he's a diabetic and has high blood pressure It doesn't matter because my dad always overcomes these things.” Dees spent his last few days increasingly more disoriented and confused about his condition He died May 20 at age 56 after going into cardiorespiratory arrest Harold and Charles "Bill" Dees; his sister their families and healthcare workers gathered six feet apart at the top of the parking garage at San Juan Medical Center singing to honor the life of the music teacher who became a mentor to many it mimicked a home video capturing Russ Abraham leading a gymnasium filled with children singing a song he wrote And though he will no longer be there for his former students or play in his personal band the memories Abraham left behind will carry on Abraham died April 9 from complications of COVID-19 Abraham quickly fell in love with music and played in bands in high school The two eventually settled in Fair Oaks in Sacramento County Abraham worked for the San Juan Unified School District then as a full-time music instructor at Harry Dewey Fundamental School Jason Timmons met Abraham nearly three years ago --- the two struck up a conversation while standing in line at a local Starbucks Timmons said Abraham was known for always keeping his beard trimmed He also kept his nails in good condition so he could pick the guitar chords when he played “He genuinely was all heart and he wanted to make everyone happy whether it was with a smile or a compliment,” Timmons said “He would just go out of his way to try and make people smile.” and Abraham was eventually taken by ambulance to the hospital Zavala envisioned himself playing rock ’n’ roll in Mexico in front of a million fans He wrote music and played his guitar in front of anyone who would listen But the young man’s dream turned into a different reality He needed money and there were finite instruments he could buy in his hometown of Acámbaro He followed the path paved by his father and uncles He headed north in 1965 to earn money as a bracero in the city of Placentia he’d return to his native land with a PA system a Fender guitar and other instruments — ready for stardom Instead he cultivated a new audience in the U.S keen on embracing their heritage through music “He built a bridge across an immigrant generation of elders parents and youth as they became active in the U.S a place that is known to be very conservative and not necessarily making diversity a priority,” said Leonor Xóchitl Pérez director and founder of the Mariachi Women’s Foundation Zavala picked strawberries and oranges and later melted steel at the Anaheim Foundry he attended English classes or rehearsed mariachi songs with his brothers They were known as Los Siete Hermanos Zavala and enjoyed local stardom for over a decade The trailblazers were one of the first mariachi groups to play in Orange County in the late 1960s weddings and churches and shared the stage with popular singers such as Amalia Mendoza Zavala’s band and solo act never got any big record deals or played major arenas His religious spirituality helped him realize his life’s mission Zavala created the nonprofit Rhythmo Mariachi Academy in Anaheim where he taught thousands of students the power of music and the culture of mariachi he wanted to bring kids and the Latino youth in particular to feel comfortable in their own shoes in their own skin of being Mexican,” said Oliver Zavala who started singing with his dad when he was 5 “Sometimes it’s difficult as a first-generation immigrant to adapt to a different culture Your friends are eating Wonder Bread and you’re eating tortillas.” every lesson was an opportunity to share and analyze the meanings behind song lyrics He encouraged students to use their hands to connect with the audience and distributed sheets of diaphragms showing exactly how students should open their mouth when singing He and his son taught children how to pluck the guitarrón and play the violin and trumpet students regrouped to perform songs together Vivian Fernandez met the beloved teacher when she was a shy preteen in 2004 Her parents enrolled her in classes when she told them she wanted to play the guitar Zavala singled her out to lead the group in a song of her choosing All I knew was Selena [Quintanilla’s cover of] ‘Tú It ended up being the best thing to happen to me.” She returned to class every week after that and took private singing lessons with Zavala “La Palma” by Mariachi Mexico Jalisco became her song and Zavala would regularly duet with her during festivals He carved a space for girls interested in performing in the male-dominated field He founded the program’s “crown jewel,” an all-girls group known as Mariachi Rosas del Tepeyac “We’ve had our part in upholding this tradition and very few people know but Gabriel Zavala was important to empowering young women letting them know they have a place in this history and the genre,” Pérez The money earned — less than $1,000 — went toward the school and its $2,000 rent He accommodated families who couldn’t afford to pay tuition in full through payment plans He even let some students learn and take home instruments for free Sometimes students stopped showing up to class and those instruments would be lost maybe somebody is playing it,’” his daughter Laura said the pandemic and Zavala’s death forced the academy’s temporary closure Oliver Zavala plans to reopen the school for his father’s memory he reminisces on students his father helped get into the Orange County School of the Arts where other notable musicians got their start or those who went on to perform in professional groups “We have no intention of stopping,” he said The 53-year-old father and real estate developer saw the world as a fertile field where there was always opportunity to help something or someone thrive Scheu was born in Upland in 1966 to Allyn and Rosemary Scheu and from an early age developed an interest in farming but Mark’s dreams expanded beyond oranges and lemons Scheu was running a successful commercial real estate company but he had always dreamed of owning a cattle ranch So he set out for Idaho hoping to find the ideal plot of land along with the perfect life partner — Dianna Baxter “I was an agriculture broker,” said Dianna who would take Scheu’s last name when they married “so I sold him the land and helped with the herd [of cattle] getting it all lined up It was clear he didn’t have a lot of experience on a cattle ranch.” “Early on I got a call from Mark while he was on the ranch,” said Dianna ‘Can you come down and take a look at this horse Something’s wrong,’ so I drove over and he had the bridle upside down.” had three children whom Scheu adopted: Ariel and in 2005 Scheu and Dianna had a daughter While Scheu’s real estate business was still in California Ranch managers and hired hands looked after the cattle throughout the year but Scheu was intimately involved with running the ranch and loved to watch it improve Scheu brought the same level of diligence and care to his work in California He developed old buildings in and around Simi Valley and brought them back to life Their California home was also a testament to Scheu’s knack for resurrection The family purchased an empty plot in Moorpark that had been deemed unusable by other developers due to the poor quality of the land Scheu put in a well and a pond for irrigation and planted avocado trees Allie May was part of the 4-H youth development program so she and other members of her group began to keep sheep on the property their California house had a surprising connection to their ranch “We were looking at the overall plan and Mark said look at the shape of the land parcel.’ I said the Moorpark home became known as Little Idaho Scheu was helping Allie May bury a goat that had died on the Little Idaho property Dianna got a call from the Ventura County medical examiner who said Scheu had tested positive for the coronavirus The family decided that their beloved father and husband needed to be laid to rest in his favorite place they drove through the night to the Idaho ranch with Scheu in the van “It was his last road trip home,” Dianna said They buried Scheu in his beloved rugged Idaho landscape amongst sagebrush and big mountains “It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done but also one of the biggest blessings,” Dianna said The family sat around a campfire after his burial and sang songs together roasted hot dogs (Scheu’s favorite) and reminisced about all the ways he had nurtured them until you looked back — he saw the best in others.” In addition to Dianna and his four children Scheu is remembered by three grandchildren two brothers and his entire extended family a 2006 inductee into the San Pedro Sportswalk of Fame who distinguished himself as a high school football coach at Mary Star of the Sea in the 1970s and 1980s died Wednesday after testing positive for COVID-19 “Last week he got sick and was in bad shape He said his father was hospitalized and tested positive for COVID-19 had earlier put himself in self-quarantine because of the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic Radisich was well known in the coaching community He was head coach at Mary Star for 11 years who played for Radisich for one year at the now closed Fermin Lasuen High in San Pedro Among the players Radisich coached was former NFL tight end Tim Wrightman I lost my ‘coach,’ my mentor and a father figure during the most formative years of my life He didn’t just coach kids how to play football Known by many as the preeminent poet of Long Beach Gerald Locklin was perhaps even more esteemed among those who knew him as Professor Locklin was a defining literary voice on the West Coast and beyond as a writer of poetry sober — and ever free-spirited — elder statesman of letters Poet Charles Bukowski's long-ago praise of him as "one of the great undiscovered talents of our time" has been eclipsed by the years: Locklin published some 150 books and thousands of poems many in translation and studied and admired around the world And as an erudite and gregarious Cal State Long Beach professor of literature and creative writing Locklin was widely beloved by students and colleagues alike he taught and nurtured thousands of students appreciation and celebration of the written and spoken word He was crucial in helping transform a commuter state college into a destination for aspiring writers and he propelled the careers of generations of poets Locklin died of complications of COVID-19 at Kaiser Permanente's Irvine Medical Center "I can tell you that Gerry was one of the kindest most generous and accessible humans I've ever met," said Los Angeles poet S.A "Gerry's legendary presence was felt in Southern California Taking root in the little magazines and small presses of the late 1960s and flourishing in them through the decades which he often rendered memorable in verse that was direct and clear typically concise and playful — and at times very funny Locklin poems were periodically featured on Garrison Keillor's syndicated radio program "A Writer's Almanac" and in the pages of the Los Angeles Times Locklin was championed early on by the Wormwood Review and he would become indelibly associated with the celebrated literary magazine by the time it ceased publication in 1999 He was himself the longtime poetry editor of the Chiron Review included "The Firebird Poems," "The Life Force Poems" and the early underground classic "Poop and Other Poems." He enjoyed something of a mini-bestseller with the 1984 novella "The Case of the Missing Blue Volkswagen," a clever hilarious cross between detective novel spoof and metafictional reverie "The Iceberg Theory," he exalts the unappreciated virtues of iceberg lettuce while upbraiding food and literary critics: "All the food critics hate iceberg lettuce," he begins — "you'd think romaine was descended from / orpheus's laurel wreath." When writing about couples he could be brutally blunt In "No Longer a Teenager," about his grown daughter's visit home he concludes: "literature and opera are full of / characters who die for love: / i stay alive for her." Locklin delighted in performing for an audience which he did regularly for decades in and around Long Beach turning the poetry reading into a festive and raucous event punctuated by his signature song-and-dance finale He co-founded a minor literary movement known as the Stand Up Poets for whom a poem's performability and humor were as important as its language and cadence As a teacher Locklin brought to the classroom an encyclopedic knowledge of literary history — and many subjects intersecting — which he shared with an enthusiasm amiability and humor that made him a perennial campus favorite "He was the true essence of the renaissance person," said Eileen Klink Cal State Long Beach English Department chair since 1996 and a faculty member for nearly 50 years "But above all he was a person of the people His concerns were always with the students." Locklin attended the College of the Holy Cross on a football scholarship before returning to his hometown where he earned his bachelor's degree in literature from St he'd had his fill of Rochester and the Eisenhower years where he landed his first teaching job at Cal State L.A The next year he joined what’s now California State University Locklin had long endured heart and lung ailments and developed dementia in the last couple of years his family moved him to Sunrise of Huntington Beach The facility was free of coronavirus infection until December Locklin and the other residents were tested for the virus and his daughter Vanessa rushed him to Kaiser in Irvine When the family established him at Sunrise in March as the pandemic was taking hold an English professor at Cal State Long Beach Locklin was receiving round-the-clock in-home care and the family feared exposing him to a changing rotation of outside caregivers because one of the benefits of getting him in the assisted living facility was we figured it would be safer from COVID," Zachary said That seems to have really paid off for nine or 10 months." Two weeks after arriving at Kaiser — and two weeks away from receiving his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine — Locklin died on a Sunday morning Bobbie; five children from two previous marriages: James Blake and John; 13 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren Carolyn Buhai Haas was six weeks shy of her 95th birthday when she was diagnosed with COVID-19 "She had a good long life," said her daughter Betsy Carolyn battled dementia in the last seven years of her life as a resident of Marin Convalescent and Rehabilitation Hospital in Tiburon Before breaking her hip and later losing much of her memory participating in more than 50 educational travel programs geared toward senior citizens Carolyn was an outspoken champion of civil causes She was a member of the League of Women Voters and an ardent supporter of Hubert Humphrey who served as vice president under President Lyndon B She graduated from Smith College in 1947 and married her husband Robert the same year and Santa Fe before finally settling in Marin County A lifelong advocate of children's education Carolyn taught at Francis Parker School until the birth of her son She went on to coauthor three children's books "I Saw a Purple Cow and 100 Other Recipes for Learning," "Purple Cow to the Rescue" and "A Pumpkin in a Pear Tree," and later authored two of her own: "Recipes for Fun" and "Big Book of Fun." "She was somebody who did a lot of volunteer work: Boy Scouts She was [a person] who loved to do crafts but made a mess and left it for us to clean up Carolyn is survived by her son Thomas; another daughter Karen; sister Sandra; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren By Sonaiya Kelley Jo Ann Smith got a new liver — a transplant — and a new lease on life Her old liver — damaged from years of unhealthy eating and diabetes her family says — had forced her to retire after about 30 years as founding director of the Pala Youth Center in Pala one of the loci of life for the Pala Band of Mission Indians Smith was back to her old self again; even though she’d retired she kept showing up at the youth center again telling the new director — who happened to be her daughter “It was like she never left!” Cantu marveled she tried to police what her kids and grandkids ate and drank: “She would criticize what I was eating all the time That’s how our phone calls were: ‘What are you eating for lunch Oh my God.’ And she was like that with alcohol She didn’t like the fact that we had drinks.” Cantu said that her mother “was very strict with us — ‘You guys need to do this but she wouldn’t listen when I told her to stay home and stay away from people,” Cantu said “She didn’t want to let it consume her life.” thanks to a kind nurse who shared her phone so that Smith could FaceTime with her loved ones and had lived on the Pala reservation her entire life Hers was not the family’s only COVID death one of Smith’s aunts and the husband of another aunt also died There’s somber understatement in what Cantu says: “It was a hard month; it’s been horrible for our family.” but she made up for it by solo parenting her four kids and their kids and her extended family; every year she took them all on vacation to Disneyland The kids who came to the Pala Youth Center were almost like family Almost every summertime Friday for decades she took the youth center kids on some field trip — to the fair the kids she first knew were sending their own kids to the center She liked to say that “these darn kids keep me going and keep me young.” The family has been watching home videos of their pre-COVID get-togethers — like a grown nephew creeping up behind Smith and scaring her with a lizard — and listening to “hilarious” voicemails of her gossiping about people they knew remembered fondly that there was nothing soft or gooey about her “She was a very straight-to-the-core woman,” Munoz remembered her mother’s legacy is that “she raised us to work for our community Kermit Holderman dedicated four decades of his life to teaching During his many years teaching high school English in Colorado and the Bay Area Holderman was known for the care he took with his students even taking them out for a meal if they were feeling down His generosity extended to leaving his body to science After he died from COVID-19 on March 31 at age 73 where researchers will study his brain to gauge the effects of the virus on older patients he was always super-selfless,” his eldest son moved in with Zack and his family in San Diego Holderman enjoyed playing catch with his grandson Nash watching San Francisco 49ers games in the living room and being the go-to driver for family airport pickups Holderman picked up his daughter-in-law Kelley Holderman from the airport after a girls' trip to Vail It wasn’t until after the trip that they found out the popular skiing destination was the center of a coronavirus outbreak though she suffered only a mild case of COVID-19 later tested positive and also only had mild symptoms but Holderman became severely ill and was sent to Thornton Hospital at UC San Diego with pneumonia he tested positive for the coronavirus infection Zack spoke of Holderman's relationship with his daughter-in-law The older man taught Zack and Kelley in high school where the couple first met: “He loved her as a daughter and she loved him as a father.” requiring that he be intubated and placed in a medically induced coma Since Susan and Kelley had coronavirus antibodies the doctors allowed them into the hospital room with masks and other protective gear Zack was also able to see his father one last time Holderman’s body was transferred to a UCLA medical center to study the neurological effects of COVID-19 on his brain Kelley and several of her friends from the trip have been donating plasma and participating in statistical and medical studies since recovering from the virus Holderman is survived by his wife; sons Zack and Dane; and his grandchildren By Tiffany Wong He’d spend hours on YouTube watching news and TV shows from his native El Salvador he fulfilled his dream of going back home to visit his father in La Unión It was the first time back since he came to the United States as an 18-year-old he had planned to take his wife to explore his home country died of COVID-19 complications at California Hospital Medical Center on June 7 Martinez spent the last 10 years of his life working as an Uber driver he worked as the assistant manager at an Echo Park McDonald’s where he met the love of his life: Carmelina Ruiz they each had their own children from different partners — they took in each other’s kids as if they were their own “He’s the only dad I’ve ever known,” said Klevher who added that she never considered herself his stepdaughter Martinez would always wait for her to come home from work before eating dinner Martinez would go to the mall and choose clothes for his wife “He always brought flowers home for me,” Ruiz said Martinez loved taking short road trips with his family he loved going to Vegas to walk on the Strip and explore “He’d always made sure he knew the destination and what was around,” Klevher said Martinez loved helping other people — if his friends needed a ride he’d offer to drive them wherever they needed to go when he started running a fever and lost his appetite and sense of taste His wife had similar symptoms but ultimately recuperated Martinez started having trouble breathing and was admitted to the hospital He was put on a ventilator on April 29 and spent all of May on the breathing machine The family has raised more than $17,000 on GoFundMe “I have to fight for them so they can become something in life Terrell would always extend his arm across Melvin’s chest to shield him anytime he made a turn while driving around their hometown of Beaumont that he would go on to join the Marines and become a sheriff’s deputy “I think that’s probably what he was put on Earth to do “There’s nothing that he’s ever done that hasn’t been for other people.” Young became the first of two Riverside County deputy sheriffs to die from COVID-19 He was a 15-year veteran of the department where his most recent posting was the Cois M Byrd Detention Center near his home in Murrieta likely contracted COVID-19 from an inmate he transported from the Byrd center to the Riverside University Health System Medical Center Melvin said he spoke to his brother while he was sitting with the inmate in the hospital I’m sitting here with this real cool dude,’” he said Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco described Young as a “fantastic role model” for his children who “were involved in basketball and music One of Young’s sergeants said he was well-liked “Employees knew they could always depend on Terrell for good advice,” he said “He was known for his smile and he will be deeply missed.” described her nephew as a “sweet young man” who loved his family and going to church Seals helped look after Young and his brother after their mother was killed by a drunk driver when Terrell was 11 Young picked up some Japanese when the family was stationed in Okinawa Young enlisted in the Marines after high school and served for eight years before getting a bachelor’s degree from the University of Phoenix where he later earned a master’s degree in business administration He spent one year as a stockbroker and seven years as a college career counselor before deciding police work was the best use of his military training and desire to be a public servant Young’s mindset when making decisions was first to do no harm “He had this sort of Hippocratic oath approach to what he did in absolutely everything.” Young is survived by his wife Marie of 31 years and four children Year after year at Eastin Arcola Elementary school in Madera Janet Carvalho would make sure if you were a student in her classroom an administrative assistant who attended the grade school outside Fresno and later saw her in action as an adult “She had a stance you knew she meant business I was grateful for that time I got to see a different side the teacher who cared about her students and saw the classroom being her family.” Carvalho spent 24 years teaching at the school before retiring in 1995 and leaving for the family farm in nearby Kerman Later she moved to the Autumn Ridge Assistance Living and Compassionate Care Hospice she went to Downey High in Modesto and later Fresno State University Magallanes said she didn’t have Cavalho as her teacher in sixth grade but her reputation as having high expectations for students was well known And then later as an administrative assistant at the school she watched her in action in the classroom to receive a better understanding for her business-like approach “I feel very lucky to have come back as an adult and work side by side and see another side from the adult perspective,” she said Patty; sons Ron and Rick; and four grandchildren Ernesto Victor Sotto Santos was excited when he was called to work as a nurse in a COVID quarantine unit at the Pomona Sheraton Fairplex Hotel in March He was being compensated generously with hazard pay He bought a brand-new BMW X5 right before he started working there “I remember him being really happy when he bought it but also feeling really guilty for splurging on himself,” his youngest daughter The promise of being financially stable encouraged Sotto Santo to continue his work in the COVID hotel Sotto Santos loved his family more than anything the single father had worked hard at his job as a registered nurse at Kaiser Permanente to provide for his three children and their grandmother Born in the province of Pampanga in the Philippines Sotto Santos was the eldest of four siblings described him as mischievous and playful as a child She would call him “Jonjon,” later shortened to “Jon.” Sotto Santos moved to Manila to study nursing at the University of Santo Tomas College of Nursing degree at the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery in 1998 whom he had married while in nursing school moved to the United States with their children the couple decided to pursue careers in nursing even though Sotto Santos had passed the U.S and Sotto Santos became a single parent to his three children His parents emigrated from the Philippines to help take care of them while he worked loving and selfless he was,” Elizabeth wrote “I’ve just been raised by my dad my entire life “My dad made it seem like we had everything.” he enjoyed watching the Miss Universe pageant and even went to go see the competition live in Las Vegas one year and he drove himself to the hospital on May 29 He was diagnosed with pneumonia and later tested positive for COVID-19 He was able to FaceTime with his children one last time before he was sedated and put on a ventilator his condition worsened and he had to undergo dialysis He had underlying conditions known to cause more severe cases of COVID-19 who went to visit family in the Philippines in December Sotto Santos is also survived by his brothers Leslie Hagan-Morgan lived every day with purpose And it was always in pursuit of what he felt like God wanted him to do,” said his wife That’s what he did when he started his nonprofit for foster youth — the idea for which came to him as a revelation in church one day “I know when something is compelling you like that discussing the power of his fixation on a friend's podcast in 2018 I couldn’t think about anything else until we got it off the ground.” Hagan-Morgan and his close friend Andrew Barker started City of Youth in Los Angeles in 2004 when Hagan-Morgan was just 21 They raised funds through donations and selling tickets to shows they put on together Barker and Hagan-Morgan developed City of Youth’s programming over the years expanding it from an after-school program offering extracurricular activities and teaching life skills into a licensed foster care agency and then an academy where children who fell behind could earn their high school diplomas Hagan-Morgan exercised the attributes that made him so beloved in the community Many of his friends knew him as “Big Les,” a nickname derived not just from his towering frame but also from his grand dreams and boundless heart If a student needed to get a driver's license he’d talk to their “big homies” to tell them to make sure they’d stay in school And if they just needed someone to talk to “He’s always been such a unifier and been able to really draw people together,” his sister Glenda Adjei said “I think those characteristics he had as a kid really helped him unify a lot of people in the community too.” Hagan-Morgan helped scuffling gangs negotiate a truce when he served as a coordinator for Soledad Enrichment Action a gang intervention organization supported by the mayor’s Gang Reduction and Youth Development program 18 of COVID-19 after visiting family in Georgia He appeared to be making a full recovery from a seemingly mild case of the disease Paramedics rushed him to the emergency room He was at the helm of a budding political career at the time of his death He had served on the board of his neighborhood council in South L.A and in 2018 ran an unsuccessful but promising campaign to represent the 59th Assembly District against fellow Democrat and incumbent Reggie Jones-Sawyer he was elected as a delegate to the district It was just the start for Hagan-Morgan as his aspirations went well beyond the state Assembly He looked up to and studied the likes of Barack Obama and the Rev And he envisioned someday becoming the state’s governor or even the U.S The White House sat outside his sights only because he had been born in the United Kingdom He acted with careful and diligent consideration Every decision he made in life had been strategized and contemplated in pen on a notebook always kept within arm’s reach Hagan-Morgan lived firmly by one of his grandmother’s old sayings: "If you are born into a house and the picture frame is crooked and you die and the frame is still crooked “He never wanted to leave things broken or unfinished.” Hagan-Morgan is survived by his wife Medinah mother Victoria Latnie-Mintah and stepfather Eric Jumbo It’s probably not a coincidence that Merrick “Jenks” Dowson founded his own wine-importing business and developed a great love for the San Francisco Giants after emigrating from England to the Bay Area in 1976 Fine wines and batted-ball sports were all but hereditary traits for Dowson who was 67 when he died from complications of COVID-19 at Kaiser Permanente Redwood City Medical Center on April 10 was at the center of England’s wine trade and founded Gilbey’s Gin in the mid-1800s was an English cricketer for Cambridge University and Surrey during a first-class career that lasted 13 years “We still have engraved cricket bats that his grandfather used,” said Laura Dowson “It was kind of cool to hear the stories of his famous family members I think he was really proud of his heritage.” Merrick Dowson was born 30 miles outside of London on Sept He attended Magdalen College School in Oxford in 1976 to explore the growing California wine market and 10 years later founded Adventures in Wine importing fine wines from around the globe and storing bottles for customers in temperature-controlled lockers in a Daly City warehouse but he was also very personable,” Laura Dowson said Merrick coached several of Laura’s youth soccer teams endearing himself to kids with his British accent and sense of humor “He was one of those cool dads that even your friends like,” Laura said Merrick became a Giants season-ticket holder in the 1980s and remained a loyal fan from their days at wind-swept Candlestick Park to their championship run at downtown Oracle Park where the Giants won World Series titles in 2010 I always remember KNBR 680 on in his car,” Laura said “We would listen to sports talk radio driving from Mountain View to Candlestick That was one of the highlights of his life So were the weekly dinner dates Merrick had with Laura and her daughters They’d watch one of their favorite British-based Netflix shows “He had lots of friends and business associates he could spend time with but he always made time for us,” Laura said Laura believes Merrick caught the coronavirus while traveling to Los Angeles by plane in early March He developed a fever and a cough and was admitted to the hospital on March 15 “He had a serious case of the swine flu in 2009 these viruses seem to really like me,’ ” Laura said When his kidneys began to fail along with his lungs Douglas joined on a FaceTime call from London “We were lucky to be with him when he passed—many people don’t get that option,” Laura said “It was great to be there and talk to him one last time tell him how much we love him and that he was a great dad.” It was the last day of high school and Julio Ramirez didn’t have money to buy his yearbook so his friend Julie Murillo helped pay for it The two would go separate ways and begin their own lives I still owe you money for your yearbook,’” Murillo said “That’s kind of how we started talking again.” The rekindled love led them to get married in 2017 and the two lived together in San Gabriel where he worked as an executive sales representative at MK Diamonds when Ramirez returned from a business trip with a fever in early March After a week of flu-like symptoms and trouble breathing Ramirez died at the age of 43 next to Murillo in their bed Ramirez’s death was originally pinned to pneumonia but weeks later a private autopsy company hired by Murillo found that he tested positive for COVID-19 “I kept fighting for answers,” Murillo said Ramirez's story sparked multiple local news stories and a GoFundMe page started by his “MK Family.” The page has already raised over $46,000 Seeing people come together for her husband has helped Murillo cope — especially when his co-workers share stories about him on the job Linda Guerrido showed Ramirez “the ropes” when he started at MK 17 years ago Since they spent so much time together at the job As he was one of the younger workers at MK Guerrido called him “my little pulga” or “my little flea.” “He always had a big smile on him,” she said Guerrido and Ramirez would often travel to diamond trade shows where because he had patience to put up with all of our crap,” she said with a laugh where Ramirez was never afraid to grab the mic but everything sounded like a mariachi voice,” Guerrido said Singing brings joy and it was a sharing experience “He was the true meaning of what a gentleman is,” said Murillo where he spent more than 30 years as a registered nurse and nurse practitioner stopped to help a stranger fix a flat tire the stranger reared up from his labors and said Tony Sanchez was the man people went to if they needed help “If someone came to us and didn’t have much,” Jon said “they certainly went away with something.” began quarantining after Sanchez had treated a patient who later tested positive for the virus But then he developed a fever and went to the hospital but Sanchez’s medical knowledge told him he would not be pulling through He built up a thriving practice of loyal patients in Tulare and Visalia “We always called him a workaholic,” said Jon “He shared his love of nature with us,” Jon recalled “We often laughed at my father because he was very particular about the boots he wore He would spend days oiling his boots and then it turned out he missed a spot.” “and my dad just jumped right into the river and got the dog His family was looking forward to his retirement — no more missed family celebrations But Sanchez had committed to seeing patients through their transition to new providers — and one of those patients was carrying the fatal virus Sanchez had been drafted during the Vietnam War Sanchez and his comrades were asked whether they wanted to go into combat he said that he regretted not going with his friends,” Jon remembers can I put recognition for your service on your headstone I don’t want it because I don’t deserve it Sanchez’s wife and children — a daughter and two sons — were given five minutes each to say goodbye in person trying to decide what to say in those scant moments I asked him for forgiveness and he asked me for forgiveness and we said we loved each other and that was it.” Alisha Álvarez’s mind is filled with thoughts of her father’s happy spirit and the stories he told a man of medium stature with a thick mustache was known for his work ethic and instilling in his children a love of others “It is so difficult to talk about him because I loved him so much,” Álvarez said of her father who died July 20 after contracting COVID-19 He worked at one of the three food distribution facilities that were briefly closed over the summer by Los Angeles County public health authorities after outbreaks of the virus He was “very affectionate; he never left me without giving me a hug a kiss,” Álvarez said of the man known to some in his community as Beto Mena and came to the United States in the early 1980s he had served for two years as head of maintenance at Mission Foods Corp the company sent a letter notifying employees that someone had fallen ill with the coronavirus José Roberto and his wife tested negative late that month there was no official communication from the company word began circulating among employees that some workers had contracted COVID-19 Los Angeles County Department of Public Health officials reported that he was among dozens of workers who tested positive for COVID-19 at Mission Foods Corp Mission Foods said it has stepped up measures to enhance worker safety in the face of the pandemic he had trouble breathing and was taken to the hospital he was admitted to the hospital’s intensive care unit He spent two weeks connected to a ventilator and died July 20 “My dad has been a partner for 35 years to my mom,” Álvarez said The family is working to create the Beto Mena Foundation they are trying to give a voice to the Latino community many of whom are forced to go to workplaces where there is a risk of contagion Álvarez said her father’s death could serve as an example to other workers “There are other families who work there,” she said “and I want people who are in that situation to have a voice.” Dolores Shoebotham was known as a loving mother a warm hostess and a free spirit who loved to travel “She had a really good sense of humor,” daughter Cindy McIntyre said about Shoebotham whom she said was the family member who always hosted get-togethers The kids loved to come over and play games Shoebotham was born in 1931 and died June 14 at 88 of complications from COVID 19 Her final days were spent in hospice care at a facility for people with dementia McIntyre suspects her mother was exposed to a staff member who was asymptomatic but contagious two great-grandchildren and many happy memories “Everybody would come over to our house and hang out,” McIntyre remembered about her mother’s hospitality while growing up in Clairemont McIntyre described her mother as a career homemaker who loved to get out of the house and hit the road so Shoebotham and the family took road trips across the country Shoebotham was the oldest of five siblings and quit high school to work as a switchboard operator to help support her family while growing up in Nebraska whose position in the Coast Guard took the couple to several cities He was stationed in North Island when he retired at 55 “My dad took good care of her and she took care of him.” McIntyre took her mother out for dinner March 12 but would not get to see her again for three months because of restrictions on visitors at the facility where she was living “One of the hardest things was not being able to go see her and tell her everything was going to be OK,” she said someone at the facility called to tell McIntyre that her mother had signs of COVID-19 but after 10 days her condition grew worse Her mother was transported back to the facility for dementia patients and died four days later “They are together again,” she said of her parents along with the families of the other 200,000 plus families who have lost a loved one The dementia had taken my mother from us in many ways When Mary Molina Palos cooked tamales at Christmas “She always had an open-door policy,” Palos’ daughter Corinne Dearborn said “She never knew how to make food for two or three people — it was always like for an army.” Palos died of COVID-19 complications on May 7 at the age of 105 her own father had died of flu during the Spanish influenza pandemic Palos and her family were some of the first Mexicans to settle in the “barrios” of Claremont Palos became a meaningful advocate for her small Mexican community Palos organized the Well Baby Clinic in Claremont which helped Mexican families who couldn’t afford taking their children to the doctor which handed out toys to children in need before Christmas “My mom was always a giver,” said Dearborn “That’s how she was brought up: to give and to do for others because that’s what brings you satisfaction.” After her brother’s baseball team needed money to afford new uniforms at Sacred Heart Church — a tradition that continues to this day at the parish now called Our Lady of the Assumption “She was quite important as a Mexican woman could be during her time in Claremont,” Dearborn added Palos followed her love of cooking as a Claremont Unified School District cafeteria manager for over 40 years Dearborn said Palos would add her own sazón to the school-served meals “She really loved it,” Dearborn said with a laugh “She would kind of doctor [the meals] up and try to make it a little more appetizing.” Palos “always had a kind smile or word” for Claremont’s students “I am picturing her right now; a strong woman secure in her own skin,” she wrote in an email shared with The Times Palos continued cooking and giving back to her community and another 14 years at the Joslyn Senior Center “She was just a fun lady,” said Marion Hoyle who volunteered with Palos at the Economy Shop “She kept me entertained with all these stories about Claremont.” Palos was living at the Santa Teresita Manor assisted living facility in Duarte when she began losing her appetite in late April Eleven residents at the care facility have died of COVID-19-related illnesses according to the California Department of Public Health Palos’ health complicated and worsened after suffering from a fall from her wheelchair on April 26 “It’s really been an honor to know that my mom really tried to make something of herself and still not give up her ethnicity And that’s something I’m really proud of.” Charlie Kratz didn’t tell the friends he made in retirement much about his past ‘So you’re telling us you can’t tell us what you did or you’ll have to kill us?'” said close friend Maggie Fox They knew broadly that he once practiced law and served in the military It wasn’t until Kratz died from complications of COVID-19 on Feb the close friends to whom he entrusted his estate uncovered the history their dear friend largely kept concealed They pored over the stash of documents he left behind and connected with Kratz’s old military friends to piece together his distinguished career had done highly sensitive counterintelligence work overseas for the Army during the Cold War in the 1970s and early ’80s as a legal officer for the 66th Military Intelligence Group Kratz held a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University and a law degree from California Western School of Law a lifelong friend who worked under Kratz in Munich says he personally saw Kratz piece together files on the infamous Nazi war criminal Klaus Barbie — work that helped confirm that the U.S military once protected the fugitive Barbie in exchange for counterintelligence work against the Soviet Union “I knew deep inside that the one who untangled this web was Charlie where he acted as an Army liaison to the mayor of Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) He also won a Bronze Star for his service there Kratz returned to the United States in the mid-1980s and took up another job with the Army’s Intelligence and Security Command for a number of years Documents show that Kratz worked for the Department of Justice for a period before retiring back to his hometown of San Diego at the turn of the century Fox said he came to understand why Kratz’s home where he lived along with his terrier Fritz world wars and the political ideologies of America’s adversaries They were a requisite trove of knowledge for the rigorous work that long commanded Kratz’s days But Kratz’s professional and educational excellence hardly defined him He had a genuineness and kindness that cut through even the military’s social rigidity he made good friends with enlisted men in Munich and cared for them far beyond the scope of his work “He was just a very conscientious person about the people that worked for him,” Navas said “He wanted to make sure that we all finished our education and that we had a chance to move upwards in life and have more opportunities.” who was 18 and a private when he met Kratz in Germany credits his becoming a lawyer in large part to Kratz’s encouragement ‘Just try and see how you do,’” Kneifel said so long as a trusty canine companion stood at his side That’s the image the Foxes mostly knew: Kratz the dog lover Maggie Fox befriended Kratz at a San Diego dog park near his home in 2001 He was initially resistant to her attempts to get him to join her group of friends at the park the Foxes and Kratz developed a tight relationship “I felt he was like another brother,” Maggie said Rafael Cartagena loved newspapers so much that he kept hundreds of them stuffed in his locker at work He would sit at his kitchen table or in the backyard at his home in the San Fernando Valley clipping out articles that he wanted to keep this is something that will go down in history who died from COVID-19 in Los Angeles on May 17 at the age of 66 was a roll tender at California Community News his job was to keep the printing presses running “He was a high-energy guy,” said his supervisor When a printing press was running at the Irwindale facility it was Cartagena’s job to keep loading paper into the enormous machinery so that a printing run can continue uninterrupted carefully guided into place by Cartagena; out came more copies of the Daily Pilot or the New York Post or the comics sections for the Los Angeles Times and the San Diego Union-Tribune ready to be enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of readers across Southern California If the paper rolls aren’t prepared correctly the printing run gets interrupted and the workers have to shut down the process and make fixes Cartagena’s relentless diligence made such mistakes rare “He always had the best percentage of non-breaks in the whole department for years,” Kirkpatrick said where he grew up in the small town of San Pedro Perulapán and drove a bus to support his family and their daughter to the United States in 1985 He soon found the job printing newspapers in Los Angeles County Cartagena was not just a skilled producer of newspapers but an avid reader and collector of them particularly La Opinion and the New York Post He particularly enjoyed articles about his favorite soccer clubs Real Madrid and the Brazilian national team He would have his daughter help translate a word in Los Angeles Times stories to make sure he understood them properly ‘What is it with you and newspapers?’” Coralia Cartagena said Cartagena also enjoyed dancing to cumbia and playing poker as well as helping out family and friends when they were in need “Every year when he went to visit his homeland he was so kindhearted that he would throw a party for the neighborhood he lived in and he would pay for everything – the drinks because he was that kind of person,” said his longtime colleague He would also give money to friends who couldn’t afford medication and took responsibility for caring for his nephews when one of his brothers died whom he pressed to be ambitious in America; he had dropped out of school in El Salvador in order to take care of her I don’t want you to struggle how I struggled,’” she said He was filled with pride when Coralia graduated from Cal State Northridge “I pray to God I don’t leave this world until I meet a child from my daughter,” according to Coralia (His son had already given him four grandchildren.) He got his wish; Coralia had a girl “He enjoyed my baby for a year and a half,” Coralia Cartagena said Rafael Cartagena is survived by his partner of many years By Matt Pearce went to the beach and attended his first Giants game with his 10-year-old daughter Ericka “I know that day was special for both of them,” his son Erick said Juan Martinez died of COVID-19 complications at Dameron Hospital in Stockton on June 7 Martinez met his wife Maria Reyna Flores while working at The Elephant Bar in Stockton a dozen years ago she was a single mother and was suffering from depression Martinez would take both Flores and Erick on dates and was never shy to show his love to her he would still give it to me,” Flores said in Spanish “I felt proud to have a husband who loved me so much.” Martinez always encouraged Erick and his three younger daughters to excel in school and would exude his pride at Erick’s scholarship events and graduation Erick added that when he came out as gay at 16 even if his dad was raised with a “machista” attitude He was old-fashioned but he respected me and who I am as a person.” Martinez also loved cooking and going out to eat with his family He had the dream of starting his own restaurant alongside his wife who has an associate’s degree in retail management and merchandising wanted them to start with a food truck and grow from there Martinez died after a week on life support and a ventilator He began feeling sick May 31 after a 10-hour shift at work He had body aches earlier that day and started having trouble breathing that night Flores and their four children all tested positive Only Flores showed symptoms and has since recovered He wanted his kids to become somebody in life and that they feel proud of who they were,” she said “My children depend on me and I need to fight and be strong because that’s what my husband would have done.” but as long as God gives me strength and health a singer and guitarist who gained fame for his versions of “Lemon Tree” and “If I Had a Hammer” in the 1960s and took his talents to Hollywood who just finished shooting a documentary on Lopez with Todd Hughes confirmed that Lopez died from complications of COVID-19 at Desert Regional Medical Center Lopez became an international star while performing in English and Spanish Unlike Mexican American singers such as Ritchie Valens Lopez rejected advice to change his name and openly embraced his Mexican American heritage despite warnings it would hurt his career “I insisted on keeping my name Lopez,” he told the Dallas Morning News in 2017 Sinatra signed Lopez to his Reprise Records label after seeing him perform at a West Hollywood nightclub They became friends and were spotted together regularly in social circles in Las Vegas and Palm Springs Lopez also appeared in the film classic “The Dirty Dozen” and the comedy “The Phynx.” Born Trinidad Lopez III to immigrants from Guanajuato Lopez grew up in Dallas’ poor Little Mexico neighborhood The family’s dire economic situation forced Lopez to drop out of high school and work His life changed after his father bought him a $12 black Gibson acoustic guitar from a pawn shop His father taught him to play the instrument which led the young Lopez to perform at Dallas nightclubs that didn’t allow Mexican American patrons Buddy Holly saw Lopez at a small nightclub in Wichita Falls Holly died in a plane crash six months later and Lopez briefly replaced him as lead singer of the Crickets Lopez moved to Southern California and got a regular gig at P.J.’s Night Club in West Hollywood Sinatra saw him perform and offered him a contract with his new record label where Lopez got his first major hit with “If I Had a Hammer.” It went to No Lopez was rarely on the charts after the 1960s but his line of Gibson Trini Lopez guitars released from 1964 to 1971 unexpectedly influenced a generation of younger guitarists Ebersole and Hughes recently finished shooting a documentary on Lopez called “My Name Is Lopez.” If a room of people could have a conductor lift spirits and bring all together with inclusion The 68-year-old woman lived in a Santa Clara apartment with her elderly mother Ahrabi went out daily on what her family describe as “rounds,” checking on the apartment complex staff the clerks at the Safeway where she bought daily supplies Those who lived within the radius of her daily walks were her village — much like the Tehran neighborhood in Iran where she grew up before immigrating in the 1980s to the United States Those Ahrabi befriended with a cup of her special Turkish coffee sweetened with milk and only a little sugar were rewarded afterward when Ahrabi studied the grounds in the bottom of their cup and pronounced their fortune “I have the confidence to say I will never meet anyone so unconditionally selfless,” said her son Ahrabi died March 9 in a Santa Clara County hospital and is believed to have been the first person in the San Francisco Bay area to die of COVID-19 Amir said she had been sick since at least Feb When Robert Brewster and his family met Princess Grace of Monaco during a trip overseas His kids still look at the photograph with fondness—despite the fact that it was missing one big thing “Dad is not in the picture we took with her,” said Brewster’s daughter He died in Torrance on April 13 from complications of COVID-19 Brewster grew up in Toluca Lake in the 1930s His father was an executive at Universal Studios and his mother hosted fancy dinner parties but Brewster was never drawn to bright lights or fame After graduating from Harvard School for Boys he joined the Naval Reserve and studied engineering at UCLA in 1956 and they were married a year later “I was a math teacher so we had that in common.” The couple bought their first home in Rancho Palos Verdes in 1959 right around the time Brewster started working as an engineer at Hughes Aircraft Company He spent nearly 40 years at the company working on top-secret projects which suited him since he didn’t like talking about himself much His four kids always looked forward to their father’s return from work ‘Hi family!’ and we would run to see him,” Susan recalled “He gave us horsey rides on his back and serenaded us with piano music at bedtime But Brewster’s buzzing intellect remained busy whether he was on the clock or not He came up with so many one-liners that his family started a list of “Bobisms,” like the gentle joke he made about the Parkinson’s disease he developed later in life: “I can’t shake it.” He had a huge record collection (mostly showtunes classical and comedy albums) and he sang in the choir at Rolling Hills Methodist Church and Rolling Hills Covenant Church he and Pat took 15 trips to “elder hostels” in the U.S where they explored different cities and learned about topics like old radio comedians and the history of glass blowing who first met at a UCLA dance all those years ago line dancing and square dancing together until Parkinson’s took his balance “That was part of his kindness,” Patricia recalled Alice Coopersmith Furst was constantly in motion “If I would use one word to describe her it would be busy,” said her daughter “Even when she didn’t have anything going on At the senior community in San Rafael where she spent her early 80s she was known as “the tiny tornado.” Though she was just shy of 5 feet 2 her taller neighbors couldn’t keep up with her died in her sleep on April 4 at a memory care facility in Kentfield two days after testing positive for COVID-19 Her children said people who knew her have reached out to say they’ll miss her “wry smile.” but she always had a mischievous twinkle in her eye,” Coopersmith said Coopersmith Furst was born and raised in New York City She received a bachelor’s degree from Tufts University and a master’s in speech and language therapy from Boston University She spent her career working as a speech therapist She spent 47 years in what her daughter described as a “perfect 1960s home” with a view of San Francisco Bay economist and business executive Harold Furst when he was introduced to her as a possible tennis partner The two traveled around the world and were married from 1980 to his death in 2011 Her children said her parenting style was “laissez-faire,” but she stressed the importance of education which her children said influenced their own career choices: Coopersmith is a teacher at the UC Berkeley and Honeywell is a college and career counselor at a continuation high school “I deal with students struggling with all sorts of things and I think that my mom’s work definitely influenced my choice of careers in that respect,” Honeywell said Coopersmith Furst sat on the boards of the East Bay Community Foundation and the West Contra Costa Public Education Fund and regularly attended theater and symphony performances A second nickname she earned was “the tiny princess,” in honor of her style Whether it was her time as a single mother or her time at a memory care facility “she was always put together,” Coopersmith said Coopersmith Furst is survived by Honeywell her stepson Sheldon Furst and six grandchildren Jeff Baumbach seemed to run into people who knew him wherever he went Some he'd met through his kids and his involvement in their childhood extracurricular activities; some he'd met through the CPR classes he taught through family friends or his favorite restaurants Others knew him because he’d helped save the life of someone they loved as an emergency room and ICU nurse “He would be walking into a restaurant or walking into a nursing facility and people would just say ‘Hi’ to him because they knew him from one random act of kindness,” said his daughter Kaila Baumbach “He knew exactly who it was and what family member that he helped in their time of need.” died March 31 at Adventist Health Lodi Memorial from complications related to COVID-19 It’s not clear how he contracted the virus Jeff Baumbach worked as a firefighter and a paramedic before getting his associate's degree and beginning a 28-year career in nursing with stints at the Intensive Care Units at Dameron Hospital and St he worked as a case manager for Kaiser Permanente patients treated at St Baumbach had a "wonderful way" with patients He was able to bridge the gap between patients and physicians and explain treatment plans in a straightforward and conversational way “He’s somebody that I let my guard down around,” Cherbonnier said we would bounce questions off one another and earn one another's trust." Kaila described her father as a role model who took the time to show each member of his family that he loved them He liked to make people laugh and was known for his “Jeff-isms,” the witty made-up responses he’d deliver with a smirk when he was stumped by a question On a family trip to Kauai after Kaila graduated from high school she and her dad went to get tattoos together one for Karen and one for each of their children He was “just the consummate family man,” Cherbonnier said “He's what everyone should aspire to be as far as a dad and a husband." Girl Scouts and the Lodi High School speech and debate team would take his father to Golden State Warriors talked about cars and watched "Gold Rush," a show about gold miners in Alaska Jeff and Karen were high school sweethearts: He was a football player and she was "a straight-A student that didn't want to get in trouble," said Kaila The pair started dating the summer after he graduated from Lodi High School in 1981 and wed June 27 He planned annual getaways around the five-day stretch between his wedding anniversary and Karen's birthday the couple took their children and their significant others to Kauai “I cannot thank him enough for always being there for me,” Kaila wrote in a letter about her father that she shared with The Times “I cannot thank him enough for all that he has taught me I cannot thank him enough for showing me how to live life to the fullest I cannot thank him enough for teaching me how to love and loving me for me.” overseeing OMA Ojai Ranch afforded him a satisfying daily ritual: a ride in his pickup truck across the sprawling property visiting with the ranch's workers and checking on the avocado and citrus crops "He took pride in how those orange trees looked and how they grew," said daughter Jacqueline Wilson Running the Ojai Valley ranch was hard work who was foreman of the facility for more than 50 years "My dad had a natural talent for ranching," said Wilson who grew up on the ranch along with her three sisters 28 from COVID-19 at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura Duran grew up on a local ranch where his family worked He didn't talk much with his family about the war but shared one incident with daughter Judy Cutillo "There was a bomb that hit that bunker and everyone died," she said Duran developed a strong connection with the ranch's longtime owner aerospace executive and philanthropist who died in 1997 and my dad would hang out with him," said Cutillo a relationship built on "a lot of respect." he delighted in family reunions and fishing excursions the pastime offered a connection to the land — that same sort of connection he enjoyed at OMA Ojai Ranch Wilson and Cutillo; siblings Gracie Varela Bill Duran and George Duran; two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren endless pipe smoking and a bombastic personality Browner started each morning the same way: jumping jacks or simply use large rocks found throughout the neighborhood He called it “old man’s strength,” his daughter Alexandre said He survived multiple heart attacks and open heart surgeries So when he got sick with COVID-19 in early April “My sister didn’t even register that it could be a problem,” Alexandre said moved into Sunray Healthcare Center home in Los Angeles would drive down to check in on him several times a week she got a call from the home that visitors would be prohibited due to the pandemic She was not able to see her father in person again Browner was rushed to Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center with a high fever He was soon confirmed positive for COVID-19 the doctors alerted Alexandre that he was declining and so she prepared to leave her home in Mammoth to be with him before she was even able to get on the road Browner grew up in Brooklyn and Long Island He went on to get his law degree at Johns Hopkins but ultimately decided not to practice and to instead join his family’s textile business where he worked in fashion and soon met his wife At their wedding–true to form–he wore a Brown velvet jacket a matching velvet bowtie and a ruffled pink shirt they moved to Mammoth where Browner opened a ski shop But after a seven year drought that battered the local economy Alexandre said he never discussed his time in Vietnam It wasn’t until Alexandre was with her father in Costa Rica eight years ago that she finally got to hear about his time in the Army began telling war stories to a stranger at the bar “I overheard him tell someone about ‘one day in the jungle,’ and I ran over to listen,” Alexandre recalled She showed up the first day of class with him He’s going to sit in today,” she remembered Browner’s deep love and care for his family was unmistakable When Alexandre enlisted in the Army herself “He always said mail time was the worst if you didn’t get a letter,” Alexandre said Marcia Burnam began thinking seriously about her legacy But she was not concerned with how the world would remember her many charitable efforts or her decades of groundbreaking activism championing numerous causes dear to her heart she wanted to make sure that her seven grandchildren knew who she was and could carry on some of her wisdom “The only thing you can keep in life is what you give away,” Burnam said to start the movie “That’s what I’d like to teach my grandchildren We all have a responsibility for each other.” Burnam could not have foreseen that those words and the 20-minute story that followed would play an integral part of a moving memorial service for her that had to be streamed online due to social distancing measures She died April 1 of complications from the novel coronavirus at age 92 at her condo in West Los Angeles hundreds of admirers from around the globe gathered virtually to pay their respects “If there was a woman who proved we can be together while physically apart Marcia Burnam was that woman,” said Senior Rabbi Ken Chasen of Leo Baeck Temple Passionate about justice and interfaith and interracial understanding Burnam headed the Portraits of American Women panel in the 1960s She later served as the western regional president and national vice president of the American Jewish Committee She also served on the national board of overseers of Hebrew Union College where she mentored students at the School of Jewish Communal Service “The relentless shaper and builder of the Jewish people a leader committed to Jewish growth and excellence a visionary driven to unite people despite and sometimes because of their differences,” Rabbi Chasen described her whom she said was among the first entertainment lawyers in Hollywood and represented actor Cary Grant who at 30 was the president of the National Council of Jewish Women in Los Angeles working to settle refugees from Germany during World War II where she said she was mentored by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt She left there for the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City and raised them in their Stone Canyon home She found her calling by earning a certificate in counseling and working as a social worker in the 1970s She loved her role with the Portraits of American Women panel because it brought together women of different faiths and ethnic backgrounds the Burnams took in an Ethiopian 14-year-old named Tewodros “Teddy” Gedebou he studied at Stanford and UC San Francisco and later returned to Ethiopia where he became a renowned surgeon and started the Marcia Burnam Surgicenter “The one constant in my ever-changing life was Marcia’s purest love,” Gedebou said in the video and in her later days she realized she had much to give her grandchildren “I’m so proud of my grandmother,” said grandson Michael Burnam-Fink in the video She is actually the standard against which I measure everything that I do.” The minimalist composer and musician Harold Budd whom collaborator Brian Eno once described as being “a great abstract painter trapped in the body of a musician,” died Dec the Los Angeles native drew from Minimalism free jazz and beatless ambient music — even if he disliked the latter term — to craft meditative work that moved like a Pacific breeze Budd worked with artists including the visionary musician and producer Eno Scottish dream-pop group the Cocteau Twins British synth-pop innovator John Foxx and French producer-musician Hector Zazou Budd’s solo work helped score the HBO drama “I Know This Much Is True.” taught and performed works that from the start rejected the jarring busy approach to then-contemporary experimental music Such work of the time “seemed self-congratulatory and I refused to go on with it,” he told L.A 1980’s “Ambient 2: The Plateaux of Mirror” and 1984’s “The Pearl” (which also features Lanois) are considered pinnacles of the ambient movement and helped establish Budd’s reputation one that was bolstered by a project he made soon thereafter with members of the Cocteau Twins Called “The Moon and the Melodies,” it was issued in 1986 by the hip independent imprint 4AD and introduced Budd’s name to a new generation of outsiders Budd’s approach expanded on works such as “Abandoned Cities” (1984) to include darker but he never veered into the ugly or confrontational Born in 1936 in central Los Angeles raised at the edge of the Mojave Desert in Victorville Budd served in the Army alongside future saxophone skronker Albert Ayler Both shared an affinity for post-bop experimentation a connection they discovered while playing together in the military band and for a while he made his living playing Los Angeles nightclubs “The Oak of the Golden Dreams,” was recorded in 1970 on an early model Buchla modular synthesizer at the California Institute of the Arts His life changed in the mid-1970s with an out-of-the-blue phone call from a fan who had heard a recording of one of his pieces That’s the end of that,” Budd said with blunt appreciation of that first conversation with his future collaborator and with Eno making his sonic arguments for a more tranquil music with his own series of ambient releases Budd eased his way into the movement to become one of its standard-bearers texturing his recorded work with blurry drone tones until sounds seem to bleed together releasing both solo albums and collaborations every few years for the rest of his life “The White Arcades,” was powered by Budd’s “soft pedal” piano technique which employed one of the instrument’s foot pedals to “soften” the notes while subtly changing their tones “The Room,” his 2000 album for Atlantic Records was a conceptually linked project in which he composed distinct pieces for imaginary spaces such as “The Candied Room” and “The Room of Forgotten Children.” Budd announced his retirement from music in 2004 but apparently he didn’t consult with his creative spirit In a review of Budd’s short-lived “farewell performance” with Jon Gibson at REDCAT in downtown Los Angeles The Times characterized Budd as “a willfully mysterious character He has gone missing from the local scene for long stretches making each Budd sighting something special.” he returned with “Perhaps” and continued to compose for the rest of his life Budd issued a series of albums with Cocteau Twins’ Robin Guthrie; the most recent “Another Flower,” was released in early December Budd had recently finished composing a series of two dozen string quartets By Randall Roberts Terry Blanchard could be an imposing sight but those who knew him said he was a “gentle giant,” a hard-working determined man who would help anyone he could and died from complications of the disease on April 12 Blanchard spent much of his adult life in Oakland He graduated from UC Berkeley in 1985 with an economics degree He worked in telecommunications with banks for over 30 years “He always wanted to work for himself,” said Noelle Gemberling he and his wife owned four Wing Stop locations in the Bay Area He also served on the board of the East Oakland Youth Development Center and Gemberling said every gift she gave him over the last four years was a book He also loved sports and was an avid Golden States Warriors fan Gemberling and her husband took Blanchard to a Cal football game against USC believed they contracted the coronavirus from a family friend living with them Blanchard had what appeared to be a cold and gastrointestinal problems But then he experienced difficulty breathing Debra recovered and contacted the Red Cross about the possibility of donating her plasma to her husband But that treatment was just experimental at the time “He was a big teddy bear type of person,” Gemberling said Debra Blanchard has been able to donate her plasma to help other coronavirus patients Blanchard is survived by his mother Alma and his daughters Gemberling and Sydnie Blanchard the Aztec sun god and patron to Jaguar and Eagle warriors was among the first roles that Noe Montoya embodied for the Bay Area theater company El Teatro Campesino a teenaged Montoya rose majestically behind a pyramid for the group's first TV special in Los Angeles The role would eventually lead to many more within the troupe including that of Juan Diego — the man who witnessed the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe — in El Teatro's biennial production of "La Virgen del Tepeyac" at the Old Mission San Juan Bautista He played the role of Diego from the 1970s to 2008 his last role was Benito Juarez in the premiere of “Adios Mama Carlota” at San Jose Stage Montoya marched alongside Caesar Chavez and connected his audiences with indigenous music he played for the United Farm Workers He always performed while wearing the union’s emblem — a black eagle stylized as an inverted Aztec pyramid The theater was founded in 1965 as the cultural arm of the union specializing in Spanish-language performances about the struggles of agricultural laborers Montoya was the "blood and bone" of the company "The COVID 19 pandemic has been merciless to an extreme so it comes as no surprise that despite the risk Noe did his utmost to alleviate the suffering of our fellow campesinos continuing to make appearances to sing at car caravans organized to raise food for the workers," Teatro founder Luiz Valdez wrote on the group's Facebook page "His great heart was always at the core of his humanity and commitment to our community." Montoya announced on Facebook that his COVID-19 test came back positive: "I got careless for a moment and I apologize to all of you," he wrote His symptoms included body aches and fatigue he said he was feeling better and encouraged fans to "please stay safe He died on Thanksgiving Day at the age of 66 Dominick Shirley has been walking around the house in a pair of Nike camouflage slip-ons that belong not to the 16-year-old high school student but to his father who was 80 when he died of complications from coronavirus on April 9 at St John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital in Camarillo he’s been wearing one of his dad’s pairs of shoes every day,” said Zoe Shirley where the former football player once had four teeth knocked out on a single play and Ventura College before embarking on a 36-year career as a planner for the Southern California Gas Company adopting four who now range in age from 29 to 14 the most recent family adventure a trek through Zion and Bryce Canyon national parks in Utah “These kids in the [foster-care] system come from drugs neglect and trauma—they go from one home to the next until they age out of the system,” Zoe said “We felt really strongly that God had placed those children in our home and we had to ante up and give it our absolute best “Ron and I felt that it’s never too late to love a child That if you open up your heart and you give a part of your heart to a child Zoe said her husband underwent emergency surgery to have his gall bladder removed on Feb where he experienced hallucinations and septic shock Shirley spent the next few weeks in a rehabilitation facility His first two tests for the coronavirus came back negative even though he showed classic symptoms of the illness “I think he was just very vulnerable,” Zoe said adding that she wasn’t sure where her husband contracted the virus Zoe also tested positive for the virus but experienced milder symptoms a persistent headache in early March that she originally attributed to allergies became the first Ventura County coronavirus patient to receive a plasma transfusion from a person who had recovered from COVID-19 a 65-year-old retired electrician from Camarillo whose condition improved slightly after receiving Everett’s plasma on April 3 and 4 But the hope for the antibody treatment was fleeting but Zoe remained grateful for the efforts of the doctors and nurses at Pleasant Valley Hospital and “I was so honored to meet him and humbled by his donation — it was beautiful to look into his eyes and say thank-you,” Zoe said “And I told him I would pray for him every day of my life the doctors in ICU who are fighting this every day an Emmy-nominated TV producer who died at 87 of complications from COVID-19 on April 21 knew that making it in Hollywood sometimes took more than talent "It only took one person to help you break in to get you inside,” Rogosin wrote in a 2004 memoir “Then if you were ambitious and lucky and didn't screw up whose producing credits include the 1980s crime-fighting TV staples “Knight Rider” and “Magnum P.I.,” was born in Boston on Oct and graduated from Stanford University in 1955 where Rogosin met one of those Hollywood somebodies: a classmate who also happened to be the daughter of MGM studio President Dore Schary The MGM head invited Rogosin to visit the studio lot where an awestruck Rogosin bumped into a “startlingly beautiful Elizabeth Taylor.” Inside Schary’s office he saw the studio head "counting what appeared from a distance to be So was the job Rogosin actually landed when the Schary meeting was a dud: messenger at Columbia Pictures The starting-from-rock-bottom strivers who worked alongside him in the mailroom all had bachelor's or postsecondary degrees scripts and cartons of cigarettes to the executives whose favor they craved but whose power intimidated them story department and became an associate producer on “77 Sunset Strip,” a hit ABC detective show that marked the start of Rogosin’s three-decade TV producing career One of Rogosin’s longest-running producing stints came on the classic TV Western “The Virginian,” for which he also made his directing debut in 1968 he agreed to cast dozens of Native American extras at the demand of musician and guest star Buffy Sainte-Marie the Los Angeles Times called it “an unheard-of request” in Hollywood where such parts were typically played by non-Native American actors “He was attracted to inclusion in a really broad sense,” said Robin Rogosin who noted that several of Rogosin’s projects featured characters with disabilities including “Ironside,” which starred a retired detective who used a wheelchair He wore a medallion that says ‘War is not healthy for children and other living things’ for probably 50 years.” velvet-voiced jazz crooner Mel Torme try his hand at acting and screenwriting and he also produced Jerry Lewis telethons to raise funds to fight muscular dystrophy while he was supervising producer on “Magnum P.I.,” Rogosin complained that it was difficult to get approval to hire actors with disabilities “The policies come from the networks," Rogosin said "I was told to get lost when I asked about bringing more disabled [people] into the industry." Joel Rogosin also helped stage original musicals that he created alongside his brother Roy Rogosin a musician and composer who founded New Hampshire’s Portsmouth Academy of Performing Arts Rogosin enjoyed the creative autonomy he got from working on a small theater production with his brother and with lyricist Bruce Belland especially compared to the mainstream TV productions he had long been involved with they have all these committees,” Joel Rogoson told The Times in 1990 Rogoson also taught writing at colleges and in a program for prisoners as well as at a Writers’ Guild of America diversity program and at the Performing Arts Theater for the Handicapped Rogoson died at the Motion Picture Television Fund’s retirement home in Woodland Hills where at least six residents have died in a coronavirus outbreak Rogoson persuaded the fund to rename the campus’ long-term care facility as the Mary Pickford House after the silent-film star who helped found the organization Rogosin is survived by his wife of more than 60 years Deborah; his three daughters; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren Two years after moving his family from Upstate New York to Hollywood In a stroke that would define his style of spiritual work then associate pastor at Hollywood United Methodist Church took to the streets of the smoldering city to offer ministry "He thought it was so important that a Caucasian person be there to be supportive of his Black clergy brothers as they — together — ministered to people on the street," said his son died on July 25 of complications from COVID-19 Cook kept the Methodist Church at the center of his life — an anchoring that began at a young age After his father was killed in a train accident when Cook was a toddler supported by ministers who acted as his mentors He remained in New York state for his college education Lawrence University and a master's degree from Syracuse University whom he had met years earlier at a church gathering Cook and his family lived on Hillcrest Road across from the church and his ministering took him to the rough stretches of the community "There was a huge runaway population — teens — that were on the Sunset Strip," Alan Cook said "A group of ministers would walk the strip and talk with young people and my dad brought a few of them to our house to tell their parents [by phone] that they were safe." Cook later was a minister at congregations in Blythe also serving a term on the latter jurisdiction's school board He retired more than once — ending a period of leisure at one point to minister to California's prison population He stopped working for good in the mid-2010s brought out his father's "hidden talents." "It really satisfied him," he said the elder Cook is survived by son Fred Cook as well as two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren George Whitmore was a member of the first team of climbers to scale El Capitan in Yosemite National Park and a conservationist who devoted his life to protecting the Sierra Nevada Whitmore died on New Year’s Day at age 89 from complications of COVID-19 was extremely careful about wearing a mask and his family doesn’t know where he contracted the coronavirus after developing a rattling but occasional cough and subsequent fever Whitmore died in a Fresno rehabilitation facility from damage to his lungs about a week after being released from a hospital colleagues and fellow climbers mourned the passing of a legend in the world of rock climbing and the last surviving member of the trio that was the first to reach the top of El Capitan on Nov Ascending the 3,000-foot sheer granite rock wall that now attracts climbers from around the world was Whitmore gathered with climbers from around the world at Yosemite to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his ascent with Warren Harding and Wayne Merry Whitmore said they didn’t realize at the time “how special” their climb of the rock formation would be “They were kind of inventing the sport of big wall rock climbing,“ said Daniel Duane author of “El Capitan: Historic Feats and Radical Routes.” it seemed “utterly outside the bounds of the possible,” Duane said Whitmore and his team plotted a path that came to be known as “The Nose.” They created this kind of pilgrimage path in the sky that every climber on Earth wants to someday walk,” Duane said Whitmore spoke of his ascent with humility but he often said he considered his work in conservation to be his greatest accomplishment Whitmore retired in the 1970s to focus on conservation He was involved with the Sierra Club in local including serving as a chairman of the Tehipite Chapter based in Fresno It was during a Sierra Club outing in the 1970s that he met his wife who was impressed with his knowledge and intellect Whitmore helped establish the Kaiser Wilderness in 1976 and the California Wilderness Act of 1984 which added 1.8 million acres into the National Wilderness Preservation System He helped protect lakes and block dam projects and proposed highways and also helped prevent the Walt Disney Co from developing a proposed ski resort at Mineral King in the 1960s and ’70s It was stopped after sustained opposition by the Sierra Club and other preservationists and the valley subsequently became part of Sequoia National Park “A lot of times what it takes is someone like George who sticks to his guns and doesn’t back down from a fight that he knows is the right thing to do,” said Gary Lasky current chairman of the Sierra Club’s Tehipite Chapter If there was one life lesson Manuel Agredano wanted his children and grandchildren to learn He was a forklift driver in the South Bay whose shifts began at 5 a.m But Agredano -- a man of routine who was never late -- would pull up at 3:30 a.m drinking coffee and listening to the radio until the workday began “He always said a man had to work and be responsible He used to say he “fell in love with her Coca-Cola body” with all the right curves making sure anyone he dined with started eating first Agredano lived in Lawndale with his youngest daughter and he walked a mile every day until he became ill last month Agredano and his daughter Lisa were always close he would buy her new baby dolls on Fridays He eventually bought her a big one so she could hold its hand as she slept The father and daughter tested positive for COVID-19 last month “With my grandpa passing five days days after Alonso said that when family members spoke to him on the phone just before he was taken to the hospital with a shortness of breath his last words were: “We’ll leave it up to God.” Agredano’s family couldn’t visit him in the hospital the family has not held a memorial service for him or Lisa “My grandpa was the best grandpa in the world,” Alonso said He would always give you the last dollar if he had the last dollar Whether he was competing in a giant-slalom ski race as a 70-year old backpacking through the High Sierras or driving from Los Angeles to Cabo San Lucas in a Volkswagen Microbus “He would drive across deserts with maybe enough gas to get through … or not,” David Indreland said of his father who was 94 when he died of complications of COVID-19 on April 22 Jack Indreland was born in Los Angeles on July 14 After graduating from Alhambra High School He was deployed to Europe as part of an artillery battalion in October of 1944 one of the last major battles of World War II “Everyone was really anxious to fight in the war,” David Indreland said of his father’s desire to enlist before his 18th birthday “He was inspired by the mission and the general patriotism of the time.” Indreland returned to Southern California after the war and graduated from Occidental College with a degree in geology in 1949 He co-founded a company that worked on water and geothermal projects in the U.S He spent some 30 years as a member of the ski patrol and rescue team at Mount Baldy competing in age-group ski-race events well into his 70’s and 20 years as a substitute teacher in the L.A and he remained active up until about three years ago when he fell down a flight of stairs leading up to his Los Angeles apartment and broke his hip “He was a great spirit and he really loved the outdoors—he was at one with nature,” said his son “And he had a very tough Norwegian spirit that carried him though his adventures He would challenge himself on some hikes to the edge of risk.” David said his father was in and out of hospitals because of pneumonia for much of January February and March and spent part of that time at the Kei-Ai nursing home in Los Angeles where his family believes he may have contracted the coronavirus Indreland was sent to the Alhambra Medical Center with a temperature of 102 degrees on April 13 Vania Indreland received a call from hospital staff saying her husband’s condition was deteriorating and that he probably wouldn’t survive He tested positive for the virus on April 20 and died two days later “I was able to go into ICU with all the protective equipment and talk to him for one last time,” his wife said the best husband a woman could have because he lived to make us happy Bayron Salguero’s family worried for his safety on his solo late-night hikes in the mountains above Los Angeles When a video of a mountain lion chasing a hiker up a hill went viral late last year Salguero’s uncle cautioned him against a similar fate “I’m so at peace with nature that me and that mountain lion would be buddies,” Salguero assured his uncle whose charm and famously jovial personality allowed him to befriend just about anyone in Los Angeles to Albilio and Olga Salguero two immigrants from El Salvador and Guatemala His sister Jocelyne can’t recall ever being mad at her older brother he would just obliterate it completely,” Jocelyne said Friends and family remember a young man who spread infinite love wherever he went where his booming laugh penetrated walls and lifted spirits he flooded the house with flower bouquets at 5 a.m he called his co-workers pulling the overnight shift at his old job at LAX to invite them over for home-cooked breakfast He was ever determined to be happy and to make the people around him happy That determination saw him through a difficult chapter that began in early 2015 incurable condition called systemic capillary leak syndrome When doctors were unsure if he’d fully regain his mobility he worked to become the self-described “Miracle Man” who not only relearned to walk but transformed into an avid hiker who conquered a new trail every week Salguero wanted to follow in the career footsteps of Allen an officer with the Pasadena Police Department Salguero landed a job as a police assistant at the South Pasadena Police Department Bayron told his sister he had a sore throat and was feeling tired He tested positive after getting a COVID-19 test later that night while he was at work paramedics rushed him to Kaiser Medical Center in L.A. The virus had triggered a deadly flare-up of the leak syndrome His family doesn’t know how he contracted the virus He had been living alone in the family’s old house as a COVID precaution According to the South Pasadena Police Department Salguero had just completed dispatch training and was due to begin his first solo shift the week after he died Remembering that Salguero enjoyed sharing scenic hiking photos with inspirational quotes he would come across his family printed one of his favorites on a T-shirt: “Only one who wanders finds a new path.” working as a receptionist at a Los Angeles hospital she spotted a man coming out of the elevator wearing strange clothing It was her first day on the job and she thought he was a psychiatric patient escaping He was the brother of another young man who worked at the hospital Ruben appeared in the lobby and teased the new employee He never stopped giving Cindy a hard time about that day in 1996 died hours apart from COVID-19 in separate hospitals Cindy and Ruben Trejo were essential workers Cindy in administration and Ruben with mental health patients “Their love story was crazy,” Brianna Trejo said “It was like they couldn’t last without each other.” She was obsessed with all things Mickey Mouse and when family members saw anything Mickey-themed while out and about They loved sports and had lively rivalries especially when USC and UCLA football games were on Cindy would don a USC jersey while Ruben wore UCLA colors but her mom was born at the UCLA hospital and her father at USC's my mom would be getting ready for work and give us a card and piece of candy [with the note] ‘Thank you for being my Valentine.’ She made every little holiday special.” Brianna said she and her parents all started feeling sick the first week of January Cindy had difficulty breathing and had to be hospitalized at Little Company of Mary in Torrance “The last thing she told me was ‘Be good’ and we waved goodbye,” Brianna said Ruben drove himself to Centinela Hospital Medical Center in Inglewood on Jan he’s just going to come home,’” Brianna said Brianna was also hospitalized with COVID-19 symptoms just floors below her father at the Inglewood hospital Now Brianna says she takes comfort in knowing her parents are together Brianna said that while she knew her parents loved each other she realizes the strength of their love more now that they’re gone “Now that they’re not here and I can see their love through the eyes of my family they really did love each other.’ It’s like Cindy is survived by her brother and parents Though hardly as famous as fellow Sunset Strip nightspots the Roxy and the Whisky A Go Go at the corner of Sunset and Crescent Heights boulevards tapped into a musical movement in the late 1980s and 1990s by booking early appearances by bands including Guns N’ Roses Rage Against the Machine and the Wallflowers At the heart of that success was Len Fagan A former rock drummer turned talent buyer who spent much of his adult life living in Laurel Canyon and working on the Sunset Strip the behind-the-scenes powerbroker died May 3 in Los Angeles from complications of COVID-19 His death was announced on the Coconut Teaszer’s Facebook page every scene needs a Len Fagan,” former Atlantic Records A&R executive Tim Sommer wrote in a Facebook post after learning of his death and if every city and town had a Len Fagan — that person who has a club and is willing to give anyone a shot and then provide them a place to grow and find fans — the music scene in this country would be far As the brainchild behind the Coconut Teaszer’s biweekly live series “L.A.'s Best Kept Secrets,” Fagan presided over multi-artist showcases that became can’t-miss events for record-label talent scouts in the pre-YouTube era Times staff writer Bud Scoppa described Fagan as “so highly regarded as a judge of up-and-coming bands that he has received offers from several major labels to become an independent talent scout.” Sommer called him “the patron saint and godfather of Los Angeles rock music.” Fagan first broke into the music scene behind a drum kit After getting his professional start as a member of the “Sgt he cofounded Los Angeles hard rock band Stepson the quartet was a house band at the Whisky A Go Go and issued an album for ABC-Dunhill Records and he did them really well,” Stepson singer Jeff Hawks told The Times Just a powerhouse.” Added Hawks of the band A longtime friend of the late Arthur Lee of Love Fagan regularly backed Lee in Love’s various incarnations over the years he also toured Asia as drummer for the ‘60s psychedelic pop band the 1910 Fruitgum Company at a 200-occupancy spot in the heart of the L.A “He was happy at the Teaszer because he had full control,” Hawks said He could have an oldies week or he could find a band that he really liked and give them an opportunity.” Writing in the introduction of the book “We’ve Got the Neutron Bomb: The Untold Story of L.A Punk,” Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong captured the essence of his band’s first-ever Los Angeles gig sandwiched in between a strange lineup of bands that were trying to get signed on a major label and we played our 20-minute set on borrowed gear But before we got a chance to bask in the glory A debilitating stroke affected his ability to communicate and he spent his final years in a nursing home One of Otoniel Azañon Alvarado’s great loves was his 1992 Toyota Corolla with its slightly tattered seats and a green-colored exterior that had long lost its luster he could have bought a new truck or whatever that was his car,” said his daughter Noemi Azañon that the father of four who worked tirelessly for most of his life had a fondness for the aging but reliable sedan that shuttled him to those jobs Azañon Alvarado and 11 siblings worked on the family farm growing tomatoes He later earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering as a young father in pursuit of providing a better life for his family He ultimately settled in the Northern California city of Petaluma and found work fixing refrigerators and washing machines before finding his calling as a craftsman of decks which spruced up backyards for residents throughout Sonoma Napa and Marin counties over the 12 years that he worked at Deckmaster Fine Decks It was a skill he was passing on to two of his sons mentoring them on the job and trying to instill his attention to detail “He took his work really seriously,” Noemi said “He worked like hell through that darn heat I want you to build us a deck with gorgeous wood.’ He loved working with things created by nature.” It had long been his dream to move to Alaska and build a house “He would always say: ‘I want to go on the snow get a snowmobile’ or ‘I want to go fishing.’ I’d always just be like: ‘OK dad.’ But he enjoyed the idea of going to see what the beauty of this world was because my dad couldn't travel “And so he dedicated himself to working and just deciding on how he was going to help us do those things.” He had been coughing and was experiencing shortness of breath called for an ambulance despite his father’s pleas not to Azañon Alvarado died at Memorial Hospital after a six-week battle with COVID-19 Azañon Alvarado will be remembered for more than his dedication to the job Known to his family and friends as “Muco,” he was the dad who would ring the doorbell incessantly to make his presence known; and if you didn’t answer your phone His favorite dishes were caldo de res and tamales And anyone in the car with him while he was driving likely heard “Ayúdame” by Mi Banda El Mexicano Alexander Azañon and Raymundo Ayala; and a granddaughter Jacinto Abarca knew the way to his daughter Karina’s heart: Offer her fruit with Tajín Even after working long nights cleaning the corridors of the South Coast Plaza mall in Costa Mesa he would try to spend time with his family and bring a smile to his daughters’ faces he'd go to the grocery store and he'd surprise me with fruit,” Karina said died on June 10 of coronavirus-related complications hardworking man who loved cooking carne asada for his children on his few days off He enjoyed listening to his favorite singer “He loved when we would give him feedback about his food,” she said “He would smile and wait for us to finish and he'd just start eating whatever was left over.” Abarca was accepting and supportive of his transgender daughter Sabrina an experience she later shared with her father he became used to seeing Sabrina show up at family parties in dresses Karina recounted: “He would always tell her that she looked beautiful.” Abarca was admitted to a Santa Ana hospital on May 20 and placed on a ventilator four days later His family believes he was infected at work where they say at least two other people tested positive for COVID-19 Three of Abarca’s children and his wife also tested positive for the infection The family has raised more than $10,000 via GoFundMe to help with his burial and to support the family “He would call me his chaparrita [little one],” Odalis said "you just take so many things for granted.” Douglas Borchert was a quiet academic who loved title insurance Borchert was a fearless explorer with an infinite sense of curiosity Kilimanjaro at 65 unless they have some taste for adventure “Doug was always challenging himself with something new,” said his brother Borchert died in Martinez on March 23 from complications of COVID-19 He attended as many Sacramento Solons baseball games as his allowance permitted and he went on to receive his bachelor’s in history from UC Davis he surprised everyone in his family by enlisting in the U.S “Doug decided to join because he felt like the burden of the war was falling on the poorest,” Mark said Borchert declined an officer commission and instead served as a “Scout Dog” handler who looked for booby traps snipers and hidden caches of food or weapons He earned the Bronze Service Medal for his valor Borchert received his master’s of science in business from UC Berkeley and his law degree from Ventura Law School He went on to spend 45 years as a title attorney eventually serving as vice president of the underwriting counsel at Fidelity National Title until his retirement in 2018 He published a number of scholarly articles on real property and title claims and appeared in court cases as an expert witness But Borchert also remained a committed outdoorsman and student of history He served as a volunteer docent at the John Muir home an architectural tour guide in San Francisco and an instructor at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute where he lectured on topics like the “Comstock Lode” silver strike of 1859 and the life of Samuel Clemens (otherwise known as Mark Twain) “He had so much more to him than what his career was able to let him express,” said his cousin and he was a great storyteller with a great sense of humor.” Borchert was married twice and helped raise three kids including his stepson and two adopted daughters during which time he took sailplane lessons and learned to throw traditional Scottish shot put His brother said he was probably more committed to the experiences than to any particular urge for mastery “He seemed to enjoy setting his mind to something and he really threw himself into his endeavors.” As an elementary school teacher and mother to a young son with autism Cari Ramirez believed strongly in an individual approach to education “She was very innovative in her teaching philosophy,” longtime friend Emily Bradford-Lewis said “She hated putting kids in a box: ‘You have to learn to read this way you have to learn to do math this way’ — she hated that.” Ramirez began teaching in the Redlands Unified School District in 1997 and was a kindergarten teacher at Judson & Brown Elementary School She was known for her vivacious personality and a boisterous laugh that you could hear “from two blocks down,” her daughter Alexa said “You could put her in a room full of strangers and she’d make friends with practically everyone,” Alexa said they began visiting Mexico regularly for weekend road trips; her mother liked it so much that she eventually bought a condo in Rosarito A former cheerleader and water polo and volleyball player who grew up in Idaho Ramirez enjoyed “anything with the ocean,” Alexa said But Ramirez’s biggest passion was education and it was her dream to open a school for children with special needs in Mexico Ramirez named the school Azulado and wrote on its website: “We are committed to allowing every student a school where they are not confined to curriculum contained in a workbook but rather driven by their own curiosity and desire to understand the world around them.” had obtained nonprofit status and was set to open when the pandemic hit contracted COVID-19 after a Thanksgiving trip to Mexico Ramirez died at Redlands Community Hospital on Dec who is recovering; her husband; her daughter but really she wanted to do anything and everything,” Alexa said “She wasn’t one to wait for the next thing to come to her — she would go and seek it.” The sound of “paypee!” echoed through the streets of Eureka for decades would walk through the northern California city’s historic downtown making his rounds Everyone in Eureka knew it meant Winnie was on his way downtown paperman,” said longtime friend Leroy Richmond Zerlang Grissom was seen as “slow,” and teachers lost patience with him easily deeming him incapable of learning to read or write his twin brother Wilson and their mother headed west to Eureka They landed in a yellow house with a white picket fence who also had a speech impediment and stutter was determined to make his way in the world When a job delivering the local paper opened up Grissom loved the social aspect of the work and he enjoyed the purpose and direction a job gave him He would walk for miles around Eureka and delivered the Times Standard for 45 years “I remember first hearing his voice echoing through the alleyways of downtown Eureka delivering the paper,” said Dalene Zerlang She developed a particularly special relationship with Grissom So Grissom became a regular fixture at Zerlang gatherings By 1994 Grissom was ready for a change in routine-- the paper route had begun to get a bit tiring so the Zerlangs hired him as a docent at the museum they run But part of the new job required basic arithmetic under Dalene’s tutelage Grissom began to learn math He was also inspired to start reading and began taking lessons at Eureka Adult School “He is proof that you can keep learning well into your 80’s” said Dalene Grissom worked as a docent at the museum for over 26 years “People would come in all the time and say We remember you from the paper route!’” said Leroy Grissom and his caregivers decided it was best that he move out of the yellow house and into the nearby Alder Bay assisted living home “he had friends and loved showing us his room at Alder Bay Grissom’s work as a docent stopped but Dalene would still go pick him up and take him over to the museum to walk around and say hi to his friends While the calls of “paypee!” no longer echo through the streets of Eureka and Grissom isn’t at the door of the Maritime museum warmly welcoming guests “He was an icon and a legend in Eureka,” said Lerory “He was honorable and honest,” Dalene added Grissom died June 1 from complications related to COVID-19 He was the fourth person to die who contracted the virus at Alder Bay Carpenter had vision — something he shared for a living For more than a decade in the 1970s and ’80s Carpenter installed peepholes into the front doors of homes across San Diego County The expert salesmanship that Carpenter brought to his peephole business made a lasting impression the interim executive director of the National Lawyers Guild of Los Angeles met the then 84-year-old Carpenter at a senior citizens community group event in San Ysidro — a meet-and-greet for mayoral candidate Barbara Bry Ybarra was struck by Carpenter’s confidence and gregariousness “You could tell he was one of the key influencers in the room — he was large and in charge,” he said But something also felt naggingly familiar about Carpenter ‘I think I know this guy’ — and it was him Ybarra’s family had moved into the new San Diego home just days earlier “Just the matter-of-fact way he walked up to my door,” Ybarra said ‘I’m here to put in the peephole.’ I didn’t hesitate He said 10 bucks — this was 1981 — and five minutes later he was gone But I remember him more than the peephole.” Carpenter was born in El Centro to Willard Weed Carpenter Vivian Helen Lorensen and Mary Catherine Grant “He liked to say he was the last of his generation,” said Netanya Cranford Cranford described her great-uncle as a serial entrepreneur who also dabbled in real estate and for more than 30 years operated his Import Storage business in San Ysidro He was a member of the California National Guard for about eight years starting in the mid-’50s; he went on active duty in the Army in Fort Lewis from 1961-62 before being honorably discharged Carpenter spoke Spanish fluently and was passionate about singing and composing corrido-style ballads scribbled on unlined white paper in his distinct His world was as much in Mexico as here,” Cranford said He’d call my grandma and sing ballads for 30 minutes on the phone She’d put the phone down and just listen while she knitted.” Carpenter was especially active in San Ysidro civic and community activities He co-founded a Rotary Club there with his close friend Fritz Neumann and was a member of the San Ysidro Chamber of Commerce Cranford said — “he was a force of nature” — but Carpenter contracted COVID-19 in early October and died 15 days later he would want to tell everyone that COVID is real and to wear a mask,” Cranford said “He wouldn’t want what he experienced to happen to anybody.” Hy Cohen had so many witty stories as a teacher that those who knew him will never forget the smiles he always brought to their faces During his days as the baseball coach at Birmingham High School in the San Fernando Valley from 1965-77 he perpetually had a cigar in his mouth and a one-liner at the ready His teams won city championships in 1966 and 1969 4 at Eisenhower Memorial Hospital in Rancho Mirage of complications from COVID-19 a member of Birmingham’s 1969 championship team that played at Dodger Stadium He let us play with no undue pressure and no stress.” Hyman Cohen was the son of Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe he grew into a 6-foot-5-inch right-handed pitcher who attracted the attention of pro scouts at the Polo Grounds He signed with the New York Yankees for a $750 bonus He was drafted into the Army during the Korean War and played baseball in the military with Don Newcombe He pitched against four future Hall of Famers in either the major or minor leagues: Stan Musial He made his Major League debut for the Cubs in 1955 throwing 17 innings and allowing 15 earned runs — a less-than-stellar record that got him sent down to the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League “The Bilko Athletic Club: The Story of the 1956 Los Angeles Angels,” includes an entire chapter on Cohen “Hy had a great sense of humor,” White said 42 during his brief stint with the Cubs in 1955 I kidded him about being the only MLB pitcher with a lifetime record of 0-0 to have his number retired and it has been retired by every team in MLB.” Birmingham Athletic Director Rick Prizant remembers when Cohen’s doctor told him to give up coaching baseball because it was too much pressure so he was told to take over coaching the tennis team two of his top tennis players got into a fistfight “I’ve never had more pressure.” He coached tennis until 1991 He was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1996 He grew up in a small farming town north of Bangkok attended Los Angeles City College and raised a family while often working two jobs to make life comfortable for his wife and four children Tangtam started off delivering newspapers and pizzas His son Danny said he would sometimes wake up at 3 a.m to be with his father when he headed out on his newspaper route Danny recalled how his father would lean out the window and toss the papers perfectly onto a driveway or trudge up a staircase to drop a paper at the front door of an apartment Tangtam started driving a cab and eventually opened his own service with a fleet of four green taxis He would drive one and lease out the others Tangtam witnessed a burglary and pulled over and grabbed the suspect “Why did you do this?,” Danny said his father asked When the man said he was desperate and that his mother was in the hospital Tangtam took the man to see his mother and then handed him some cash “He helped them have a better life,” Danny said Tangtam continued driving the cab even when he got into the insurance business about eight years ago lemons and limes in a side yard for authentic Thai meals the Clippers were his team and when he could afford it he would head to Staples Center to watch them play Tangtam tested positive for COVID-19 and was admitted to Adventist Health Glendale hospital “He worked hard till he couldn’t,” Danny said Anthony Ragonesi always had a powerful sense of wanderlust During summer breaks from his job as a high school math teacher in San Jose when he wasn’t at his beloved family cabin he loved nothing more than to travel through Europe with his wife as dementia began to rob him of more and more of his memories he could still recall the places they'd been 'Here’s where you need to go and here’s what you need to see,' " said his daughter "My mom and him would sometimes go for months at a time We’ll find books in the house like 'Europe on 5 Dollars a Day,' which I think you used to be able to do back in the ’70s.” Ragonesi had a particular passion for exploring his own family history in Sicily which could be traced back to a tiny village called Presa that had been founded by his grandfather and boasts a street called Via Ragonesi Born in New York and raised there to the age of 11 he remained a loyal Yankees fan throughout his life and wore his baseball cap virtually wherever he went After he was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia Ragonesi's world became smaller and smaller As the disease progressed with ruthless aggression his family moved him into a memory care facility just as the pandemic was taking hold "I was pregnant at the time and we were unable to see him and spend time with him because of COVID,” says Melissa which had recently started to allow limited family visits They sent an email to all of us saying that one of the caregivers and one of the residents had COVID,” Melissa says we heard that like 32 out of the 42 residents had it.” who was affectionately called "GP" by his grandkids was able to see the new baby only over FaceTime that my dad will never meet Frankie," Melissa says "The most important thing is that my dad will live on through the stories we tell about him."" Ragonesi is survived by his wife of 50 years and most poor suckers are starving to death.” it was that line from “Auntie Mame.” He said it so often to his daughters that the eldest Her father accompanied her to the tattoo parlor and it was only there that she learned it was not a Stark original the day he died from complications of COVID-19 at 62 Stark attended Cal State Northridge and spent many years as a real estate agent in the Silver Strand Beach area of Ventura before giving up a successful career to pursue his passion for interior design ‘What is life if you’re not doing what you want to do?” said his younger daughter and an uncanny ability to lighten the spirit of anyone who came near him “He was a breath of fresh air,” Riley said Jeffrey Stark moved from Camarillo to Palm Springs where he was very active in the LGBTQ community but he was always a gay man who fell in love with a woman.” The couple divorced when the girls were small but remained close “My mom talked to him every day until the day he died.” the girls split their time between their father and their mother but in high school they spent the week with their mother “My dad was always very involved,” Riley said “When it was time for my proms or homecoming He loved going on Facebook Marketplace; I think he furnished my mother’s entire house.” His Facebook page is filled with photos of his two redheaded girls he also tested positive for an inherited condition that increases the risk of liver and lung disease Although his daughters later learned that the doctors had given him a dire prognosis communicating on Facetime about how he was going to beat this thing When he went back into the hospital on Sept Callie made plans to fly to Palm Springs the next day; before she got to the airport the same year Riley will graduate from college Callie said she has not quite come to terms with the fact that their father will not be there for either big day the sisters find comfort in the fact that Stark lived his life to the fullest every day that he could “Dad left it all on the table,” Riley says When Raul Alaniz learned that his teenage daughter As a single father he had always been one for strict curfews limited socializing and an emphasis on schoolwork when the two of them wound up at a tattoo parlor together “He was a really personable guy,” said Rebecca “but I think he also made sure that people knew there was a time for seriousness and a time for fun.” Alaniz died in El Centro on June 10 from complications of COVID-19 he excelled in math and maintained a 4.0 GPA at Holtville High School “He was very serious and strict for most of my childhood,” she recalled noting that her father once greeted her high school boyfriend with a baseball bat “but he was just making sure that I was taken care of.” Alaniz put his math skills to work as an accountant and bookkeeper He was particularly good with charts and graphs and he prided himself on his system for managing personal finances He volunteered at Rebecca’s school functions and was a familiar figure on the sidelines of band competitions and athletic events When Alaniz wasn’t focused on fatherhood or finances he loved going to concerts (tribute bands in particular) watching Law & Order reruns and spending time with his beloved pets some permanent—that neighbors regularly complained And though he was married and divorced several times in his life He doted on his five step-kids and 11 grandchildren and loved nothing more than to spend an afternoon with them at Disneyland or the San Diego County Fair “He wouldn’t treat anyone differently,” Rebecca said Francisca Alaniz; daughter Rebecca; his partner Ana; sister Rosa; 11 grandchildren and five step-children The improvisational verve of Cal Tjader matched Chagollan’s own free-flowing approach to life He was jovial and social — always the center of the party — said Samantha Chagollan When her father died of COVID-19 on July 29 at age 89 Samantha held his hand and played his favorite music: Tjader’s 1961 album “We started on ‘Maria.’ By ‘Somewhere,’ he was gone,” Samantha recalled in a video about her father that she contributed to "The COVID Monologues," a project by Santa Ana-based Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble there was a skinny kid — a middle brother — raised in Whittier by devoted parents who immigrated from Sinaloa Chagollan graduated from Whittier High School and joined the Air Force He was stationed in Japan during the Korean War but couldn’t bring himself to travel without his beloved vinyl records Samantha said his Japanese girlfriend likely encouraged him to bring the records to her friends’ club which invited him to turn the place into a jazz hangout for GIs on Tuesday nights where they hosted frequent and lively gatherings they bought a brand-new house in Huntington Beach He remembered tiny details about Samantha’s friends and others in his orbit “He would have deep conversations about the things they really loved,” she said and his family loved to hear his recollections: the time he ran into Louis Armstrong in the bathroom at a show the spur-of-the-moment drive to Las Vegas to catch a Louis Prima gig Chagollan worked all kinds of jobs in his life — in sales and real estate as vice president of a sportswear corporation job was as a personnel manager at a window-covering company he helped teach art and ceramics at the family’s art and gift shop where Nancee — an artist all her life — also worked as an instructor Nancee fell and had to move to a skilled nursing facility Chagollan was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and entered a memory facility It was there that his roommate caught the coronavirus “Even though he had dementia," Samantha said "he was still very much himself those last couple of years — making friends with everybody in his facility.” Chagollan was known for picking flowers from the landscaped garden and giving them to other residents a Marine veteran and Congressional Gold Medal recipient He liked to record things: He taped television programs and kept a scrapbook of news and magazine articles When family or friends would come to his home in Hayward he’d share an item or two from his collection “We called him the librarian,” his daughter Kay said “He’d have recordings about people you’d never even heard of.” he would let people check out shows or articles based on their interests where he worked as an assembler for nearly 30 years shuttered its Fremont assembly line in 1982 they offered him a job at their Kansas City plant With Alexander’s willingness to leave their Bay Area life and relocate to Missouri his family teasingly began to call him “K.C.” Mostly when his health began to decline amid a history of congestive heart failure he moved into an acute nursing facility in Hayward Kay and her sisters would typically visit him three or four times a week they couldn’t visit him any longer and suddenly were unable to reach him by phone “I have no idea what his health was like for those few weeks.” Rose Hospital in Hayward when he had difficulty breathing when one of his daughters called to check in on him she was told by the hospital staff that he had died earlier that day His positive COVID-19 test result came back the next day one of the first African Americans to do so like many African American soldiers at that time did not get the recognition or veteran benefits that his white counterparts received once World War II ended he would go into restaurants–in his Marines uniform–and was still refused service Along with 6 million other African Americans seeking to escape the racial oppression in the South Alexander decided to move west to California he began working at the Naval Air Station in Alameda He remained an East Bay resident for the rest of his life Alexander did finally receive recognition for his service when he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for helping end segregation in the U.S military by joining the Marines’ first African American unit “I’m glad he was able to get that before he died,” Kay said He told his family he would make it to 100 The family held a small funeral service for relatives in Hayward They paid their respects in the church–6 feet from the casket–and watched from afar as it was lowered into the grave When one of Marie Martin's loved ones was in need of good luck she would give them a sculpture of a rooster a nod to the Portuguese folk tale of the Rooster of Barcelos she gave me a rooster figurine to put on my desk," her granddaughter Emily said "She was an incredibly kind and open person But she wasn't your stereotypical sweet little old lady Martin was born on a dairy ranch in Tranquility After graduating from Merced Business College she found work as an office manager and later owned two businesses Although she was a working mother at a time when that was uncommon Marie Cardoza Martin always found time to put her four children first I was in a play and I needed several costumes made so she sewed all my costumes," her daughter Lynette said her sewing machine broke so she actually finished sewing all my costumes by hand Not once did I ever hear her complain that she had work the next day or she was making sacrifices That was just what she did out of love for her family." Martin was most serious about two things: her Catholic faith and her Portuguese heritage she taught us a song in Portuguese that her aunt had taught her," Lynette said but she'd make us sing it at all the family functions And all my aunts and uncles and everyone would be laughing and we didn't know why Apparently what we were singing was not necessarily appropriate She had this wisdom where she was willing to talk through all kinds of things." insisting on living alone in a Roseville apartment well into her 90s She kept her mind sharp by reading mystery novels doing crossword puzzles and keeping up with current affairs "She was really aware of what was going on politically," Michele said She really wasn't a TV watcher; she would read newspapers and go out for walks every day She really liked good challenging conversation and she loved a good laugh." Lynette said her mother was well versed on a range of topics "She had a great gift of gab where she could talk to anyone about any subject She set the bar high for us and really taught us how to stand on our own two feet and that we didn't need to rely on others." who was living in a care facility at the end of her life is believed to have contracted COVID-19 but was never tested In addition to daughters Michele and Lynette and granddaughter Emily Martin is survived by her son Edward Martin seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren Karen Hemm went to the fair with some friends A ride operator wouldn’t one friend with cerebral palsy and who used a wheelchair on the Ferris wheel grinning gleefully at the fairground below who was a lifelong advocate for people with disabilities a foster parent to several children with disabilities and a beloved mother Hemm died on May 17 from complications of COVID-19 Hemm’s life was one of great challenges and even greater optimism she spent most of her teen years in Dayton where she became a volunteer at the Stillwater Center a home for physically and mentally challenged adults and children It was there that she developed her passion for helping people with disabilities “She just had a way about her of wanting to include people,” said her sister “She wanted everyone to be happy and have fun.” Hemm moved around the country for several years and Karen came up and gave me a big hug,” Canning recalled “That hug made such a difference in my life.” where she worked with students with disabilities at UC Berkeley and later settled in Eureka She was a fixture in the disability rights movement serving as an aide to movement leaders Hale Zukas and Judy Heumann She fought for legislation and policies that remain in place today including wheelchair ramps and accessible bathrooms “She was a role model for all of us to follow,” her sister said “She said she chose me because she saw a gleam in my eye,” said Patrick “That made her decide that all the other opinions about me didn’t matter.” Hemm also struggled with health issues of her own including spinal stenosis and pulmonary fibrosis for which she relied on a wheelchair later in life and was a light-hearted and cheerful presence at Seaview Rehabilitation in Eureka and at Ramona Rehabilitation in Hemet where she lived and served on resident councils coloring and bingo—and she never stopped encouraging others to join in “She was always so happy and smiley,” her sister said brother Jim Kuhn and grandchildren Joshua and Katie Martha Bernabe was about 16 when her father Antonio told his family one day in 2004 that they were going to Sacramento along with dozens of other immigration activists and arrived at the state Capitol by morning Everyone was there to rally in support of Assembly Bill 60 a measure that would allow immigrants without legal status to get driver’s licenses in the state Assembly members had tried and failed for more than 20 years to pass the bill Bernabe explained to an enthusiastic crowd then got back on the bus later that evening to return home Jerry Brown finally signed the bill in 2013 a legend in Southern California immigrant rights circles for his unwavering advocacy of immigration reform “He would tell us there were people in the world willing to fight,” his daughter said “We were those people and we had to support him and everyone else.” “He gave his whole life to helping others who had been through what he had been through,” said California state Sen acted on the mission,” said Angelica Salas executive director for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles where Bernabe worked as director of organizing “There was always this incredible sense of respect It means a lot when someone treats you as a human being who invites you to participate and have a voice and speak your mind.” Bernabe arrived in Southern California from Guanajuato just as California was about to embark on years of legislation ballot propositions and municipal ordinances designed to crack down on illegal immigration he took on difficult jobs with little pay as a painter and handyman and went to night school to learn English These long work days ended with blistered hands and torn clothes — and a salary of $40 a day Sometimes employers promised they’d swing by his place to pay his wages Bernabe decided he would no longer be a victim Teaching himself labor and immigration law Bernabe provided counsel to newly arrived migrants where he helped immigrants collect millions in unpaid wages and launch projects such as a national hotline for immigrant workers facing abuse He enjoyed walking the Valley’s long boulevards each day to hand out fliers informing laborers of their rights He helped paint banners and make silkscreen T-shirts for May Day marches encouraging immigrant families to make emergency plans for rent helping or participating in nearly all the major achievements for the immigrants rights movements over the past two decades — among them the 2006 amnesty marches and the 2017 California Values Act which prevents state and local law enforcement agencies from using resources to assist federal immigration enforcement He felt at peace taking nature walks with his wife When one of his daughters announced she was becoming a vegan he was proud that she had discovered her own social justice movement he regularly took his grandson to watch Dodger and UCLA football games — and a few rallies was to have the chance to be with poor people just like him “I believe that made the difference,” he said in a video Bernabe is survived by his wife and four children had a life filled with funny stories to tell 17 in San Juan Capistrano of COVID-19 at age 88 eight of his nine children got a chance to reminisce during a final video call as Evers’ caregiver held up a tablet for the entire 45-minute conversation lifted up his arm and scratched his head,” son Paul said Herbert grew up in Oceanside before moving to Orange with his first wife Soon he was feeding workers for a giant new project known as Disneyland going up in Orange County There’s an old family film of Walt Disney showing around Evers’ oldest child he also became friends with some of the baseball players of the new professional team in town Evers would go on to operate an auto upholstery business and dabbled in real estate He loved music and loved to dance and just be goofy He once participated in a lip-sync contest with two of his sons He also carried around an old film roll canister filled with wax so he could put it on the floor to guarantee he would always have the smoothest moves when he danced Kathryn Van Loon and Margaret Cruikshank; sons Blaise 37 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren Bush was known by a handful of nicknames and designations a small town about 170 miles south of the Oregon border His kinky red hair earned him the moniker “Corky” among close family a nickname his sister-in-law Jean Bush of Mill Valley shared with a reporter Colleagues eventually christened the Jesuit priest “Bernie.” Perhaps the title most closely associated with Bush during his life was that of assistant chaplain one he earned while visiting inmates for four years at Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary in the San Francisco Bay a who’s who of American criminals and celebrity gangsters — locked up for murder armed robberies and other violent crimes — called Bush by another name: friend “Corky carried this sense of curiosity and courage wherever he went and with whatever he did,” said Jean an early Peace Corps leader who died 22 years ago “He’s also always been strong in his faith and empathy.” 7 at a San Jose hospital shortly after being diagnosed with COVID-19 He had been retired for 10 years and living at the Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos before his death The center was the site of a COVID outbreak that took the lives of several retired priests In an interview with KCBX radio in San Luis Obispo in 2016 Bush said he was the last living clergy member with ties to Alcatraz Bush offered spiritual services there from 1958 to 1962 as he accompanied Fr he earned the trust and respect of several infamous gangsters One friendship sister-in-law Jean remembers well is the one Bush struck up with Chicago bank robber Lawrence A “He became extremely close to Larry," Jean said "and would talk about how much Larry changed and reformed Trumblay was paroled in 1965 from the federal penitentiary at Leavenworth just in time for Bush’s formal ordination into the priesthood a ceremonial tunic-like vestment worn during services Bush returned to Alcatraz frequently for reunions and said Mass with former convicts Bush was a spiritual director at Santa Clara University’s Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley and a counselor at Catholic treatment centers in Boston and Montara known for their work with priests who had committed sexual abuse Bush led retreats at the Jesuit Retreat Center of Los Altos learning how to fly in his mid-50s while stationed near Half Moon Bay “He was a devout Jesuit and committed to his faith but also had a life beyond the priesthood,” Jean said he is survived by sister-in-law Joan Bush of Rancho Cucamonga Miguel Perkins thoroughly enjoyed his hobbies he missed his daughter’s third birthday to play in a tournament at his local Oceanside bowling alley Minerva — a memory his family now laughs about He returned that night with a hefty metal ring embossed with bowling pins and the sport’s golden number The ring was a gift for his daughter Michelle — just as planned “I wonder what he would’ve said if he didn’t win,” said Michelle But that night was a rare occasion away from his kids almost always tagged along as their dad pursued his many hobbies He taught them how to bowl and how to fish where his grandmother raised him and an older brother for much of their childhood before they moved to the United States to be with their mother His family remembers Perkins’ incredible patience and calm disposition Perkins frequented her family’s flower shop in Oceanside where she worked He asked her out several times and was dismissed several times and a friendship soon turned to a relationship They married in1984 and stayed in Oceanside Perkins was also known for his unwavering compassion which meant he treated people fairly and was a good listener She said she considered him a father figure “You talked to him and he would listen to you,” McCartney said a self-taught handyman who amassed a library-sized collection of DIY books would quote his clients a price of next to nothing if he sensed they might have trouble paying for his work light-hearted man who couldn’t help but be silly around his family He wore a hearing aid from a young age after an ear infection left him partially deaf he’d start an entire conversation with his daughters or wife I've got to go put my hearing aid on.” Other times he’d turn off his hearing aid if Minerva started “bickering” and then flash his classic smirk at his daughters Perkins had a room in the house that was filled with books He’d stay up into the wee hours to read the plethora of old books he’d often bring home from his custodian job at Oceanside Unified School District he intently read the different versions of the Bible singling out unfamiliar words and then looking them up in his vast collection of dictionaries and encyclopedias Perkins died at age 71 on May 17 at Palomar Hospital in Escondido after a months-long battle with COVID-19 He became eligible for the vaccine in January but the prospect of dealing with intense side effects as a diabetic made him hesitant Perkins bugged his two daughters about giving him grandkids doctors brought Perkins out of sedation so Michelle could deliver some news “Is it a boy or girl?” before he drifted back to sleep Perkins is survived by his wife and daughters listening to the blues and being with her family — and of those After retiring from her job as a postal worker she worked as a hostess at Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church in the Bayview neighborhood of San Francisco for over 20 years She especially looked forward to Mother’s Day when she would gather at Cornerstone with family members from across the Bay Area “The ironic part about it is me and my sister and brother are Catholic,” like their dad “But one of the things we would do is go to the Baptist Church on Mother’s Day That’s the only reason why the pastor and his wife knew who we were.” the daughter of civil rights historian Inez C who now has a library named after her in San Jose was born in Dallas but spent her childhood in San Jose Henry died of COVID-19 at Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Medical Center and she and her children would attend the Monterey International Blues Festival every year A guitar player for the Fats Gaines Orchestra he caught Tessie's eye while playing at a club in San Jose “I believe my mother was a groupie,” Berry said with a laugh and both worked for the United States Postal Service “[My mom] has five siblings and four had passed away before her She nursed every single one of them until their last breath.” Her children missed that comfort at the small funeral they held for her in Colma “She was the glue that held the family together,” Berry said Natalie Berry and Robert Henry; nine grandchildren; and five great grandchildren In the final ceremony for Search to Involve Pilipino Americans’ Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month webinar series in May community leader John Eric Swing smiles proudly in his polo shirt emblazoned with the nonprofit’s logo “SIPA’s doors are always open,” he said of the organization “We’re here to be a bridge and be impactful in many ways and how we make that impactful is in everyone’s collaboration with each other.” Swing was a leader in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipinotown and had worked with multiple community organizations serving the Filipino American community He had been the executive director of SIPA which is dedicated to Filipino American empowerment for only two months when he died June 28 of complications from COVID-19 He was excited to work on the redevelopment of SIPA’s headquarters which looked to include a small businesses center He had been a staff member at SIPA since 2015 and formed close relationships with coworkers who serves as SIPA’s mental health counselor remembered him for his constant presence and selflessness When they were still in the office before the pandemic forced them to work from home Swing would always be the first to offer to close up for the night Swing assured him he would answer the call Swing would pretend to hold a phone to his ear and say “I never got to give him a call that late,” Gana said SIPA was forced to move operations online because of the pandemic but he still found ways to help community members The organization got a boost when California State Sen Ling Ling Chang (R-Diamond Bar) obtained funding for delivering food to seniors and underserved families in Historic Filipinotown The state Senate later honored SIPA and Swing’s leadership with a certificate of recognition as “Unsung Heroes of Southern California.” The organization also hosted two webinar series “Wellness Wednesdays” and “Filipino Fridays,” during the month of May SIPA continued community programming through Zoom meetings during the pandemic Swing told board meeting that he was planning a session on anti-racism in the Filipino community to assist Black people Swing told the president of the nonprofit’s board of directors that he had tested positive for COVID-19 and would be taking a few weeks off to focus on recovery his condition worsened and he was admitted to Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center Swing spent his college years learning more about his Filipino American identity As an ethnic studies student at UC Riverside Swing co-founded the Asian American fraternity Psi Chi Omega and volunteered in community service organizations “We teased him a bit because he had some favorite songs that were in Tagalog that are older songs our parents would listen to,” said Jessica del Mundo He received the National Defense Service Medal Good Conduct Medal and earned a Rifle Expert Marksman badge He worked as a senior probation corrections officer for the Riverside County Probation Department before pursuing community service and social work full time As part of the leadership team that chose him for the role Del Mundo said she was struck by his commitment to serving all communities and people in need “It wasn't so much about helping people with Filipino cultural programming no matter what ethnicity or background,” Del Mundo said “John’s story is so much more about a life of service and accepting all people “He always went above and beyond in providing resources and making an investment in the community.” Maria Elena Rodriguez-Swing; children Zachary Chloe and Mackenzie; stepchildren Sasha and Nicco; sister Karen Bromley; and brother PJ Swing Leland “Hobo” Goodsell might have just been another homeless man on the streets of Goleta but he had gained something of a reputation over the 14 years he’d lived there Or it could have been the 946 citations he received for living on the streets he was easily able to charm passersby into becoming friends repairing bicycles and wheelchairs for other homeless people “He created and repaired anything with chewing gum and string,” said his friend Deborah Barnes an outreach worker who ran an advocacy group for the homeless “Always helpful and always paid a person back Although his outreach friends provided for him on occasion and has anyone told you ‘I love you’ today?” he would ask Barnes Hobo was dropped off at an orphanage with his two sisters in Missoula He was only 11 when he jumped a train and headed West The other train hoppers all called him the “littlest hobo.” The name stuck and he would correct anyone who called him by his birth name I’m a hobo and I’m proud of it,” he would say indignantly his dog Dreamer was the only family Hobo had left and it was a miracle the two had lived so long They had endured attacks by unwelcoming neighbors and street gangs and survived a serious accident with a gas tanker truck split Hobo’s head and broke his leg Alcohol brought out a different side and often interfered in his relationships “He would go through phases where you’re the best person ever in his life and then he goes to the next one,” said his friend Gabriela Ferreira Ferreira’s colleague helped Hobo win a lawsuit but he never stayed sober long enough to go to court Barnes attempted to get him into housing for years especially with places that wouldn’t allow dogs “It was the most awful situation,” Ferreira said Hobo eventually bought an old 1987 Ford truck to sleep in during the rainy season and to keep safe from late-night attackers Goleta sheriff’s deputies overlooked city rules on moving vehicles every 36 hours so he could keep it parked and ignored the fact he didn’t have a license The last time Barnes or Ferreira saw Hobo was in March He refused to go to a hospital for fear of leaving Dreamer behind He was already delirious by the time he went into the hospital the doctors didn’t understand what he was trying to communicate and the first COVID-19 death in south Santa Barbara County while Dreamer still lives in Goleta with Tino his ashes will be reunited with his master in Hobo’s hometown John Fanucchi was the picture of good health "He was as strong as an ox," said his wife of 58 years and in the last four months before he died that man would go out there and split and stack 30 cords of wood." He was all three of our sons' Little League coach They'd been planning to vacation with another couple in Hawaii but canceled the trip after the state issued shelter-in-place orders in late March The group settled instead on driving to Illinois and Iowa to visit family "We didn't fly because we felt it was too scary and we'd all end up with COVID," Sheila said "So we felt the best thing to do was to stay in our motor home and the only time we stopped was for gas on the way home." Fanucchi had a temperature of 101.6 degrees He went to the hospital and tested positive for the coronavirus Sheila said she is still "reeling" after losing her husband After earning a business degree from Cal State Sacramento he became the manager of Sonoma's Pacific Gas & Electric He retired early to handle sales for Sheila's diabetic education and supply company Fanucchi was the co-creator of the local bocce league and served as its president for seven years the Sonoma Valley Golf Club and the Sonoma Pedro Men's Group It had been five years since the Kim family had all lived under the same roof in their Koreatown apartment came home in mid-April after checking out of Olympia Convalescent Hospital about the rapid spread of the virus in assisted living facilities closed up his acupuncture practice and started delivering sermons from home for his weekend job as a pastor at L.A took care of the household while her children 22-year-old Hannah Haein and 17-year-old Joseph Despite the nagging fear sweeping the state After contact with sick patients through the nursing home and Timothy’s acupuncture practice both Soon Sun and Timothy tested positive for COVID-19 in April Eun-Ju also came down with serious symptoms The rest of the family tested positive later that month Timothy and Eun-Ju were all admitted to Good Samaritan Hospital by the end of the month leaving Hannah and Joseph alone in the apartment Hannah felt that the women in her mom’s family were particularly strong “We have a lot of grit and passion,” Hannah said But when Soon Sun died just one week later at 85 Hannah took to Instagram to give her friends a warning: “This virus is not a joke.” Hannah and Joseph grew up with their grandmother who immigrated from Seoul to live with the family in the small town of Randle Soon Sun would always make “old school” Korean dishes like galbijjim and yakgwa for the family Soon Sun and the kids would bring a ladder from their house to a local park to pick nuts from a huge gingko tree to add to their meals “He was my favorite person,” Hannah said of her father He had been born just as the Korean War was ending Hannah and Joseph said their father's sense of humor was so powerful that it could turn a sour conversation around and the next second we’d be laughing,” Hannah recalled While the family sometimes struggled financially their father always found work so that Eun-Ju could focus on taking care of the children and her mother and once as a businessman for a solar panel company a nonprofit that provides humanitarian aid for children The family tried to keep news of their father's death from their mother the couple had been married more than 20 years and I promised my dad I would take care of my mom,” Hannah said but her lungs were damaged so severely she’ll need a double-lung transplant She is currently receiving treatment at USC Keck Hospital while Hannah and Joseph are taking care of family finances and the home he took a mini-break to Las Vegas with his wife and one of his daughters in early November he was admitted to a hospital in Moreno Valley who suffered from diabetes and high blood pressure shoes and Bible are constant reminders of the loss I feel like it’s fresh every day,” she said but he found a path in life through his faith becoming an elder and an assistant pastor at the Greater Page Temple Church of God in Christ in the Adams-Normandie neighborhood He later received an honorary bachelor's degree in theology “I remember him best for just being a happy guy blankets and personal care items for homeless men women and children in Riverside and San Bernardino counties He had once been homeless himself and had empathy for those without a home Shonda recalled losing the family home in the late 1990s and spending nearly a year living in a motel room “He understood what it was to be homeless,” said Shonda “That's why he was so passionate about helping them out.” Spirituality was the through line of Joseph Fice’s life Fice and his brothers grew up attending parochial schools near their home in Maywood Fice enrolled at Loyola University — now Loyola Marymount — where he studied mathematics he told his family about another calling: He was going to seminary to become a Jesuit priest He went on to teach at a Catholic high school in Phoenix but eventually moved back to California including sessions focused on grief for people who had recently lost loved ones — an impressive feat for someone who had long found it very difficult to speak in front of crowds Fice lived at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos where he and several other priests recently contracted coronavirus He died of complications of COVID-19 on Dec Their last communication was an email exchange in which Joseph expressed concern about wildfires in Orange County He knew that Joseph had recently tested positive He thinks back to when he was 14 and playing with a cousin and Joseph “Here comes Giuseppe Brown Dog,” the cousin said William invited him to the steel mill where he worked It was then — during a required physical — that Joseph learned he had a mitral valve prolapse required him to have surgery replacing the faulty valve with one from a pig the brothers had a life-changing conversation in which William told Joseph that although he’d attended Mass faithfully for years he had never really developed a habit of praying you’ve got to learn,” Joseph responded earnestly “At the end of your life Do you want to go as a stranger or as a friend?” William has sat down for 20 minutes or so every night after dinner to read Scripture and talk to God when you asked me about my brother,” William said “you’re asking me about a person who I believe to be a real saint.” from strangers telling him that his brother was the best spiritual director they’d ever had One woman even credited him with saving her life “This is Giuseppe Brown Dog,” William said A lifetime of helping others continued into its final days even as Karen Johnson battled the Alzheimer’s disease and dementia that had robbed her of so much else The mother of four spent about three years in the Highland Springs Care Center in Beaumont before succumbing to complications from COVID-19 on April 19 at age 77 she often would leave her room only to be found tucking other residents into bed or helping them into their wheelchairs she got a towel and a washcloth and was washing the feet of people who were lying in bed,” said Dena Garcia Johnson had worked for roughly 15 years as a teachers aide in the Fresno Unified School District she frequently would talk about her need to help children and refer to memories of her time spent with students “I think that shows just what a caring person she was,” Garcia said Johnson also had a second job -- at Sunrise Assisted Living There she worked with memory care residents helping people suffering from the same sorts of conditions she would later battle A typical day would have her at school from 7 a.m followed by a shift at Sunrise from 3 to 11 p.m Johnson grew up on a farm in Bakersfield as the fourth of seven children Johnson raised her four children as a single mom in Romoland “The best memories are probably from my adult years,” Garcia said It was just a matter of becoming an adult and understanding things more.” During Johnson’s three years at Highland Springs Care Center Garcia’s visits always included bringing a “goodie” for her mother “I could microwave a bag of popcorn and put it in a Ziploc bag and take it to her She just thought that was the best thing.” the family was unable to hold a traditional celebration of life put together a remembrance card that featured a Bible verse and pictures Johnson final wish was to have her ashes spread in the desert near Twentynine Palms Julius Schachter was a generous cheapskate the kind of father who would carry the family in his beat up Mercury Lynx to feast at one of the fanciest restaurants in San Francisco where a valet would park it next to a new Jaguar or freshly polished Mercedes he was a scientific innovator known as "Julie," whose pioneering approach to treating the chlamydia-related disease trachoma a leading cause of blindness around the globe may lead to its eradication in the next decade 20 from COVID-19 in a hospital in San Francisco He had contracted the disease sometime around Thanksgiving when he traveled from Germany to California to be with his family for the holidays He was credited with contributing to a greater understanding of how chlamydia affects the body and can impact newborns’ health and last year was nominated for a Lasker Award which recognizes advances in understanding His novel approach to treating trachoma was key to understanding its resiliency and connection to chlamydia He also spearheaded studies on how to better test for the underlying infection and then treat it “His outspoken leadership based upon sound data has influenced international policies and has saved hundreds of millions of women from the outcomes of chronic chlamydia infections such as pelvic inflammatory disease and prevention of infection of newborns,” read a letter supporting his Lasker Award nomination from Dr "My father was so incredibly passionate about his work and helping others," Sara Schachter said Schachter was the first in his family to attend college and received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Columbia University and his doctorate in bacteriology from Berkeley in 1965 Poynter died in 1990 and Schachter remarried in 2018 and began splitting his time between California and Germany to be with his second wife Throughout his life Schachter’s boundless energy is what allowed him to bury himself in work then emerge to host large gatherings at home and abroad family meals in Germany and weeklong safari trips to South Africa Barber knew the sting of homophobia all too well So Barber did something about it at his workplace co-founding Pacific Gas and Electric Co.'s LGBTQ employee resource group in 1986 advocated for its member employees and started a dialogue with management with an eye toward equality "As a person who had experienced discrimination and verbal abuse because of his sexual orientation Dan found common cause with other LGBTQ people at work," said Keith Rasmussen for goals that he felt were important to the organization." this was just one accomplishment in his decades-long efforts advocating for LGBTQ causes Barber and Rasmussen met at a bar on Castro Street in San Francisco on Feb 1981 — a date they continued to celebrate as an anniversary even after marrying in 2008 during a brief window when it was legal for gay couples to do so in California before the passage of Proposition 8 well wishers contributed to the ill-fated campaign to defeat the proposition Supreme Court ruling rendered the proposition unconstitutional Barber and Rasmussen were a couple for nearly 40 years reveling in travel to far-flung locales including Peru adding that their adventures helped them forge friendships with people "from around the globe." In remarks delivered at Wiefels Palm Springs Mortuary during a private viewing for Barber Rasmussen said his late husband was at ease entertaining friends doing his best to please the most discerning guest." "Dan had the ability to walk into a room and light it up with his presence," Rusmussen said During Barber's nearly three-decade career at PG&E he focused on energy efficiency and database management he worked on the promotion of compact fluorescent and LED bulbs he also was among those who started the group's eQuality Scholarship Collaborative in 1989 which now is a joint effort of multiple San Francisco Bay Area organizations offers scholarships to students who work in service of their LGBTQ communities It has awarded more than $1.6 million in scholarships "He saw the program grow from awarding a few $1,000 scholarships .. to a program that includes many large companies in a variety of industries," Rasmussen said Barber is survived by sisters Joey Barber of Cathedral City and Rebecca Talley of Desert Hot Springs John Breier lived for three decades with multiple sclerosis underwent four brain surgeries and often referred to himself as the “Bionic Man” because of the implant he received to treat symptoms of the disease Breier died of complications from COVID-19 at the age of 64 on April 6 He lived at a care home run by the Motion Picture and Film Fund in Woodland Hills Breier never worked in the entertainment industry but he was eligible to live at the home because Mona but was born in Montreal to Jewish parents who were Holocaust survivors For much of his career he worked as a salesman at R.J but after his MS diagnosis in the early 1990s he retired from that job and later worked at a Home Depot He and Mona got married in 1999 after meeting on a dating website It was the second marriage for both and each already had two children Mona recalled that Breier’s personal ad said he was 6’4” and only interested in a woman who was 5’4” or above ‘If you’re willing to give half an inch either way Breier agreed to meet and the two had their first date at a Starbucks They celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary March 21 Mona said she admired the way her husband adjusted to the loss of mobility and tremors caused by M.S. “His mind was so clear — it was frustrating for him,” Mona said of her husband’s decreasing physical ability he still loved to watch his favorite teams play on TV – the Lakers and Rams Mona worked at Universal Studios and often invited her husband to movie screenings Crew members at Universal took a liking to him nicknaming him “Big John” because of his height Breier wasn’t always the best at expressing his emotions to those he loved Mona would bring movies during her visits so the two could watch them together and she often treated him to Chinese takeout Breier was a big fan of “American Idol” too He and Mona would call each other to talk about who did well in each episode “I still want to call him the way I used to,” Mona says Last summer Gerald Shiroma boarded a plane at LAX Such a trip would have been impossible five years earlier when Shiroma was homeless addicted to meth and deeply in debt to his family Born in Los Angeles to Japanese American parents and saved enough money to repay various family members and bought a ticket to Hawaii The trip was a homecoming for Shiroma and a chance to celebrate his aunt Mildred’s 100th birthday “He always said he wanted to see Aunt Millie one more time before she passes,” said his cousin Eric Sunada less than a year after his trip to his ancestral home Shiroma died from complications of COVID-19 Shiroma spent most of his adult years living with his parents in West Covina Shiroma lost the house and his connection to his extended family introduced Shiroma to the Union Rescue Mission on LA’s Skid Row “I remember distinctly when Shiroma first came to the mission,” said Michael McIntire about how his parents had left him their home and the guilt he felt at squandering everything they had left him.” Shiroma entered the addiction recovery program and worked with McIntire and the shelter’s director to overcome his addiction and sense of guilt “The photo of him in cap and gown on the day he graduated from the recovery program is right outside my door,” said Bales “He was able to put the past behind him and move forward with a healthy self-esteem He learned to not let his past beat him down.” One of Shiroma’s most powerful moments of recovery occurred during the 12-step program ‘I don’t know how to make amends to my parents who have died,’” said McIntire “I suggested he write an apology letter to his parents.” That letter was a turning point in Shiroma’s life After Shiroma completed the recovery program shuttling residents around Los Angeles and collecting food donations He lived at Union Rescue Mission until his death and managed to save more than $30,000 which will be donated to the mission in his memory Sunada credits Union Rescue Mission entirely in Shiroma’s recovery he matured and was at peace with himself.” Shiroma picked up souvenirs and macadamia nuts as a gift for McIntire along with a renewed sense of pride and confidence “He was a new man when he came back from that trip,” said McIntire “He was happier and more connected than ever before.” garlic and tomato wafted through his home as he prepared pasta sauce with Italian sausage He’d send guests home with food featuring elk meat he brought back from his hunting trips And when he hosted Thanksgiving or Christmas he made everything himself and didn’t want anyone to contribute “He was cooking something all the time,” his daughter Stephanie Ulman said “It was comforting to walk into the house and have that The San Francisco native was born in the Cow Hollow neighborhood the son of gas station owner Edward Butori and caterer Mary He rose up the ranks at the San Francisco Municipal Railway first as a truck driver and eventually a mobile equipment assistant supervisor After 32 years at the city’s public transit system cheering on his grandchildren at swim meets and basketball games “So the fact that this took him down the way it did His family doesn’t know how he got the coronavirus The Concord resident took safety seriously When his daughter Angela Fix visited him for Father’s Day He packed Fix’s bag into her car before she left for San Diego he was brought to the ICU and later intubated you lose a security that you can never get back,” Ulman said his former co-workers drove Muni trucks in a parade-like formation as a tribute Manuel Ramirez had two strong passions: cooking and medicine The day before his daughter Bonnie Denise’s high school swim meets he’d always make sure that she would get her carbs He would prepare his specialty: lasagna or spaghetti He’d let the sauce simmer for hours — he called it “Sophia Loren” sauce “He told his children that Sophia came to see him at his office and told him how to prepare the sauce,” his wife Bonnie said in an email died of COVID-19 complications on April 25 at Keck Hospital of USC in Los Angeles He contracted the virus at Montrose Healthcare Center a skilled nursing facility in Montrose where he was recovering from gallbladder surgery he had been living at the Mountview assisted living community As a family medicine doctor for nearly 40 years in Eagle Rock Ramirez was meticulous and would take his time recording his patients’ medical history He inherited his love for medicine from his father Manuel “There were several times where he was able to treat a patient and help them recover when other doctors weren’t able to,” Bonnie said “He was really big on making sure his patients got their treatment a patient who couldn’t afford treatment offered him a crate of oranges in lieu of payment it was more important that they were healed,” his daughter said Ramirez expressed his love through food and he enjoyed watching his family eat his delicious meals He could make a gourmet meal out of a few ingredients and his dishes ranged from teriyaki steak to carnitas to pozole Ramirez passed down his Mexican family recipes and taught Bonnie Denise how to make a rice dish dubbed “Grandma Tati’s rice,” after Ramirez’s mother The last time Bonnie Denise saw her dad in person Ramirez asked her to cook Grandma Tati’s rice for him She promised that once he left the skilled nursing facility “I didn't get to make it for him,” she said in tears “But I made a huge birthday dinner in his memory [on May 22] He also leaves eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren singer and actor Chris Trousdale radiated charisma on and off the stage he appeared on Broadway in “Les Miserables” and “The Sound of Music.” His longtime friend Greg Raposo — who performed alongside Trousdale in the children's theater group Broadway Kids and later as one fifth of the popular teen boy band Dream Street — remembers the funny gestures and faces Trousdale would make during shows they made plans to reconnect sometime in person "figuring that there'd be another million chances,” Raposo said Trousdale died of complications from COVID-19 in a Burbank hospital on June 2 "He was one of those people that no matter how long you hadn't seen him for it felt exactly the same every time I would see him or talk to him," Raposo said "That was something special that you don't get to have with too many people." Dream Street reunited for a musical tribute to their fallen bandmate who was the only trained dancer in the collective and always emerged as a natural leader during choreography sessions he was already doing the moves as well as [the choreographer]," Raposo said he was like the dance teacher of the group." who also enjoyed a successful solo career and acted in TV series such as "Lucifer" and "Austin & Ally," was born Christopher Ryan Pask in Port Richey and they write music as a hobby or as a passion," Raposo said more than a son — more than all the other titles you could put on him — he was a performer and a dancer and a really talented person." Dukes seemed to be able to excel in almost everything he did he reached the rank of captain and earned the Silver Star he climbed to several top positions in the computer industry chief operating officer and co-chairman of Ingram Micro in Irvine one of the world's largest distributors of technology products and services But when he came home from a business trip in 1998 and his 1-year-old daughter Dukes resigned from the company the next day to spend more time with her “Family and people came before accomplishments,” Savannah said of her father Dukes suffered several hardships in his life died of cancer after more than 20 years of marriage Dukes met Laura Hanson Manassero while volunteering at the Make-A-Wish Foundation and married again in 1995 But Savannah said her father remained positive throughout his life an outlook she attributes to his strong faith “He was just able to use hardship to gain perspective,” she said “He came out of everything a lot more loving.” Dukes also gave much of his time to charitable organizations the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Simon Foundation for Education and Housing he recently served on the board of the Children's Hospital of Orange County although his family said they are not sure how or where he became infected because he was careful to follow health and safety protocols He fought the effects of the disease for five months at times seemingly close to a recovery only to suffer setbacks recently asked Dukes for his daughter’s hand in marriage through a window at the hospital Dukes had long promised Savannah that he would give her away on her wedding day As he fought the debilitating effects of COVID-19 Dukes worked to build up enough strength to walk her down the aisle but he succumbed to the disease Dec “They don’t make people like him anymore.” Carol Murphy loved French wine and German beer She traveled to more than 20 countries as a civil servant and Peace Corps volunteer but her penchant for being in the right place at the right time—Seoul in the 1950s East Berlin in the 1960s and Saigon in the 1970s for example—led her family to joke she was really a member of the CIA “She was everywhere,” said her niece Anne Mendoza “although she never did fess up to that!” Murphy died at a skilled nursing facility in Vallejo on May 10 at the age of 91 from complications of COVID-19 She chose to remain single and dedicated her life to her work overseas returning to California only once or twice a year to make her rounds with family Her many nieces and nephews treasured her visits which often came with trinkets and gifts from the places she had been Carol spent much of her career as an educator in the U.S Army’s Morale Welfare & Recreation program which took her to military bases across Europe She helped set up the first education center for the Army Sergeants Major Academy in Fort Bliss before eventually making her way to Belize with the Peace Corps where she ran an education center for teachers but Carol would go without in order for you to have something,” Mendoza said “Helping people” was her aunt’s favorite hobby Murphy never shied away from a protest or a political debate She called the Berlin wall a “a pathetic tottering partition” and advocated for women’s rights “even before Gloria Steinem,” her niece said Her stories ran the gamut from tea parties with Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie to meetings with Norodom Sihanouk although she hardly sat still long enough to write one “She would show up in her red Porsche,” recalled her nephew Murphy knew precisely what to do next: she traveled to England with a friend from Korea then embarked on a months-long trip to India at which point she had friends all over the world Although Murphy was reluctant to name a favorite country—she called them all “great places”—her niece said India was the one she loved most “the one with the biggest smile on her face is at the pool in front of the Taj Mahal.” Hatsuye “Hatsy” Yasukochi’s bakery in San Francisco’s Japantown stood for more than just its popular specialty The small family business also reflected the character and personality of its owners Hisao “Moses” Yasukochi presided nearly daily over the community landmark decorated the cakes and greeted her customers by name It was almost like they had stepped into her living room The wall behind the register was filled with family photos “She was very well-liked in the community,” said her daughter She did not talk a lot about her struggles Hatsy and her family were sent to internment camps for Japanese Americans during World War II Nolan didn’t learn full details from her mother until she took an Asian American studies class in college and underwent chemotherapy and immunotherapy last summer Nolan said Hatsy worked her way through that with grace and optimism “She felt like she had to overcome that in order to get to her 80th birthday,” Nolan said But in November the cancer began to grow again and treatment resumed When the coronavirus began to ravage care homes Hatsy’s family moved her out as a precaution it was apparent she had contracted COVID-19 Melinda Bendel made sure to take one last picture of her husband before he was cremated In one of Richard Charles “Dick” Bendel’s hands was an American flag and a construction pencil Dick Bendel “was very patriotic,” Melinda said having served in Vietnam as an Army surveyor and later spent four decades as a residential remodeling contractor building and remodeling three homes with his wife in San Diego and I mean ours and everybody else’s,” Melinda Bendel said In Dick’s other hand in that final picture was a Snickers bar an Almond Joy and a package of Reece’s peanut butter cups he was a chocolate addict,” Melinda said of her husband of 31 years “A day didn’t pass where he didn’t have chocolate We’d go to the store together; I’d get the food and he’d get the chocolate “He always had stashes of candy all over the place I didn’t think it was good for him … but the last seven weeks [of his life] you know who brought chocolate to him every time they visited He attended junior college in Ohio before being drafted into the Army a chemical that may have contributed to developing Parkinson’s disease later in life Bendel moved to San Diego in 1978 because he thought it offered a better opportunity to expand his business They spent three decades together in San Diego rooting for the Ohio State Buckeyes and San Diego Chargers before they moved to Los Angeles in 2017 with a rare combination of traits,” Melinda said The couple moved to Carpinteria in 2018 to be close to their daughter and three grandchildren Dick was moved to an assisted living facility in Carpinteria He was 75 when he died of COVID-19 on July 30 in Carpinteria Bendel is survived by his son Daniel Bendel; daughters Beth Rice and Kristie Reden; step-children Carson Green Dana Zertuche and Ramsey Green; brothers Fred Joe and John; a sister Ginny Draa; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren Jorel Alfonso stood as the best man at his younger brother’s wedding He had been debating whether to give a speech then or wait until June when his brother and his wife would celebrate their vows in the Philippines Alfonso decided to go ahead and toast Justin then after Alfonso died due to complications from coronavirus a lasting image of the 38-year-old as a loving husband a doting father of three and an inspiration to his little brother His favorite group was the Backstreet Boys a towering figure whom he could never beat in basketball when Alfonso lost his two-week battle with the virus Justin put aside his personal torment and stepped up to lead the family He set up a GoFundMe page to support his brother’s children raising more than $87,000 in just one week He organized a eulogy and Zoom memorial service and streamed both live on April 14 he filmed and streamed his brother’s burial service the priest and the chirping birds on a sunny morning Alfonso had come down with a fever March 18 and went into quarantine He drove himself to a hospital near his Riverside home six days later and tested positive for the virus Despite being borderline pre-diabetic and having to go on a ventilator his prognosis got better and then worsened quickly He died in isolation without having a chance to say goodbye “We’re all still waiting for you.” She didn’t think that was good-bye “We grew up and grew closer,” Justin said of his family during the memorial “Those things you remember don’t hurt as much as time goes and you just smile instead and I hope one day that will be something I do.” recalling everything from Jorel’s gossiping to his hosting of parties for Manny Pacquiao fights “He’s being viewed all over the world with so much love and support.” Jessie and Lydia; and his brother and sister Few things in life made Zella Campbell feel happier or more at home than working the soil she planted rosebushes at her home in Bishop all kinds of colors,” said her granddaughter 14 from COVID-19 complications in a Bishop nursing home “One day they said she tested positive but only had mild symptoms,” Pizzalato said “They said she had a low-grade fever and didn’t feel like eating but that she was fine and didn’t have a cough or any other symptoms They gave us a phone number to call for the COVID unit her primary care physician goes in and checks on her and tells my mom She’s about to die.’ She’s in a nursing home They’re not taking her to an ICU or providing her with any real end-of-life comforting care I guess they had limited medical capabilities.” It only heightened the family’s frustration and despair when they discovered many of the cards and letters they had sent since the start of the pandemic had gone unopened or simply Granny because "Zella" was hard for the young kids to say and moved to Southern California to start a family She and her husband lived in Orange County — he picked oranges during the lean years — before saving enough money to buy a piece of land in Bishop Campbell helped make ends meet by running a daycare out of her home “She was very loving and caring but expected people to be respectful,” Pizzalato said so being respectful was very important to her She would take care of me after school because both my parents worked full-time Pizzalato’s fondest memories of Granny Zella were times spent gardening “I always remember her feeding the hummingbirds,” she said “The urn I got was white ceramic with a pink hummingbird on it it fell on McHarry Watson to protect his youngest siblings — from their parent’s drinking from the constant chaos that often brought police to their front door Watson was only 15 when his parents began to drink he used the few thousands of dollars he had managed to save to buy a car and put everyone in a motel Watson and his four siblings lived in that motel room for several years always struggling to find work to keep everyone clothed and fed the one everybody got to lean on,” said his sister Fran Watson “He set a great example of how to be a good father.” Watson died from COVID-19 complications and pneumonia Much of his family had been infected with the virus but due to diabetes and other health issues he and his siblings had reunited with his parents and forgiven them it’s not clear what led their mother and father to drink They grew up without water and power on the Navajo reservation bordering New Mexico and were forced into boarding schools where they were beaten for speaking their native language a lot of promises that never came to pass,” Fran said wooded community near Sonora called Mi-Wuk Village His siblings followed him and set up homes not far from his apartment Watson lived a full life as a car detailer a church minister and a Little League coach where he led youth programs and visited prisoners locked up nearby “His dream had always been to become a pediatrician.” each of his siblings and nieces and nephews had a moment to say goodbye to him through a cell phone speaker “He sacrificed his whole life for his family,” Fran said Watson is survived by his parents and his four siblings Having given her son up for adoption amid the alcoholism that plagued her in early adulthood Mary Joanne Rosario became a mother to almost everyone she met the rest of her life including Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Dock Ellis while running the first-aid station at Wrigley Field in Chicago After following Ellis to Southern California Rosario nurtured patients and employees for nearly two decades while managing a family medical practice in Orange She straightened out scores of inmates as part of a Catholic worker detention ministry her tough-love approach forcing criminals to confront the consequences of their actions Rosario reconnected with her own son long before she died at age 87 from COVID-19 complications on Aug 10 at New Orange Hills nursing home in Orange Michael Kaesbauer handled his mother’s ashes at the funeral Rosario’s boss at the family medical practice The woman universally known as “Chicago Mary” didn’t always display a tender touch her bluntness partly a function of having grown up in a small Iowa town during the Great Depression and heavy drinking “She had no problem speaking her mind,” Joanne Budka-Clines who worked with Rosario at the first-aid station Rosario befriended Ellis after treating one of his friends during a Major League Baseball game prompting the pitcher to bring the nurse a dozen roses she would sometimes fly to meet Ellis in different cities when he traveled and she loved to cook for him and other players After Ellis completed rehabilitation for his own alcoholism he gave Rosario an ultimatum to do the same or he wouldn’t speak to her again She complied before moving to Southern California to be near Ellis who counseled prisoners with addictions after his baseball career Rosario suggested that she become his office manager “When Mary looked at you and said that,” Luster said recalling her huge smile and commanding presence Rosario became deeply involved in Alcoholics Anonymous and often upstaged the priests who accompanied her on prison visits during her ministry work Recalling a story that was told at her funeral Luster said Rosario would often enter a room and tell the prisoners “The only problem with you guys is you’re all liars.” the priests mortified by the possibility of unrest one prisoner after another would confess to his sin the prisoners would line up for blessings not from the priests but from Rosario “She’d give them the blessing,” Luster said don’t come back!’ and slap them on the cheek and send them out the door.” some prisoners would run into her at a store or at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting upon their release telling her that her straight talk had saved them Rosario is survived by her son and a brother Liliana Monteza was waiting at a bus stop in Van Nuys the first time she saw her future husband then he walked up to her and asked for the time but she didn’t know when the bus was coming They soon discovered that they were both from Peru — she was from the capital on the northwest coast — and with their respective families back in their home country it was good to talk with someone who understood They married soon after and had two twin daughters Villanueva tested positive for COVID-19 on April 11 He was hospitalized and placed on a ventilator he appeared to recover and was taken off the ventilator after a few weeks He called his family to tell them he’d be home soon and to “take care of each other." But almost immediately every day and “never took any days off,” his daughters said He worked as a handyman in his native Peru and then in an auto shop once he moved to the United States before taking a job as a maintenance worker at El Caballero Country Club in Tarzana “Everyone knew who he was because he was always smiling,” said Kristin Charness But Villanueva’s chief joy was in his family He was a romantic who picked his wife up from work every day and would sing to her in the car on the way home in a deep beautiful voice — his favorites were Los Angeles Negros and Los Pasteles Verdes from his hometown of Chimbote He was incandescently proud of his twin daughters and kept a photo of them on his phone background to show people Amy and Annie were students at UC Riverside Villanueva is survived by his wife and daughters her mother was going through her belongings when she found a notebook filled with recipes Reading the instructions for traditional Philippine dishes reminded Dalisay Aguilo of how much Dulce loved the kitchen — and Dalisay would sometimes pass by her room and catch her watching cooking videos on YouTube for hours Dulce Amor Aguilo died of COVID-19 complications April 19 at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose specifically those who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia She last worked at San Jose’s Belmont Village where she became close friends with some of her coworkers Dalisay said Aguilo would join her friends and take trips to casinos “She really liked to win,” Dalisay said with a laugh Dalisay said Aguilo was a loving and jolly person who would always remember everyone’s birthdays and anniversaries Aguilo’s death means not only no more touching notes on milestone dates won’t have anyone to bring them groceries and take them to doctor’s appointments Dalisay said that when Aguilo would see elderly people from their retirement community walking to nearby stores or pharmacies Aguilo started having shortness of breath and a fever on April 6 Dalisay said she was unsure how Aguilo acquired the virus but she presented symptoms a couple of days after her last dialysis treatment which she received three times a week for the past four years She was admitted to the hospital April 6 and never came back “We never saw her again until she became ashes,” Dalisay said Florentina Lopez came from Mexico to the United States when she was young and spent most of her life in the San Fernando Valley A few blocks from her home was a man named Jose Herrera While she worked as a seamstress for companies such as Frederick’s of Hollywood The two would meet at the food trucks and talk The couple didn’t make a lot of money back in the day but there began a rich relationship that lasted nearly five decades Florentina didn’t know how to drive until she was in her 50s and usually relied on buses But that didn’t stop her from making weekend trips to the thrift stores remembered it was “like a little treat for the weekend.” Florentina had difficulty getting pregnant again she unexpectedly got pregnant and suddenly had two infants on her hands She felt overwhelmed and at times embarrassed who was pregnant with her own second child at the time It’s just a blessing from God because you opened your heart to a new baby that wasn’t yours.” they would have a cigarette and smoke behind their husbands’ backs We are doing something bad because we shouldn't be smoking.” Florentina worked hard looking out for her family “Having a clean house was her hobby,” Griselda said Florentina suffered a stroke and her daughter took her and Jose back to California where Florentina moved into the Parkwest Rehabilitation Center in Reseda The stroke had taken away her ability to speak and she remained nonverbal the rest of her life Florentina would touch her stomach to notify the nurses she would pat the nurses with her hand and motion that she wanted to go to bed Hand gestures were her form of communication A couple of nurses fondly called Florentina “Florecer,” Spanish for "to bloom." “The last time that I took some food for her was on Mother’s Day,” Griselda said Griselda said a nurse supervisor told her that her mother seemed fine Griselda said she got a call that her mother had been taken to the hospital an emergency room doctor told her that her mother had COVID-19 and had suffered a heart attack “The only problem with my mom was that she did not speak That’s why she couldn’t say at the beginning Griselda has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Parkwest which has been hit hard by the coronavirus According to the Los Angeles County Public Health Department 65 residents and staff members have tested positive and 11 have died a former president of Stanford University who also led the U.S Food and Drug Administration and served as editor-in-chief of the journal Science has died at a care facility in Redwood City from complications of COVID-19 a residential care home where he had lived for two years Nursing and assisted living facilities have become hot spots for outbreaks of the coronavirus disease a neurobiologist who was known for his humor dedication to students and bold leadership spent the bulk of his career in science and education at Stanford University Born in New York City and educated at Harvard he taught at Syracuse before arriving at “the Farm” in 1960 as an assistant professor Kennedy climbed the ranks to become chair of the school’s biology department Kennedy took a break from Stanford to serve as commissioner of the FDA under President Carter from 1977 to 1979 Kennedy returned to Stanford and became president in 1980 he presided over a $1.1-billion fundraising campaign the largest attempted by a university at the time He emphasized teaching over research and oversaw a refashioning of the school’s “Western culture” curriculum to incorporate the achievements of women and minorities He invited students to join him on daily runs around “the Dish,” a radio antenna and landmark on campus including the university’s continued ownership of land leased by a farming operation that used migrant labor investments in companies that did business with South Africa and his relationship to the Hoover Institution During his tenure the university also weathered the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake which caused $160 million in damage to the campus Kennedy announced his resignation amid allegations that Stanford had misspent millions of dollars in federal research grants including billing for the depreciation of a 72-foot yacht floral arrangements for the president’s residence and upkeep of a mausoleum where Stanford’s founding family was buried The university refunded the government for many of the charges and was largely cleared of wrongdoing Kennedy served as editor-in-chief of the journal Science Robin Kennedy; children Page Kennedy Rochon Cameron Kennedy and Jamie Hamill; and nine grandchildren Erica McAdoo always wanted to serve her community McAdoo returned to land and joined the Los Angeles Police Department She was a custody services officer for several years she was promoted and began a new role as a senior detention officer McAdoo felt ill and was admitted to a hospital She remained in intensive care for 98 days and died from complications related to COVID-19 on July 3 the first LAPD officer known to have died from coronavirus “She had everything going for her,” said Keith Royston “She was one of the smartest people in our family.” moved Erica and her elder sister Danielle to Los Angeles “Erica and her mother were best friends,” Keith said she had another passion in life: food — specifically Oklahoma style barbecue McAdoo along with her mother founded Reddz Foodz Donna had grown up cooking Oklahoma barbeque and taught her daughter how to prepare perfect ribs McAdoo had created a Yelp page for Reddz Foodz and written about her love of cooking and delight in sharing delicious food with others “I have a passion for making people happy and feel good from the inside “My reward is seeing people dance a little when they eat.” Cooking was also part of McAdoo’s heritage and an homage to her grandmother Ruth McAdoo wrote on the Yelp page: “We are here to continue to build her [Ruth’s] legacy with love for our family passion for cooking and commitment to our goals.” Donna and Erica devoted time to supporting their community in Carson “They would make food bags for the homeless people,” Lamont said “Their friends would come over and they would all go out together to pass out food just out of the kindness of their hearts.” The two also loved to travel together and would take cruises McAdoo had a close-knit circle of friends within the LAPD who enjoyed spending time together her co-workers wrote: “Our hearts grieve as we mourn the loss of our sister Our condolences are extended to her mother and family We hope they take comfort in knowing she was loved The post also praised McAdoo’s drive to improve the department: “If one of the ultimate goals in life is to make a difference in the lives of others Our division and its personnel are better because of her time and commitment.” Among those issuing statements of condolence were Gov assistant chief director of support services at the LAPD who wrote about McAdoo: “She left us a hero.” flags at the state capitol building were flown at half-staff Donna posted about her daughter on Facebook writing: “I can't begin to tell you all what the loss of my daughter and friend has done to me my heart will forever be broken and changed.” She also called for people to take COVID-19 seriously if not to protect yourself then for all the others folks you love or care about — it's that simple.” Robbie Waters’ daughter didn’t know where to start about her father “There are stories and stories and stories,” Deanna Earl said James Robert “Robbie” Waters beat polio in middle school — a slight limp was the only evidence of the disease after a weeks-long hospital stay — before going to run track and play football at Sacramento High in the early 1950s He served in the Air Force for four years and graduated from Sacramento State before embarking on a 24-year career in the Sacramento Police Department and spending four years as Sacramento County sheriff He was on the Sacramento City Council for 16 years and was the only Republican for his entire tenure falling short of runoff by only 2,000 votes He saved a doctor’s life with the Heimlich maneuver He wrote two books and had a library named after him as recognition for his community service “Everything he did was for the purpose of taking care of his family,” Earl said from her home in Montana he was able to help so many other people through his drive and desire to make Sacramento a better place.” Waters died of complications from COVID-19 on July 27 had just celebrated their 60th anniversary underwent successful surgery and was transferred to an assisted nursing facility for rehab Earl said her father left the hospital having tested negative for COVID-19 but tested positive when he returned to the hospital five days later to treat a hematoma in his hip Waters initially didn’t experience any symptoms but began having trouble breathing eight days later Waters hadn’t seen any family members since breaking his hip “He led a very purposeful life,” Earl said “Everything he did was done with a purpose but his words and actions spoke volumes about what and who was important to him He was known for his habits: getting the same concession stand combo at baseball games wearing a ball cap and fanny pack whenever he went out walking around Oakland’s Lake Merritt tidal lagoon for exercise each day the janitorial job he held for more than two decades and the life skills he had learned from Clausen House an independent living program in Oakland for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities which he loved,” said family friend Scott McFadin Everyone knew how important it was to Scotty so it became that much more important to them.” he was born prematurely with serious complications he graduated high school and went through the independent living program at Clausen House McFadin and Woodard attended San Francisco Giants or Oakland A’s games together on weekends Woodard would ask about things McFadin had mentioned in past conversations and friends he’d been introduced to at previous games “He could remember details about a person he met 25 years ago Woodard also loved going to restaurants and exchanging family gossip over a meal He called relatives often and persistently to ask how they were doing “You’d get lots of missed calls from Scotty if you didn’t pick up.” They started meeting regularly after Woodard’s older sister She had been a pillar in Woodard’s life and a big help with weekly tasks including banking and helping him pay his rent and utility bills Her death was the latest in a series of losses including the deaths of his eldest brother and his best friend and roommate of over 30 years destabilizing changes a difficult adjustment who took over many of Sarah’s responsibilities Health issues in October landed Woodard in the hospital and then in the Orinda Care Center to recover in February “It was a very difficult last couple of months for him,” Jessica said she said he seemed frustrated and wanted to go home She tried to cheer him up by reminiscing about his favorite meals and restaurants and encouraged him to focus on getting better Then visits were halted because of COVID-19 restrictions who had visited almost daily while Woodard was in the hospital tried to get the staff to arrange daily phone calls instead though one nurse did use her personal phone to let them FaceTime him a few times in his last weeks news broke of a cluster of coronavirus cases at the Orinda Care Center infecting 11 staff members and more than half the residents Woodard tested positive but when he didn’t show any symptoms for two weeks his family dared to hope that he’d be all right they heard that Woodard had developed a fever He died three days later of complications of COVID-19 By Jennifer Lu Pauline Estey took a road trip with a friend crossing the country from Boston to Los Angeles Estey immediately decided to move to the West Coast She just had a knack for cultivating lifelong friendships.” Estey worked at Columbia Pictures in Culver City for more than three decades they needed to hire three people to replace her because she was so versatile One thing Estey couldn’t do was drive a car she never had a problem finding a ride around town Estey did love to travel by other means though After she moved into the Motion Picture & Television Fund’s Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills she spent hours in the facility’s rose gardens Often she’d use the flowers as centerpieces for the big joyful lunches she’d organize at the retirement home Estey’s friends returned the favor when she was hospitalized after contracting the coronavirus last spring 18 from complications brought on by the disease “Pauline was the kind of person that people just adored,” Pressman said people she worked with were still going out of their way to visit her She brought a lot of love into this world.” When Jim Farrell contracted COVID-19 in early November and he knew what it meant to fight – and even to lose Farrell excelled in freestyle and butterfly filling his bedroom in Long Beach with first-place ribbons and trophies and Olympic dreams But the more he raced against a dark-haired swimmer from Santa Clara Future gold medalist Mark Spitz was just too fast “He was disappointed,” said his sister Mary Farrell “but he never complained or let the loss get to him.” Farrell studied philosophy at Cal State Long Beach having attended est seminars developed by Werner Erhard on human potential he learned that he was responsible for his own happiness That responsibility took him after graduation first to Oregon where he headed the aquatics department at a YMCA where he studied at the Palmer College of Chiropractic Farrell joined his father’s practice in Downey “Dad was ecstatic to have Jim work with him,” Mary said Coming home also meant returning to the Long Beach State campus memorably watching young volleyball player Misty-May Treanor in Madison cap off an undefeated season for the 49ers in 1998 Teresa was on the athletic department’s statistics crew and she eventually persuaded Farrell to join her when the scorer position opened up in 2005 he had listened to doctors who told him that due to his diabetes His brother tried to humor him by greeting him in the hospital with an eyepatch and toy parrot “Jim was always ready for a laugh,” said Mary Farrell found returning to work with a prosthesis difficult and eventually closed the family business and devoted himself to the stat crew at Cal State chronicling the fortunes of the men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball teams The going rate – initially $15 a game – was enough to compensate for the heckling and afterward pay for dinner with friends at a local coffee shop or Mexican joint His work at Cal State saw him through more recent losses: his mother Time spent tutoring student-athletes or putting up the final points of a game helped Farrell with the loneliness “Jim was a genuinely kind person with a wry sense of humor and who cared a ton about the game,” said Kirk “It was a pleasure seeing him on game day and knowing we were in good hands with him at the table.” Farrell kept news of his hospital admission to himself but his desire for privacy didn’t mean he was without love Mary got the call three days after he had been admitted and she was allowed to sit beside him for his final hours Music and events promoter Don Branker never backed away from a challenge It was that kind of unflinching determination that pushed him to produce and promote Cal Jam I and Cal Jam II at the Ontario Motor Speedway two of the largest outdoor music festivals of the 1970s was the famed 1974 jump by daredevil Evel Knievel over the Snake River Canyon you’ll never get the TV coverage,’” said Branker’s son Shane It was one of the biggest events ever back then.” Knievel came up short on the jump and suffered roughly 40 broken bones but started promoting and producing concerts as a teen after his family moved to Los Angeles he was first approached to help promote a then unknown band called The Doors Branker used to laugh when recalling how he was later asked to manage a Bay Area band that was described as having a bit of a folk vibe which continued to perform for nearly 50 years being the son of a rock and events promoter meant his father was gone for weeks at a time “It was probably similar to being the son of a musician,” he said But when Branker was at his home in Tarzana he wore the outfit of a true rocker: blond hair reaching down to his shoulders and worn cowboy boots “He looked like no other dad I grew up with,” said Shane who occasionally accompanied his father to his concerts but was too young to understand the magnitude of the performances He was adamant that the people he worked with keep their word he was unforgiving and never worked with them again “He didn’t sign contracts; it was always a handshake,” said his former business partner Rick Bubenik Bubenik recalled a famous fight Branker had with Aerosmith the headlining band of the 1978 Cal Jam II The band refused to go on stage because of a mix up with jelly beans that the band requested in their dressing room The promoter calmly told the band members that he planned to announce to the more than 350,000 fans in the audience that the performance was cancelled over a jelly bean dispute “Donny was bluffing to a point but he would have done it,” Bubenik said He eventually soured on concert promoting and turned his talent to other interests such as the World Skateboard Championships in 1977 in Long Beach and the live concert film of comedian Richard Pryor in 1979 He also briefly hosted a late night television series called In Concert in which he interviewed drummers Keith Moon and Ringo Starr Branker continued to promote and manage smaller local events at a water park in Clovis up until about a year ago but was slowed in the past few years by Myasthenia Gravis a neuromuscular disorder that causes muscles to weaken Shane said his father suffered a fall at his Fresno home in late November Branker described himself as “Just a simple cowboy who got into rock and roll.” could contain the creativity in Lowell Dabbs this man who had “a poet’s heart,” as his family says devoted himself not only to the written word but also to photography and architectural design Lowell Parker Dabbs served in the Navy during World War II he returned home after the war to earn his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at USC subsequently taking work as an English professor at Bakersfield College in 1955 It was a position he would hold for many years he had dreamed of building his own house,” their daughter said The Selby-Dabbs residence was later included in a 2019 symposium and tour The Bakersfield Californian noted that its Midcentury Modern design allowed “copious light into the living room” and made the roof appear “as though it’s floating above the structure.” Dabbs retired in 1979 and moved to Santa Barbara where he attended the Brooks Institute of Photography to pursue yet another long-time fascination he continued to write and served as writing coach at Santa Barbara City College The final years of his life were spent at an assisted-living center in Riverside near the home of his daughter and son-in-law “He did lots of different things,” Parker said “The thread through his life was these interests he had and some of the dreams he was able to fulfill.” but Marc Wilmore will be best remembered for the many laughs he brought to people over the course of a long so funny and just genuine,” Wilmore’s brother “He kept it 100% real before I even knew what that was.” A 10-time Emmy Award-nominated producer and writer He was best known for his work on “The Simpsons,” “In Living Color” and “F Is for Family.” He was 57 Wilmore’s death came a little more than a week after he was found to have contracted the virus It ended a long stretch of health issues related to a kidney transplant in the 1990s Speaking on his podcast “Black on the Air,” Larry — himself a well-known comedian actor and producer — said his younger brother’s passing brought sorrow but also comfort “He had been in a lot of pain for a number of years,” Larry said I am relieved that my brother is not in pain anymore.” Wilmore began his career as a stand-up comedian before becoming a writer for “In Living Color” in 1990 He later joined the show’s cast and became well known for his comic impressions Wilmore went on to write for “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” and “The PJs,” an animated series created by Larry and comedian Eddie Murphy the producers of “The Simpsons” dedicated an episode to Wilmore’s memory The social media reaction to his passing was swift and heartfelt who worked with Wilmore on three different shows called him “irreplaceable.” Writer Henry Gammill said Wilmore was “empathetic beyond measure not to mention the funniest one in the room every damn time.” I know he’s in it ’cause he was one of the warmest loveliest men I ever met,” television comedy writer Mike Reiss said in a YouTube video who shared a bedroom with his brother growing up Wilmore is survived by his wife of more than 27 years challenge and wonders of mathematics were so central to the life of Harold Widom that the retired professor had a classroom-style chalkboard installed in the study of his Santa Cruz home he would untangle numbingly complex equations and keep various to-do lists and reminders he’d have his grocery list — things like Imodium Mandarin oranges,” his daughter Barbara Widom Wilson said “Then he’d have a note about when he had to rotate the tires on his car Widom died at home from complications of COVID-19 Widom — pronounced like “wisdom” minus the S — graduated from Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan at 16 attended The City College of New York for two years and was among the winners of the prestigious William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition and by 23 had earned his PhD in mathematics from the University of Chicago He joined the faculty of Cornell University in 1955 following in the footsteps of his older brother Harold Widom accepted an offer on the West Coast at the newly established UC Santa Cruz where he helped found the mathematics department He told friends that one of the biggest draws of California was he could play tennis year-round he became even more enamored of hiking and exploring the outdoors He frequently trekked the trails of the Henry Cowell and said he often came up with his best mathematical ideas while on the trail and he had a penchant for brightly colored floppy hats and sunglasses he started an environmental fund through the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County traveled the world and had a special fondness for New Zealand and Switzerland enjoyed the symphony and loved a good glass of wine His two daughters and son were highly successful in their own endeavors Barbara is an endocrinologist in Fort Collins Jennifer is dean of engineering at Stanford Widom continued to hike until his final months He recovered and even resumed driving his beloved stick-shift car He fell ill with pneumonia in November and was hospitalized Although he was able to return home from the hospital after a week his weight had dropped from 125 pounds to 105 Barbara had been vaccinated and was able to assist with her father’s care in his final weeks “It was pretty horrible how low his oxygen was “But I was able to be right next to him without a mask and really help It would have been so different if he were alone at the hospital.” She’d shake her younger brother Ramon awake so he could “keep guard” of the bathroom while she used it He’d stand next to the door half-asleep waiting for her sister to finish before they returned to their shared bunk bed Family was always the thing that drove him.” died on April 18 of COVID-19 complications at his Palmdale home His family always called Rivera by his nickname Sluggo after the character in the iconic Nancy comic strip but “he had a heart that was so soft,” his sister said He worked as a roofer until 10 years ago when he suffered a workplace accident that forced him to retire he spent his time building military vehicle models and hanging out at Fox Airfield in Antelope Valley to watch planes take off and land “He was always messing around with tools and seeing what he could do,” she said his wife Jeanette and brother Fred started suffering from headaches in early April he had shortness of breath and was running a fever but decided to return home after witnessing another patient die whose breathing is regularly aided by an oxygen tank ‘Thank you for everything you’ve done for me,’” Angel said “He also called his son Ray and told him to be strong without him An autopsy revealed he was positive for COVID-19 His condition may have been complicated by his diabetes and a heart condition The whole family was tested soon after and Rivera’s wife and brother both tested positive for the coronavirus Angel and her daughter Athena tested negative Jack Turnbull picked up the karaoke mic and belted out one of his favorite tunes Fastball’s “The Way,” an elegy to love enduring against all odds “Where were they going without ever knowing the way?” he sang She was a 25-year-old server at a small hotel on Subic Bay and he was a 62-year-old guest on a two-week vacation in the Philippines It was 2009 and the first of nine trips to the Philippines that Turnbull took that year before proposing Marrying Jesserel marked the beginning of a new chapter in a late-blooming life escaped the small-town atmosphere of the Midwest not long after his parents divorced and as much as he had grown up with values that celebrated community “He was a vagabond living out of his car,” said his cousin Patrick White It was a time when the country was reeling with a war in Vietnam and protests at home making ends meet as a school photographer and briefly opening a studio who was an assistant attorney general for Missouri Turnbull eventually found stability in Los Angeles first working behind the camera and then opening Actorsite a studio in the San Fernando Valley dedicated to teaching acting Turnbull found his “sweet spot” in the community he’d created adapting skills he had learned photographing children to the fundamentals of acting and refining what he had picked up from high school and from any stage he stood on Turnbull committed himself to developing talent and watched as students discovered their careers Alumni include Holly Taylor (“The Americans”) Mackenzie Hancsicsak (“This Is Us”) and Braxton Herda (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”) who started working with him in the 2000s and is now running Actorsite “embraced how everyone is different and unique really allowed all the different actors to feel comfortable in their own skin and blossom.” Whether he was drilling students with tongue twisters or walking parents to their cars at night Turnbull developed a safe and caring atmosphere for children and adults Classes and workshops were conducted in the afternoons and evenings Days often began with email blasts of encouragement and reminders to persevere and could end with pizza parties and karaoke nights Turnbull was committed to the success of his students they gave to him something of their spirit and energy “He was a natural-born teacher,” said Susan Bernhardt started taking classes with Turnbull in 2000 He believed that if his students followed their hearts Turnbull had found his community and family late in life but happiness doesn’t often follow a clock or a calendar who tried to take care of him when he started getting sick in May They didn’t know where he had contracted COVID-19 she Facetimed him and played him the music that he loved so much died in the intensive care unit on June 14 He is survived by his wife and three children John Patrick Doyle developed an expertise in personal protective equipment — learning the ins and outs of gear that could keep people safe law enforcement agencies and other organizations to make sure their personnel were properly outfitted with the company's masks Doyle was uniquely positioned to help amid the crisis The Stockton-based sales specialist found himself inundated with requests from customers for PPE and not enough supplies to meet the spiking demand But as the pandemic wore on — and Doyle was able to meet his clients' needs — the stress turned into satisfaction "When you have hospitals and first responders that are depending on you to be able to come through for them — it's a rewarding experience," she said "And it feels like you've done some good in your life." Doyle was born in Stockton to Rose Marie and Frank Doyle on Dec Doyle mastered the saxophone — his favorite — along with the clarinet the latter of which was a more recent endeavor "He took [bagpipes] like he took everything — really seriously," said daughter Grace Heller said her father performed in several jazz and blues bands over the years he played carols with friends outside one of their homes on a Stockton street known for impressively decorated houses it was one of the best Christmas traditions," Heller said he branched out to handle sales for a variety of PPE her father often trained people on the correct way to use various PPE And Doyle was known to inject humor into the dry training sessions Doyle worked up until his COVID-19 diagnosis in December Heller said that in recent months he had expressed pride for the work he was doing to keep people safe during the pandemic and they were calling to thank me for the supplies coming in.'" He also is survived by daughters Annye Doyle Jacquelyn Doyle and Heller; and siblings Ken Doyle Ever since Robert Garcia was elected mayor of Long Beach Gaby Elena O’Donnell had been a fixture in city affairs city events and other engagements the mayor was involved in “I think sometimes she still thought I was 18 years old in her head,” Garcia said died July 16 from complications of COVID-19 a day after Garcia attended his mother’s small Garcia proudly remembers his mother as a hardworking woman who inspired him to give back to his community and his country even in hard times “My mom taught me to be really strong,” the mayor said in an interview with The Times “When you get elected mayor of your community that’s a hard job that requires a level of toughness and knowing what you signed up for I signed up for a job regardless of hard moments in my personal life.” He was a 5-year-old boy when he left Peru with his mother father and grandmother in search of the American dream fleeing domestic terrorism and economic uncertainty Garcia and his mother learned English and made a new home in California His mother worked at thrift stores and as a housekeeper eventually landing a job at her most recent workplace a clinic where she was a medical assistant for more than 25 years A couple of years after arriving in the U.S. Gaby met Greg O’Donnell on a night out at a disco bar in the San Gabriel Valley and he remained loyal to her and his family ever since Greg was a quiet but also gregarious man who loved simple things in life He worked hard to start and maintain his contracting business for about 30 years He liked to host barbecues and spend time with his family “He was just a good dad and good grandpa to my brother’s son,” Garcia said “He was a hard worker and took care of the family really well.” “He was very humble and the strongest person I have ever known,” Garcia’s brother And he and Garcia’s mother were “just totally in love he took his family on a road trip shortly after Christmas to visit relatives in Mexico He made his young children leave their brand-new clothes and toys for their family in Mexico “I’ll buy you some more when we get home,” oldest daughter Irma Rister recalled him telling his puzzled kids 1934 in budding El Centro to a Mexican immigrant father and a Mexican American mother He was a successful businessman with a commanding presence that was felt at home and throughout the Imperial Valley where he and his wife Mary raised six children Valencia boldly maneuvered for his success from a young age The story goes that he asked his mom to enroll him in El Centro’s white schools because he wanted a better chance of getting ahead “He was very ambitious and had a strong desire and determination to succeed — to obtain success He met his beloved wife of 68 years at El Centro Union High School where He stayed put in El Centro to work for his father’s concrete construction business and provide for his young family He eventually took over the business along with his younger brothers the Valencia name emblazons sidewalks all around Imperial County His local business clout helped land him a job as a regional presidential campaign manager for both future President John F He organized rallies and hosted the Kennedys when they were in the Imperial Valley But Robert Kennedy’s assassination in 1968 devastated him Valencia instilled the value of hard work in his children eventually leaving them their own cement business Valencia was a loving grandfather and great-grandfather or “tata” as his grandchildren and great-grandchildren called him “He made it a point to be part of their grandkid’s lives He traveled to them even when they were scattered all over the country,” Michael said a reporter who wrote about his tata in the San Diego Union-Tribune When Valencia learned that Fritz hated being called anything other than his name “William” as a child Valencia made it a point to call him “Billy Boy” every time he saw him a man who loved cursing in Spanish and singing “El Rey” Valencia never failed to remind Fritz “You know 26 of health complications following a January COVID-19 hospitalization at El Centro Regional Medical Center four children and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren Some people are deeply woven into the fabric of their community They are the people everybody knows: the neighbor with the right tool the familiar face at the town watering hole the person on the sidelines of every local football game San Pedro,” said his wife of nearly 40 years A familiar face in the South Bay until the end Robertson died April 4 from what is believed to be COVID-19 he wasn’t just Larry -- he was a permanent fixture at the YMCA the Harbor Bocce Club and at his beloved San Pedro High School where he spent more than 20 years as a volunteer fundraiser for the booster club Robertson was the kind of guy people felt lucky to know he graduated from Harbor Community College and spent more than 30 years working in the newspaper industry as a press supervisor for the San Pedro News-Pilot and the Torrance Daily Breeze He watched the industry change before his eyes his team in the pressroom shrank from 50 people to just a handful He was devastated when the paper was sold and he was let go “That was the first time he’d ever really been depressed,” Faye said “He felt like he gave his soul to the place.” and soon he was working alongside his wife at the Port of Los Angeles assisting cruise ship passengers It was a seasonal position that allowed him to take advantage of his retirement and of one of his favorite pastimes: being around people “My girlfriends would come over and he’d sit there with us I’d have half my workout done and he’d just be arriving because he’d been busy talking to someone.” his family has received an outpouring of support from the community “Everybody in San Pedro knew him,” said his sister I got phone calls from people I hadn’t heard from in years that knew Larry Linda remembers fondly the time her brother and a friend made an audition tape for “The Amazing Race,” a global scavenger hunt television show asked her to drive his car periodically to keep the battery alive while he was deployed overseas but when Jim returned to find the battery dead Betty stood her ground and swore right then and there that she wouldn’t drive again—and she never did “We had to take her everywhere she wanted to go for the rest of her life,” recalled her son Gentry died May 13 due to complications of COVID-19 Gentry came from a long line of independent women she joined the Navy’s WAVE program straight out of high school Gentry cared for maternity patients and for the war’s wounded It was there that she met fellow Navy Corpsman Chesley James “Jim” Gentry good natured bickering and endless teasing,” her daughter recalling with fondness a never-ending argument about which spices belong in marinara sauce “This was an ongoing difference of opinion that went on for as long as anyone can remember and no spaghetti sauce was complete without it.” “She loved everything about living there,” said her son-in-law which remained their home base from then on “She brought her children up to be caring individuals and always extended a hand whenever she could,” her son-in-law said adding that Gentry instilled in her children a deep love of sports (the Dodgers in particular) and “tortured them with her great love of Hollywood musicals.” Gentry was also a great friend and nurturer She never forgot a birthday—loved ones could always count on a card with a $5 bill tucked inside—and she made sure the family was never without the comfort of a canine companion read the newspaper from cover-to-cover and was ever willing to lend a hand in her community “That’s what I remember most about my mom: her warmth always taking the time to help someone,” Bonne Bandolas said “I’m so grateful I could be her daughter.” grandchildren James Gentry and Lauren Petticolas and six great-grandchildren If there was anything that Francia Hernandez knew how to do for her daughters Her daughter Laura Ehlers remembers her 8th birthday “We would even stage plays during the parties,” Ehlers said Hernandez died of COVID-19 complications on May 18 at Adventist Health Hospital in Bakersfield Ehlers said her mother lived with “nonfunctional incapacitating mental illness” over the last 10 years and during other times in her life “She was always a difficult person in addition to having these good qualities,” Ehlers said Hernandez worked as an interior designer and also designed furniture Ehlers and her mother did home improvements on some of Hernandez’s boyfriend’s properties Hernandez taught Ehlers how to lay tile and carpet apply wallpaper and strip a kitchen and rebuild it from scratch “She could just take rooms and make them look gorgeous,” Ehlers said positive memories that she’ll try to remember wrapping Christmas presents and doing housework together she was vivacious and enjoyed having debates a lot of her mental illness struggles with a lot of bravery and courage as a single parent,” Ehlers said Hernandez contracted COVID-19 at the Kingston Healthcare Center where 18 residents have succumbed to the virus didn’t have the heart to stay home after she got her first job as an assistant nurse The young woman had started by taking care of elderly patients at a specialized nursing home in Riverside despite knowing that several patients were infected with the coronavirus it was Viveros who had to go to a hospital with frightening symptoms; she tested positive for COVID-19 and her body could not fight off the disease “We’re grateful to the staff at ICU Corona Hospital who took care of her,” said her aunt “We want to remember her spirit of dedication and perseverance in pursuing her objectives her joy and sincerity and the way she treated other people sister and brother are in a state of shock and mourning.” Urrea added that “Valeria made the ultimate sacrifice for her elderly patients By Selene Rivera Los Angeles comedian Joe Luna died from COVID-19 just days after being hospitalized and documenting his horrific battle with the virus on social media who performed under the stage name Joe El Cholo Luna first opened up about his novel coronavirus journey llast month on Instagram revealing that he had been suffering from chest pains and pneumonia so I’m dealing with a lot." Luna told viewers He later added: “Wow this is no joke and especially if you are diabetic it will rain hard on your parade And no i didn’t get it from going out and performing “Please take care of yourself,” he added in a followup video “Don’t think that you can take care of it on your own If you think that COVID is a joke — if you think that this won’t be you — then trust me His last video was filmed the day he died from his hospital bed in a COVID-19 unit Luna speculated that he contracted the virus at his mother-in-law’s house adding that his partner and kids fell ill as well guys,” he said while wearing an oxygen mask in the Instagram clip Known for his witty commentary on cholo culture and Fontana and performed at local clubs such as Hollywood’s Improv and Pasadena’s Ice House through my stuff,” Luna said in a 2018 interview Irene Cornish Thompson had an almost eerie intuition one that could reliably guess birthday gifts or detect lurking patrol cars on the highway one that could sense if anything was wrong “She was kind of fanatical,” youngest daughter Alexandra Carbone said was a psychotherapist and a professor at Alliant University’s school of psychology in San Diego “What gave her life meaning was fixing the problems,” Carbone said Thompson’s daughters recall the ring of a phone interrupting hearty family dinner conversations growing up a client in crisis needed their trusted therapist Thompson would pick up the phone in the other room and work to smooth pained sobs on the other end Even in heated family therapy sessions that overmatched soundproof walls and white noise machines Thompson managed to steer the room to calm a longtime colleague with whom Thompson shared office space for their respective private practices “And it wouldn’t last long and everything would go eerily quiet.” Thompson would send her clients off with smiles on their faces she’d make sure to check on them in a follow-up phone call Thompson began her career after receiving her masters in social work in 1984 from Rutgers University in her native New Jersey where she lived and raised her family before moving to San Diego County with her third husband an addiction prevention nonprofit in Princeton she helped pioneer group therapy work with adult children of alcoholics and incest survivors transcultural and transgenerational fashion,” said Kuck who worked alongside Thompson in San Diego Thompson’s progressive bent and cosmopolitan curiosity helped her develop a culturally sensitive approach Eldest daughter Rena Whitehouse recalls her mom regularly hosting international students in their home growing up a girl came to stay with them through a program that placed inner-city youths in middle-class families The personal advocacy she undertook in her professional life hardly wavered when it came to her own family She made sure her daughters got the best education She secured scholarships for Whitehouse so she could continue attending private school when the family hit a rough financial patch She once met with each of Carbone’s high school teachers so they would accommodate her daughter as she dealt with depression Thompson’s home in Rancho Santa Fe is filled with evidence of family and business trips to Europe and the Middle East A glass case displays Phoenecian figurines A collection of marble eggs is dispersed throughout the house and statuettes of the Virgin Mary Isis and Aphrodite represent Thompson’s appreciation for the divine feminine On display among others are a picture of Thompson at the Great Pyramids and Carbone on a camel Thompson treated guests to her delicious cooking served on international dinnerware she had amassed over the years Thompson’s family and friends remember her wit and competitive spirit tennis and teaching her grandkids to play chess She died March 22 at the UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center after a December COVID-19 infection complicated a chronic lung disease When the solemn question of “when” followed Thompson’s decision to be taken off life support she stunned doctors with her prompt response how about Monday?” Thompson suggested almost casually she and her daughters recited songs she had taught them as kids Whitehouse took her mother’s phone with her home to Colorado She discovered that her mom had continued to counsel her clients via text message from her deathbed The phone would ring; her clients were calling Leeann Patterson discovered a love of travel with her husband Their adventures over decades took them to every continent except Antarctica they brought their two children on summer trips around the world instilling in them an appreciation for other places and cultures at a young Daughter Jillaine Danis said Patterson was savvy about setting a budget and didn’t like to join tour groups preferring to plan itineraries herself — or just wander around On a six-week vacation to Europe when Jillaine was 5 her mother “got me a little charm bracelet So I had a little Eiffel Tower and one of the little horses for Sweden and grew up in the lumber town of Gilchrist She was so beautiful; I never thought she’d talk to me,” John said the two moved to Simi Valley and then to Tempe where they earned graduate degrees from Arizona State University Patterson enjoyed baking; her specialty was chocolate chip cookies based on a Mrs including the construction workers who recently completed the Pattersons’ home remodel “She was just that kind of person,” she said “We always had cookies in the cookie jar.” the Pattersons co-founded the Christian Counseling Center who had previously worked as a marketing communications specialist in Silicon Valley She contracted COVID-19 while on vacation in Cancun in November starting with a sore throat that quickly worsened Florence Schumacher was the de facto social director at her assisted-living care home in Fair Oaks She had a welcoming and loving interest in the other residents and recently had been helping her next-door neighbor recover her speech after the woman had suffered a stroke “My mom was very much an extrovert,” her son John said 17 at Mercy San Juan Hospital in Carmichael from internal bleeding and COVID-19 complications keeping the books for Friends Interested in the Severely Handicapped in the Sacramento area She had a particular interest in that cause as she provided full-time care for her late son sharing recipes and participating in her potluck club She and her extended family took summer vacations to Lake Almanor where she helped feed and console families who had lost loved ones Schumacher traveled to California to help her friend move to the West Coast She wound up staying after meeting her future husband who was a mechanic and later worked as a service manager for truck companies They were married in 1951 and lived in Alameda San Leandro and Stockton before moving to Fair Oaks in 1972 Schumacher tested positive for coronavirus three weeks before she died After requiring supplemental oxygen at first and died a day after returning to the hospital from a skilled-nursing rehabilitation facility Schumacher was preceded in death by her husband and son Denise Johnston and Colette Runquist; three grandchildren; and her sister Garry Bowie would frequently counsel people newly diagnosed as HIV-positive who didn’t know where to turn Many would end up staying with Bowie and his husband proof of Bowie’s commitment to his work as an AIDS activist “There are times I would find out at the last minute one of his clients would be staying in the guest room because they had no place else to go and he wasn’t going to allow them to stay on the street died earlier this month of complications from COVID-19 He was the executive director of Being Alive a nonprofit that provides health and mental health services for HIV-positive people in West Hollywood who lived in Long Beach for three decades before moving to Lakewood in the fall formerly led the Long Beach AIDS Foundation “He was a kind and compassionate person who dedicated his life to supporting others and giving back to the community,” said Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia Bowie and Wacha were members of gay motorcycle clubs and met at an AIDS charity ride in the spring of 1999 they were paired as a motorcycle team to shut down intersections to allow safe passage for Avon breast cancer walkers One of Bowie’s hobbies was creating an archive about gay motorcycle clubs in California “We lost so many people during the AIDS crisis especially in the leather and motorcycle community,” Wacha said “He wanted to make sure the younger generation knew their roots.” the son of a military cartographer who met his mother in Japan during World War II The family lived in Texas and Hawaii before settling in Orange County Bowie’s Japanese mother was shunned by his father’s family and her relatives remained in Japan rambunctious family until he met Wacha’s sprawling Iowa clan we would go back and Garry was sort of the baby whisperer The first thing he would do is grab the baby “They would immediately get quiet with him Bowie started having flu-like symptoms on March 19 He was hospitalized and placed on a ventilator eight days later Carolina Tovar and Letty Ramirez were an inseparable mother-and-daughter duo — the twin matriarchs of their family They were often standing side by side in the kitchen sharing traditional recipes that they would serve their children They got their nails done together and talked about everything breathing difficulties brought both women to the emergency room “It felt like somebody kicked my stomach,” said Alexis Ramirez The week before the women were hospitalized they spent their evenings together as they had always done but otherwise felt well enough to go to work as a mortgage broker fell ill shortly afterward and was admitted to the same hospital Ramirez was soon put on a ventilator and transferred to Providence St when doctors informed the family that Tovar would also need to be put on a ventilator another one of Tovar’s daughters negotiated her way into her hospital room they decided to respect Tovar’s wishes not to be put on a ventilator about a dozen of Tovar’s children and grandchildren spent the night with her their voices enveloping her as she let out her last breath two sons and many grandchildren who would take her on trips to Las Vegas and the beaches of Rosarito The family hadn’t had time to recover from the news of Tovar’s death before Alexis got a call from a doctor that evening Any more time on the ventilator would not help her Alexis made the decision to remove her from the machines Letty Ramirez never learned about her mother’s death quite literally and figuratively gave her life for her mom,” grandson Art Aguilar said “How ironic that you could not separate these two women in life and that fate had made it so that they wouldn’t have to be separated after death.” It seems there wasn’t anything Milton Melzian Jr or a hobbyist nurturing an interest with both tenderness and care Melzian was a 10-year-old boy fishing on a San Francisco pier when news spread of the attack on Pearl Harbor scrambling all the servicemen in the Presidio as warning horns blasted across the city Melzian took on odd jobs as a teenager to help the war effort and to support his mother and siblings then took culinary training at San Francisco State University after graduating from high school Melzian’s skills helped him climb to the rank of sergeant in a mess unit that fed the frontline troops He “only had to dodge a bullet once,” his daughter But it was after he returned from the war that Melzian’s eye for detail and love of family truly propelled him Melzian earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and then opted to make the grueling commute from Aptos to Silicon Valley each day so his children could grow up by the beach He traveled the world and brought back gemstones and fine silk fabrics for his daughters taught jewelry casting at a community college and took up photography and botany entering his prized orchids into local shows he left engineering to run a Carmel Valley delicatessen with a friend we didn’t have much money during those years but my sister and I never knew that there were struggles because they were such happy years,” Compton wrote When a career change prompted Melzian and his wife to relocate to Idaho in the 1980s he quickly ingratiated himself in the community and joined the Peregrine Fund’s World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise “My father was a man that everyone loved; a gentle unselfish soul with a passion for this beautiful world and all of its creatures,” Compton wrote He was looking forward to becoming the first man in his family to reach 90 but contracted COVID-19 while staying in an acute care center in Sunnyvale friends that Melzian made over the years have shared stories with his family they’d never heard deepening their appreciation for how he raised them and shared what he knew with others “My dad always made me feel larger than life like I could accomplish anything,” Compton wrote he made me feel like the most creative and intelligent person on Earth Melzian also is survived by a second daughter Margaret Sowma was the top student in her Catholic school class Success in high school and college seemed a given immigrants from Lebanon raising three children in New Jersey Further schooling for a girl was a luxury the family couldn’t afford “His thinking was she would get married eventually and her husband would take care of her and she didn’t need an education,” said Sowma’s niece Julie Bawcom but the life she created for herself was its own study in perseverance and service making her one of the state’s oldest victims of COVID-19 John of God Retirement & Care Center in L.A.’s Jefferson Park neighborhood She had lived until she was 99 in a condominium in Windsor Square painstaking makeup and sharp outfits — was a familiar sight along Wilshire Boulevard and Sixth Street “I called her ‘the fashion lady,’” said Carolyn Tate who met Sowma through a nonprofit advocacy group for senior citizens Sowma spent her entire working life as an industry seamstress ultimately securing a union job in downtown L.A Her family had relocated to the city after World War II when one of her two brothers was killed in a plane crash during military training exercises Her father insisted that as a single woman she live with her parents and she was in her 40s before she had her own place She told her niece she didn’t marry because her strict father scared off suitors and another friend that she simply hadn’t met the right person She and two coworkers set a Guinness world record for cutting sewing and ironing a dress in under five minutes she launched herself into a new life of civic engagement She volunteered at blood drives and staffed election day polling places registered people to vote and prepared them for citizenship She taught sewing in community college and served on the Congress of California Seniors where she recorded meeting minutes in perfect penmanship until she was in her late 90s “She always wanted to be part of a group that made change,” Tate said recalling how Sowma was fighting for universal healthcare as far back as the mid-1990s Having endured the unsafe conditions and low wages in sweatshops she was briefly arrested after she chained herself to a sewing machine downtown to protest the treatment of workers She attended performances at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion very independent,” said friend Frances McFall who persuaded Sowma to accept rides home from neighborhood council meetings She continued to make friends into her late 90s Chris Menown was seven decades her junior when he offered her a ride home from their parish “She thought about it for a good few seconds and then she said ‘The most important thing in your life are your relationships,'” Menown recounted “You eventually arrive at a point where the only thing that matters are the people in your life.” Sowma always kept the silver lapel pin she received at her eighth grade graduation said it wasn’t in her personality to regret her lack of formal education or dwell on the past “She just moved on with her life,” she said Sowma is survived by another niece and two nephews who appeared in the Broadway productions “Rock of Ages,” “Waitress,” “Bullets Over Broadway” and “A Bronx Tale: The Musical,” died July 5 in Los Angeles after a long and difficult battle with COVID-19 confirmed the news on her Instagram account “God has another angel in heaven now,” she wrote “My heart is broken as I cannot imagine our lives without him I will love you forever and always my sweet man.” Cordero tested positive for COVID-19 in March and was hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles where he spent more than 90 days in the intensive care unit underwent a leg amputation and was put into a medically induced coma including lung infections and septic shock Kloots had been sharing updates on Cordero’s status on Instagram throughout his treatment she shared the news that he was in the ICU after “having a hard time breathing” and was initially misdiagnosed with pneumonia Fans and former cast mates circulated a #wakeupnick hashtag on social media in support of Cordero posting video clips of themselves dancing and singing along to his “Waitress” single “Live Your Life.” native attended Ryerson University but dropped out to sing for the band Lovemethod he originated the role of Toxie in the off-Broadway production of “The Toxic Avenger.” Cordero was quite literally a towering figure in the theater community revered for his trademark tough-guy stage persona and starring turns in energetic productions such as “Rock of Ages.” He gained a new army of supporters as Kloots optimistically documented his turbulent coronavirus journey Cordero got his start on Broadway in the 2012 production of “Rock of Ages” in which he played Record Company Man and Dennis — a part he recently reprised in a Hollywood revival of the show he also performed on the “Rock of Ages” national tour “I hope the community gets behind it in the way it should,” Cordero told the Los Angeles Times at the musical’s Hollywood Boulevard opening earlier this year “This is a brand new and exciting way to see this show I can imagine that this is really gonna be a shot of adrenaline in the arm of the theater scene here.” He earned a Tony nod and a Drama Desk nomination in 2014 for his role as Cheech in the musical adaptation of Woody Allen’s “Bullets Over Broadway.” He also played Earl in “Waitress” and Sonny in “A Bronx Tale: The Musical,” which earned him an additional Drama Desk nomination Cordero appeared in a handful of TV series including “Queer as Folk” and “Lilyhammer” and a recurring role in “Blue Bloods” (as Victor Lugo) and “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” as Anthony Marino Kloots and Cordero met while starring together in “Bullets Over Broadway,” and were married in September 2017 a personal trainer and former Radio City Rockette Ever since Glenn McGihon learned the game as a Marine McGihon was the head professional at several courses and his company helped develop and run three clubs in Colorado “He loved the camaraderie,” said his son Jon ‘You can learn more about an individual by playing one round of golf with them than you could ever in any other circumstance.’” who died at 90 in Palm Desert on May 27 from complications of COVID-19 He made one stipulation when taking on a new job That’s my time with my family,’” said another son considering most golfers played on weekends but reflected the priority McGihon placed on building relationships He sang in his Palm Desert church’s choir and was a longtime member of Palm Springs’ Masonic Lodge McGihon met Carol Wade Antle in sixth grade the day after they graduated from Cal State Long Beach where he played on the school’s first basketball team and ran the mile in track McGihon enlisted as a Marine shortly after the wedding and served in active duty for seven years and as a reservist another 15 His career in golf began in 1960 after he joined the teaching staff at Arnold Palmer Golf Academy in Vail Six years later he became Los Angeles Country Club’s head pro he worked with Palmer to develop Palm Desert’s Ironwood Country Club McGihon forged relationships with some of Southern California’s most notable figures who allowed McGihon the rare experience of watching UCLA practices in person and former major winners Jerry Barber and Paul Runyan Lessons were taught to Dodger owner Walter O’Malley and high-ranking officials at UCLA and USC But he didn’t boast about the relationships “He was a very humble man,” Jon McGihon said McGihon’s passion for sports passed down to his children He and his wife are remembered for being ever-present at their children’s competitions he found his father already waiting at the small airport terminal Sometimes the family competed together: A foursome of McGihon and his sons won the 1990 International Four-Ball Tournament All it took to know McGihon was to play a round with him “My dad loved teaching,” said Scott McGihon who traced his success as an amateur golfer in Southern California directly to his father’s influence “He loved being able to spend time with somebody and they saw improvement immediately whether it was his golf swing or improvement in his day People left an encounter with my dad feeling better about themselves or feeling improvement in their game.” Steven and Scott; 11 grandchildren and a sister-in-law Rose Matsui Ochi was a trailblazing Los Angeles attorney who tapped far-flung political networks from City Hall to Congress in her fierce advocacy of civil rights criminal justice reform and Japanese American causes 13 at a local hospital after being diagnosed with a second bout of COVID-19 which exacerbated existing health problems Ochi broke barriers as the first Asian American woman to serve as a Los Angeles Police Commission member and as an assistant U.S Mayors Tom Bradley and James Hahn on criminal justice served on President Carter’s Select Commission on Immigration and Refugee Policy and worked with President Clinton on drug policy and race relations But she particularly cherished her contributions to the successful campaigns to win recognition and redress for the mass incarceration of 120,000 people of Japanese descent during World War II — including her and her family who were uprooted from their Boyle Heights home and imprisoned at the Rohwer detention camp in Arkansas after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941 Ochi was just 3 years old when she was incarcerated but it fired her lifelong commitment to fight for the underdog a close friend and former Los Angeles County chief executive officer “The injustice of the relocation burned something into her soul,” he said During a yearlong stay in Nevada after the war she was made to wash her mouth out with soap by a teacher in front of the class for speaking Japanese and soldiers threw snowballs and directed racial epithets at her “Somehow I learned that I’m not a real American I’m an outsider,” Ochi said in the interview with the UCLA Library Center for Oral History Research “And instead of feeling like you’re ostracized and I think over the years I was allowed to take on unpopular causes or stand up for people that are being beaten up .. and it’s something that I embrace and I like.” one of four children to Yoshiaki and Mutsuko Matsui Her father was a businessman and her mother a homemaker and later seamstress Ochi described herself as a gregarious tomboy who loved sports and never took no for an answer She cajoled her father to set aside his chauvinistic views about gender roles and teach her the Japanese martial art of kendo — which she said helped her develop the courage to endure getting hit and face her own fears She dismissed her high school counselor’s remarks that she wasn’t smart enough for college but would be a good secretary You’ve got to be kidding,” she said in her UCLA interview When an Inyo County supervisor declared that the Manzanar project would only proceed “over my dead body,” Ochi drove to the next meeting and convinced him to go along with the plan by extolling the tourism and economic benefits it would bring to the area was a founder of the Manzanar Committee and brought Ochi on as their pro-bono attorney was instrumental in winning over many in the Owens Valley to understand the benefits to have a national park,” he said where she earned a law degree from Loyola Law School then a law professor who would bring her into the USC Western Center on Law and Poverty and later Bradley’s Criminal Justice Planning Office Ochi served as co-counsel on a landmark 1970s case which forced California to adopt a more equitable education funding system Ochi joined the Clinton administration to work on drug enforcement then two years later was named an assistant attorney general to head the Department of Justice’s community relations service office she was appointed to the Police Commission by Hahn and a year later became executive director of the California Forensic Science Institute at Cal State L.A Ochi’s many friends say her long resume of accomplishments and awards does not capture her warmth Ronald Burdette Culp was known for singing gospel songs in his deep bass his ability to recreate a cow’s moo and a rooster’s crow and his version of comedian Foster Brooks’ portrayal of a drunk man though Culp had never been intoxicated a day in his life He was also known for being extraordinarily frugal Culp collected spare change — including any coins from the laundromat at the Green Acres RV Park he ran for decades with his wife Sheryl Culp — in coffee cans he kept well hidden When he retired at the age of 83 he gathered his dozens of cans and drove them to a bank It took three trips to wheel the coins in with a hand truck “The clerks were just fit to be tied because they had to count all those coins,” said his daughter Cindy Culp He’s survived by six children — Ronnie “Curly” Culp Lori Neighbor and Jonathan Culp — 12 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren Ronald was born in San Fernando in 1935 and moved to Yreka with his family in 1953 The Culps funded their move by successfully investing with a donkey-riding wildcat oil driller whom Ronald’s father met at a trading post the family bought a 160-acre dairy farm where Ronald helped milk cows and work the ranch he worked as a stucco contractor with his father as a concrete truck driver and at lumber yards He eventually became the manager and part-owner of the Yreka Lumber Company “He just was a jack of all trades when it came to anything that had to do with construction and building.” After his first marriage ended in the 1970s Schroeder and Ronald Culp had a strong marriage She said her father once told her that when he and Schroeder left the RV Park in separate cars he “would purposefully pull up beside her at a stoplight just so [he] could look at her Culp was a gruff man; he wasn’t one to offer a lot of praise (at least not directly) and his grandchildren called him “grump-pa.” But it was a “mask,” said his son Bruce “Deep down inside he was just a big marshmallow,” Bruce said skiing or on trips to Mexico in their motorhome Nancy said her father was “tender hearted” and deeply religious “I think the most important thing for him was that we knew that Jesus and that we lived our life for Jesus,” said his daughter Nancy That was clear in one of his last conversations with his family His children and grandchildren weren’t allowed to visit him in the hospital as he battled COVID-19 but he was able to speak with them on the phone two days before he died His grandson Matt told Culp how sorry the family was that they couldn’t be there with him Robert Pinedo was the type of person to offer candid advice — “wanted or not wanted but it was always good,” his oldest daughter It was a nickname that came from the company he founded in 1990 the only glass repair and installation shop in town Pinedo enjoyed spending time coaching youth wrestling He shared a love of the sport with both his son After graduating and attending Imperial Valley College Pinedo decided to leave the service after his first daughter was born Frank Pinedo and Sandy Morales described their parents' 42-year marriage as a “fairy tale” romance Before Pinedo opened his glass-repair shop the couple shared a moment that would define the rest of their relationship having just bought a house in Los Angeles County “that’s where we’re going to live,” Morales remembered her mother saying When Francisca became gravely ill with COVID-19 in late June “I’ve never seen him so scared,” Morales said Pinedo lived with diabetes and had recovered from a stroke first diagnosed with pneumonia and then testing positive for COVID-19 Pinedo’s health deteriorated while his wife's began to improve Francisca was “begging him to come home and get better," Morales said “Neither wanted the other to know they were sick or getting worse,” she said Pinedo was transferred to several hospitals Morales persuaded a nurse to let Francisca speak to him by phone Wilson Maa stood at the top of Machu Picchu with his wife but when the opportunity arose for his wife and him to go with some of their friends So if we want to be able to go to Machu Picchu and walk in our own power this might be one of our last chances,’” Toyling said Maa wasn’t one to give up his chances — he’d asked Toyling to marry him three times before she said yes After the kids left them with an empty nest they took advantage of their free time and had traveled to Egypt The couple was looking forward to relaxing on a cruise after climbing Machu Picchu and seeing other sights in South America before flying home from Buenos Aires But what was supposed to be a two-week vacation aboard the Coral Princess cruise ship turned into a nightmare As the coronavirus spread across the world The ship was denied entry to Brazil and Argentina until finally being allowed to dock in Miami a month after its departure the coronavirus had infected at least a dozen passengers He faced a four-hour delay to get an ambulance and died just after midnight in the hospital on April 5 his older sister and younger brother were born and raised in San Francisco by Chinese immigrants He graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a degree in engineering technology and served in the National Guard during the Vietnam War and Maa and Toyling met while she was living with her uncle and his wife Maa would come around the house frequently to fix their appliances “He would just show up with a little toolbox and then he'd walk right back out the door like ‘OK bye Once she’d found a job and was ready to move out three months later Maa showed up at their doorstep one last time and they ended up striking up a conversation that lasted all night Toyling finally said “yes.” At the time of his death Maa is also survived by his daughters Nancy Chien and Julie Maa; grandchildren Trevor In Patsy Merrill Nelson’s home in San Carlos She would don her signature pearl necklace and do her makeup before greeting her guests with a candlelight feast Hors d’oeuvres would be served on a silver platter and could be enjoyed on the patio or in the garden she knew just how to put her grandchildren to bed in order to leave the rest of the evening for the adults to enjoy a drink or two “Everything she did looked very effortless,” said her daughter-in-law “But every aspect of the things she did was memorable.” Nelson’s elegance and grace made the San Francisco native a natural at being a diplomat’s wife worked in the Foreign Service and they spent decades overseas Nelson kept busy hosting social gatherings taking care of the children and finding work during longer stays abroad She extended her hostess work after Clifford’s retirement as the social director of Kohl Mansion a historic home and events venue in Burlingame with a tree that reached from floor to ceiling “as big as the one in the White House,” Mona said Nelson was especially interested in food culture “She was fascinated by the different kinds of flavors and spices of the places she’d been,” Mona said One of the dishes Nelson had learned to make was couscous the couple enjoyed going to Carmel for a weekend getaway or the Top of the Mark penthouse level bar at the InterContinental Mark Hopkins in San Francisco they enjoyed Far East Cafe on Grant Avenue Nelson divided her time between a house in Lake Tahoe and the Bay Area as well as visiting her children all over the world She spent the last few years of her life in Sterling Court Nelson died on May 14 at Sterling Court of complications from COVID-19 She tested positive after an employee at the living center contracted the virus Jennifer and Juliet Kelley; 17 grandchildren and one great grandchild Her masterful brushstrokes brought to life many of Disney’s most vibrant characters but those who knew her best will remember Ann Sullivan for the vibrancy she brought to life in general Before her animation work on Disney classics like “Peter Pan,” “Lion King” and “Little Mermaid” was cherished far and wide Sullivan preferred to paint the California coastline She loved the beach and sun nearly as much as the art it inspired As a young mother living in Manhattan Beach she often pushed her children to a nearby beach in a wheelbarrow spending her final years at the Motion Picture and Television Fund’s skilled-nursing facility Sullivan would still ask staff to wheel her outside to a bird sanctuary Sullivan died from complications of COVID-19 on April 13 She was the third of six housed at the Woodland Hills facility who have died from the novel coronavirus Her family celebrated her final birthday on Facetime saying their goodbyes as they recalled the remarkable life that had brought her there her family was too poor to buy patterns to make their own clothing honing a creativity that later bloomed into her life’s passion After two years of studying art at North Dakota State University she rode west on a whim with her sister and brother-in-law to California where she enrolled at what is now the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena as Sullivan got her first job mixing paints remarking to her children that Disney was “the most prestigious company to work for in the world.” Before long she was helping bring classic Disney characters to life beginning with Tinkerbell from “Peter Pan.” But Sullivan gave up the job to care for her children She still found time to paint and share that passion with others she held art classes for neighborhood kids and encouraged them to follow their own passions “She was a free spirit,” her daughter Shannon Jay recalls “She didn’t dictate how you did this or how you did that She wanted you to be creative on your own.” Sullivan returned to work at Hanna-Barbera in 1973 continuing animation work on films such as “Oliver & Company,” “Hercules” and “Lilo and Stitch.” When Disney switched to a mostly computerized product Sullivan taught herself how to translate her art digitally described her as “a remarkably gifted and resilient woman who chased her dream of life in California and work at Walt Disney and succeeded with grace and resiliency.” “My mom was one-of-a-kind,” her daughter Shannon said “She just had that ability to be true to herself Rosary Castro-Olega loved Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers she bought an $800 nosebleed seat to watch No 24 shoot hoops at Staples Center one last time Her house was filled with Lakers merchandise and Bryant jerseys When Bryant died in a helicopter crash earlier this year Castro-Olega’s daughter Tiffany takes solace in thinking that now her mother gets to see her favorite player “She probably gets to watch him now all the time that she wants,” Tiffany said Castro-Olega died on March 29 of COVID-19 complications at Panorama City Medical Center Castro-Olega worked for 37 years as a registered nurse at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center before retiring She continued to work as a traveling nurse at short-staffed hospitals in Los Angeles County after that “She was always taking care of everyone before herself.” Rosalie lives in Washington state but visits L.A She said she occasionally worked at the same hospitals as her sister co-workers and patients mistakenly call her by her sister's name And although it hurts to hear people confuse their names she’s also reminded of the memories the twins shared The two attended grade school together in Los Angeles where they were often separated for being too talkative They graduated from Franklin High School in 1974 “Sometimes we would get mischievous,” Rosalie said with a chuckle she got in trouble and they taped her mouth.” The twins had a favorite pastime: disco dancing Castro-Olega graduated from the University of San Francisco with a bachelor's degree in nursing She always did her job with a smile on her face Castro-Olega was in the middle of watching a Lakers game when her daughter Tiffany shared that her friend was actually her girlfriend "I was very grateful to have a supportive mom.” Castro-Olega fell ill during the last weeks of March and started having trouble breathing It was unknown whether she became infected with the coronavirus at Centinela Hospital in Inglewood Her condition may have been complicated by a family history of heart trouble Castro-Olega is survived by her three daughters David Werksman was “a real cop’s cop,” said Robert Himmelberg a retired sergeant for the Riverside County Sheriff’s department The two started off as sheriff’s deputies together more than 20 years ago in Jurupa Valley and were beat partners for two or three years “He wasn’t a super emotional guy at all but he was the kind of guy you could count on when you were in a difficult situation,” he said died on April 2 of complications from COVID-19 after fighting his illness for three weeks He was the second sheriff’s deputy in the department to die from the virus Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said Werksman was known for his “generosity Werksman spent five years as a police dispatcher for the city of Tustin before beginning his 22-year career with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department He spent 11 of those years on the bomb squad “He really felt like he was saving not just one person but as many people that might be affected by a meth lab blowing up or by a suspicious package in a courthouse,” Werksman’s older brother it was about helping as many people as possible ‘I am the most selfish person in the world.’” is survived by his wife Kristin and three adult children He had planned to retire soon and start a charter boat company in the Caribbean was just a teenager when someone handed him an old newspaper clipping at a United Farm Workers gathering The 1996 article was about two UFW organizers who were hospitalized after being attacked by suspected anti-union assailants at an organizing drive in Watsonville Aguirre's father was one of the two victims He had discovered the depth of his dad’s devotion to the “good fight." died of COVID-19 at JFK Memorial Hospital in Indio on Jan Aguirre hardly knew a life away from the fields or the church They were natural venues for a life committed to service and justice It seemed as though Aguirre’s path had been laid out from the very beginning A UFW organizer who marched alongside Cesar Chavez and drove workers in vans for hours to boycotts and demonstrations around the state Aguirre helped his own father farm maize and beans with the help of an ox-drawn plow when he was a child The man who spent the last eight years of his life studying long nights to be ordained as a deacon in August 2020 Aguirre served as an altar boy in his hometown’s church into an agricultural family in the remote ranch town of El Durazno in the Mexican state of Guanajuato Aguirre was the second-youngest of eight siblings and the sole survivor of a set of triplets named after the three wise men of the BIble Aguirre came to the United States in 1973 with the help of an older brother who was working in the country he landed a UFW-backed farmworker job for a citrus grower in Blythe on the California-Arizona border He served on the union’s negotiating team and represented his own group of workers “He was one of the people the UFW leadership knew they could count on,” said younger brother Gustavo a former UFW organizer who at one point served as the union’s national vice president he would participate and he would mobilize other people.” Aguirre took part in hundreds of union events over the years The union hired him as a full-time organizer for a campaign to unionize strawberry farmworkers in the Watsonville area where he took up another unionized farm job He lived in Coachella the rest of his life down-to-earth and kind man who had no trouble connecting with his fellow farmworkers or church parishioners For years he served as a eucharistic minister at Our Lady of Soledad Church in Coachella there was Baltazar putting them away,” said deacon Fernando Heredia adding that Aguirre did everything with a big smile His children's success brought Aguirre the most joy “He wanted us to always be better and do better,” his son said and daughters Cassandra and Jacqueline — went to college John and Marie Bender immigrated to Southern California from the Netherlands in the middle of World War I looking to build a better life for their family would embark on his version of the American dream He married his high school sweetheart from Venice High and raised four kids from the breathtaking ocean views of Rancho Palos Verdes He joined the Air Force and helped the Korean War effort as a mechanic in 1958 and spent 31 years as a firefighter with the Los Angeles Fire Department George and Shirley Bender found enjoyment in water sports ran marathons as part of the Palos Verdes Pacers running club and once hiked to the top of Mt 14,505 feet high in their favorite place in the world reflecting on Bender’s 88 years after he died from complications of the novel coronavirus March 30 Farber said the defining aspect of his life wasn’t toughness but the tenderness he had for his wife “He was just never the same after that,” Farber said He handed down his plumbing company to his son He continued to help Shirley’s charity of choice a philanthropic group of women who raise money for children’s programs in the South Bay Bender even hiked Half Dome at Yosemite National Park on his own his walking became less ambitious but more social He had a large group that he would take daily walks with around his Rancho Palos Verdes neighborhood and those friends would also keep Bender busy with handyman and plumbing projects but Farber said his health had been in decline in the last year The family assumed natural causes took him until they received notification of a positive test for the virus the day after he died in a hospital eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren He was preceded in death by his wife and their daughter who died in 1992 of breast cancer at age 29 Lola Mae Roach Larson and her older sister Barbara both were born on the Fourth of July "For many years they believed they were so special the entire nation celebrated their birthday," Larson’s son Eric wrote 21 from health conditions exacerbated by COVID-19 The niece of early film and television giant Hal Roach she tagged along with her father to the famous Culver City studio where he was a cinematographer Oliver Hardy and Will Rogers and was cast in several “Our Gang” comedies she spent time on her grandparents' avocado farm in Encinitas and would reminisce about the time when "most roads were dirt and every kid in town could be found on Saturday at the La Paloma theater watching the double feature." the summer after graduating from Dorsey High School beginning a 62-year union that ended only with his death in 2005 the couple settled on her grandparents' ranch Two of her great-granddaughters are now the sixth generation to live in the nearly 100-year-old family homestead Galloping Gourmets and the San Dieguito Heritage Museum and collected a few ribbons for cooking and decoration at the San Diego County Fair As a Red Cross water safety instructor she taught hundreds of children and adults how to swim "Lola was always quick with a joke and enjoyed a wide circle of friends in the Encinitas area many dating back to her childhood," her son said Water skiing and camping were family pastimes with favorite destinations including Lake Tahoe the Colorado River and Estero Bay in Mexico Larson and her husband indulged their wanderlust traveled by motor home to all 48 continental U.S states and spent winter months in Cabo San Lucas Her last residence was Las Villas de Carlsbad where she received compassionate care for several years all three married to a Jennifer; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren In the emergency room at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley Shawki Zuabi was the rock that everyone — patients and staff alike — depended on to get through the tough times Even after Zuabi was hospitalized after contracting the coronavirus he was the one who would comfort the doctors and nurses who arrived to offer him their support “They called him the father of the emergency room department because that was how he treated everyone there like they were his second family,” said his wife of nearly 40 years Colleagues said you always heard Zuabi coming before you saw him because of his rich deep voice that patients found encouraging and soothing In the days that the emergency room received a seemingly endless stream of coronavirus patients and I think that was his ultimate strength,” she said He was initially cared for at Orange Coast but was subsequently transferred to UC Irvine Medical Center he was looked after by one of his four daughters a medical school resident in UCI’s emergency room who took time off from work to be with her father “she hardly ever left his side,” Vincenza said The family said they believe Zuabi contracted the virus while at work He spoke five languages and was a talented painter and avid fisherman His multiple talents led colleagues to joke that he was the embodiment of the Dos Equis beer commercial — “the most interesting man in the world.” When Vincenza brought her parents to Orange Coast for vaccinations she gained a deeper sense of what her husband meant to the people there He was not just a doctor; he was friend and mentor to many “someone would come up to me and tell me a story about how he was there for them when they had a problem with their families he was telling them that they can handle this while he was attending medical school at the University of Padua and she was a studying abroad as a UC San Diego student Zuabi is survived by his wife and their daughters Joseph Yamada and Elizabeth Kikuchi were born two days apart when both were sent with their families to a World War II internment camp in Poston they went to San Diego High School together raised a family and left their marks on San Diego in landscape architecture and community service It almost seemed fitting when both died this month just days apart the disease caused by the novel coronavirus culture and refined food,” said Garrett Yamada “They raised us with a little bit of everything.” Poston was an unlikely place for fruitful beginnings: It was row after row of tar-papered barracks in the middle of the desert where sand drifted in through the walls and scorpions crawled up through the floors Garrett Yamada said his parents came home from the camp determined not to let being imprisoned in their own country sour them “They were open to anyone and everything,” he said Joe studied landscape architecture; Liz studied English literature she became the first Asian teacher at San Diego High and he worked for Harriett Wimmer Yamada’s projects included designs for SeaWorld the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista and the parks along the Embarcadero in downtown San Diego water features and “the Yamada roll,” gently rounded knolls of lawn or plants The Yamadas were married in the early 1950s and eventually settled in La Jolla Liz Yamada quit teaching to raise the couple’s three children and when they were grown she worked as an administrator in her husband’s firm and eventually became a partner She also wrote poetry and was active as a director on a variety of boards for local government agencies she corresponded regularly with Clara Breed a San Diego city librarian who befriended many of the youngsters and sent them books Breed contacted Liz Yamada and said she didn’t know what to do with all the letters she’d saved from the internees “I couldn’t get there fast enough,” Yamada told the San Diego Union-Tribune in 2006 They spoke of resilience and hope amid the injustice and deprivations of being imprisoned Liz Yamada donated the letters to the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles hoping to preserve an episode in American history she believed should never be forgotten “so what happened to us doesn’t happen to anybody else ever again,” she told the Union-Tribune They are survived by their children Garrett By John Wilkens When Robert Mendoza graduated from high school at 17 She could give her legal consent for him to enlist in the U.S he would move from Texas to San Diego and enlist without her blessing helping her son fulfill a dream he’d had since middle school someone who constantly insisted that he was willing to put his life on the line for his country Mendoza was 43 when he died April 20 from complications of the virus Mendoza served in the military for nearly 13 years -- eight in active duty and nearly five in the reserves His deployments included stints in Iraq and Afghanistan eventually earning a rank of staff sergeant Mendoza suffered a serious injury while he was stationed in Japan forcing doctors to insert a titanium rod in his leg he had to perform a series of tests to demonstrate that he could handle the rigors of military life including running a mile in a set period of time His mother said it underscored how determined he was to succeed “He did what he could to live his life to the fullest,” she said he opened a tactical gear store in Oceanside for military personnel and police officers Working on his own time allowed him to be active in his son’s life Yolanda said it’s unclear how her son contracted the coronavirus though she believes it may have been from a customer or even an encounter during a delivery Then he began losing his sense of taste and smell He tested positive for the virus and was admitted to Tri-City Medical Center in Oceanside he was transferred to intensive care and placed on a ventilator Mass-gathering restrictions forced the family to have a small funeral where they viewed the gravesite from a distance such as a 21-gun salute –because of these restrictions “My son served in three wars and he had his life cut short by this virus,” Yolanda said he loved his country and was willing to die for it.” Rafael “Ray” Vega made the rounds in the brick-lined dining room of Casa Vega restaurant in Sherman Oaks dressed sharply in a sweater vest with a name tag fastened to the front I’m Ray Vega and this is Casa Vega,” he would say Al Pacino and other actors and studio executives tucked into the restaurant’s signature tufted red leather booths who helped introduce and popularize Mexican food in the San Fernando Valley died from complications of COVID-19 on Jan He had been battling dementia and Parkinson’s disease for the past 15 years Vega came from a family determined to be in the restaurant business Vega’s grandmother and pregnant mother drove from their home in Tijuana to a hospital in the U.S left Vega in Tijuana with his grandmother and immigrated to Los Angeles where they opened Cafe Caliente restaurant on Olvera Street When Vega was 2 they moved him to the family home in Burbank spending much of his childhood on Olvera Street He attended a Catholic military school in Orange County and John Burroughs High School in Burbank He moved to the Bay Area to study hospitality at San Francisco State University but after a year moved back to Los Angeles to help his family Rafael and Maria closed Cafe Caliente and opened another Mexican restaurant in Hollywood “Mexicans were not that welcome outside of downtown and the business went under in four years,” Christy said Vega got a job selling life insurance to help support the family but he never gave up on his parents’ dream of running restaurants He found someone to loan him the money for a few months’ rent at a restaurant space on Ventura Boulevard two blocks from where Casa Vega now stands He opened Casa Vega in 1956 and put both his parents to work while Maria helped teach the cooks to make her recipes for cheese enchiladas and mole poblano The restaurant quickly outgrew its original location and Vega moved to a larger space at the corner of Ventura Boulevard and Fulton Avenue He credited a fateful visit from Jane Fonda and Gig Young as the catalyst that turned the restaurant into one of Hollywood royalty’s favorite haunts One of Vega’s favorite stories to tell was about the night Christy was born “My dad went back to the restaurant to share the good news with everyone and Marlon Brando was there,” she said ‘They drank a bottle of 1800 Tequila together.” Vega spent most nights in the Casa Vega dining room bringing people more chips and talking to customers serving as the commissioner of the Los Angeles Department of Public Social Services for two years followed by a seven-year stint as chairman of the L.A he secured government contracts to run the dining halls at a handful of government bases in California In 1978 he was given the opportunity to run the dining hall at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada He left Frances in charge of Casa Vega and moved the family to Las Vegas Thus began the start of a decades-long career in the distribution business in Nevada under the name Vega Enterprise The corporate umbrella included a vending company a distribution company and a wholesale company that supplied vending machines and products to U.S Vega Enterprise was grossing more than $60 million a year Vega received many awards during this time but his most meaningful was his appointment as honorary consul general for Mexico to the state of Nevada in 1996 But the restaurant business was always calling Vega started to sell off Vega Enterprise piece by piece and moved back to Los Angeles where daughter Christy was already helping to run the business She took over as president in 2012 but said her dad visited the restaurant every day In addition to his wife and daughter Christy Vega is survived by daughter Kelly Schettler; son Robbie; granddaughters Emilee the daughter of a school administrator in Fresno knew early in life what she wanted to do for a living not just because that was a noble profession but because a school-day schedule would make it easier to have a family and spend time with her own children “There were 735 people at our wedding,” said John Caire where he was a general contractor and Terese became a teacher in Sherman Oaks She later took a job in La Cañada-Flintridge where she most recently taught third grade and the family attended services together at St Anthony’s Greek Orthodox Church in Pasadena for many years Terese embraced her Serbian and Greek heritage and competed in Greek dance events Though she taught with great energy and spirit and enjoyed even the nightly task of grading papers and planning the next day’s class Terese loved nothing more than time with family The Caires traveled the country and the world together and they had a tradition of uniting at the dinner table each evening in La Cañada without the distraction of television or electronic devices to catch up with each other over meals prepared by Terese “I am from a very close-knit family and I have a lot of extended family That’s what happens when you’re half Greek half Serbian,” Terese wrote in a short sketch of herself for parents of her students “We see and talk to each other all the time It’s the way I grew up and it’s what my kids grew up with.” all four members of the Caire family got sick but none of them had a worse case of COVID-19 than Terese John Paul lifted his ailing mother over his shoulder and carried her downstairs drove his wife to the nearest emergency room She’d had no significant underlying conditions other than occasional respiratory problems “Terese had students who grew up and had babies and she knew those kids too,” John Caire said as he and Maria and John Paul remembered Terese at the dining room table where they shared so many good times together John pointed to a nearby table with all the condolence cards sent by her former students Among those many students were the sons of former L.A who wrote a tribute to Caire after her death: and … she … made them excited to come to school each day something young boys are not always prone to do Caire was different: She would dance on desks (like Zorba); she would light up the campus with her smile said the family was grateful for the work of doctors nurses and the staff at Keck USC Medical Center who was able to communicate with her mother by calling the hospital and having a nurse place the phone next to her mother’s ear ‘I Say a Little Prayer’ was her favorite song.” The medical staff also arranged for Terese to follow Sunday services livestreamed from St Paul has begun a campaign to establish a National Day of Remembrance for all those who have been lost to and affected by COVID-19 and to “allow for a public expression of empathy appreciation and recognition that will unite us as Americans and create a spirit of healing for our collective recovery moving forward.” Angelo Chavez could be found with his brother Daniel at the Foothill Lounge a San Jose sports bar where Chavez would do his best to convince his brother to buy tickets to an Oakland Raiders game or even a concert “He was very into going to different places and just having a good time,” said his sister-in-law Chavez dreamed of visiting every baseball park in the U.S But he also loved sports as a way of spending time with his family He would always look forward to seeing his relatives from Stockton at Raiders games Chavez served in the Marines and later continued government work as a U.S “He would give you the shirt off his back,” said Felix “Possessions didn’t mean that much to him.” family was the most important thing in his life and remained in San Jose with hopes of watching his younger son Chavez died from COVID-19 on March 25 in his home at age 41 He shared the home with his parents and had been self-isolating after becoming ill Felix described Chavez as AJ’s “rock.” “His father was his constant,” she said Eddie and Patse; sons Robert Ramirez and Angelo “AJ” Chavez Jr.; brothers Eddie she refused to comply with commands to say “Heil Hitler!” even if it meant she missed out on that day’s rations of bread and water The muddy water that Clausen drank to survive gave her diphtheria “She said things the way they were,” Clausen’s daughter Judy said Rita Clausen was nominated to compete in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin But her parents refused because they were horrified by the racially motivated ideology of Adolf Hitler who eventually would be central to the atrocities of the Holocaust Clausen was released from the concentration camp only when her diphtheria required hospitalization She moved to Northern California in 1947 not long after the war’s end and married a U.S Together the Clausens raised six children and scores of foster children who flitted in and out of their Salinas home at any given moment Clausen also worked in the packing industry She was a lifelong caregiver for her family until her death April 7 at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital from complications related to COVID-19 Clausen had fallen ill with breathing problems that required hospitalization Judy said she was not able to bid farewell to her mother because of lockdown rules in the area “It was during the time when everybody had to stay home,” Judy said “so we weren’t able to say goodbye to her or see her or do anything.” Clausen continued to swim well into her 80s before a downturn in her health forced her to move into a nursing home “She swam every day of her life practically,” Judy said Clausen also had a love of old movies that she watched over and over Honey Horsley and Edith Loudermilk; five children David and Bruce; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren “She took care of us very well,” Judy said who owned the landmark folk and blues hot spot the Ash Grove in the 1960s before briefly relocating it to the Santa Monica Pier has died from complications of COVID-19 and pneumonia who had been living in an assisted living facility with Alzheimer’s disease for about a year native brought raw blues and even rawer Appalachian folk music to the heart of Los Angeles when the Ash Grove was housed on Melrose Avenue in what’s now West Hollywood The venue became a training ground for artists such as Ry Cooder The club also housed a record store and a music school Pearl believed part of the club’s appeal was that it showcased a variety of regional and ethnic music The club “educated a lot of people to the cultures of America,” Pearl told The Times in 1993 “It legitimized the American potpourri and gave it a dignified stage.” who helped found the Peace & Freedom Party in 1967 as the Vietnam War deepened He long believed that a series of arson-related fires at his club were attempts to stop his social activism the Ash Grove was billed as the “West Coast university of folk music.” Hundreds of artists appeared there ranging from New Orleans zydeco master Clifton Chenier to Jim Croce The Ash Grove hosted events and was a meeting place for people involved in a variety of causes including the emerging civil rights movement It served as the center of Los Angeles’ highly influential folk music scene when it was in West Hollywood from 1958 until the 1973 He was the middle of five children born to parents who had both fled the violent attacks on Jews in Russia in the early 1900s The two met at a Jewish youth social club in Los Angeles there was a lot of different racial and ethnic communities there,” Pearl’s daughter Jolie said “He had a lot of different kinds of friends and that set the stage for him to be open to other cultures I got the feeling that he always enjoyed music He was curious about life and determined to make his own way — through music or social activism.” hosted the Ash Grove’s predecessors — the famed hootenannies — at her home in the early 1950s Pearl was attending UCLA at the time and was a member of the university’s folk song club that produced concerts including Pete Seeger’s appearance at the university while he was blacklisted According to letters reviewed by his daughter Pearl would stay up all night having discussions and playing music instead of studying He ultimately dropped out and convinced several family members to help him finance the Ash Grove which began as a coffeehouse before evolving into a shrine for the emerging folk and rock musicians of the 1960s the club finally reopened on the renovated Santa Monica Pier in 1996 It shut in 1997 when the city evicted the beleaguered nightspot His venue eventually lived on as the Ash Grove Foundation a philanthropic organization that stages concerts lectures and community performances to support young artists Pearl is survived by his daughter and granddaughter as well as Bernie Pearl and two other brothers A reference librarian and social services bibliographer Anita Schiller was credited with bringing to light the pay inequities for female librarians and co-wrote an award-winning prescient article on the privatizing of government information was appointed a member of the California Council for the Humanities and received the highest honor from the American Library Association for what it described as “her groundbreaking efforts to enhance the status of women in librarianship.” 23 after testing positive for COVID-19 and eventually being hospitalized Schiller was born in New York City in 1926 and lived in San Diego since 1970 working at UC San Diego over the years as a reference librarian social sciences bibliographer and data services librarian wrote in a memorial to his mother that she was very young when she learned about the need for collective action from her parents and married him in Berlin where he was working as an officer in occupied Germany in 1946 Once while she was flying to Paris on a military aircraft with a friend the plane caught fire and she parachuted over the eastern zone of Germany New Mexico said her friend survived after the plane crash-landed and his mother was rescued from a tree by Russian soldiers Anita earned a master’s degree in library science from Pratt Institute and was working at the University of Illinois when she researched unequal library service delivered to poor areas in East St She also conducted a major survey of salaries paid to employees by 2,000 colleges and research libraries across the country revealing significant pay disparities between men and women The work resulted in speaking engagements and the publication in 1968 of her study “Characteristics of Professional Personnel in College and University Libraries.” “It was the first such study that showed the extent of the disparity,” Dan said “It has made her a kind of heroine for librarians Dan said he and his brother began receiving emails from people across the country telling them of the impact she made on their lives “It does give you a feeling of here’s a life well spent together won the 1982 Gold Pen Prize by the Los Angeles-based Pen Center for their article about the privatizing of government information Dan said his mother tested positive for COVID-19 on Jan she was hospitalized just days before she died was immediately struck by the eagerness radiating from a new parish priest when she met him for the first time to discuss putting on legal clinics for his migrant parishioners Let’s start,” Father Francisco Valdovinos told Gallegos a legal center for migrants in the Coachella Valley That was her introduction to the pastor of Our Lady Guadalupe Church in Mecca a man who had forged a legacy everywhere he worked over more than 25 years as a member of the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity in the small pueblo of Santa Ana Amatlan in Mexico’s Michoacán state was a tireless luminary who rose beyond his duties as a spiritual leader to tackle the needs of the community members he served to bring these different resources to his community that was in much need,” Gallegos said low-income agricultural community of Mecca in May 2018 he had already blazed a long trail of spiritual and community service in Mexico where he served as pastor until 2017 and partnered with the Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles to start a literacy program at his parish Valdovinos brought the same literacy program to Mecca a small town near the Salton Sea in Riverside County and quickly became a hit as he delivered sermons and tended to parishioners with verve The priest was a common sight in the fields on the outskirts of town where he’d appear suddenly with sack lunches for the sweltering workers “He was always with the people,” said Emma Fernandez a secretary who worked closely with Valdovinos at the Mecca church “Sometimes he’d come back from the grape fields and tell us let's encourage them to keep on with their studies.’” Valdovinos paid special attention to Mecca’s large Purépecha community the same state where Valdovinos was raised in a family of farmworkers remembered Valdovinos telling him: “I’m here to serve the entire community but I really want to focus on helping the Purépechas.” Valdovinos long discussed adding an additional Mass to be delivered entirely in the Purépecha language “This is the person our community needed,” Ortiz said The pandemic only heightened Valdovinos’ humanitarian zeal Every week he stood out by the parish’s front doors and helped load food boxes into cars streaming in from a long caravan that coiled into the church parking lot from the street Valdovinos also ensured that his parish became a regular coronavirus testing site When he fell ill with COVID-19 in December Valdovinos needed to be persuaded to go to the hospital He didn’t want to abandon his front-line work His followers agonized for weeks as Valdovinos fought for his life at JFK Memorial Hospital in Indio More than a thousand people poured into a Facebook Live session to pray for a miracle His hospitalization and death sent shockwaves through Mecca and stamped out myths about the virus that had been circulating there Many have processed Valdovinos’ death as his final noble act “We’re using his life as an example of what it is to be a servant,” Gallegos said “A real community servant who gave his life to protect his community.” If you look closely at just the right time you can glimpse Claudine Pearson Luppi riding a camel through an Egyptian desert in the 1954 motion picture “Valley of the Kings.” Luppi was an extra in that largely forgotten film her only reward a lunch with its leading man It’s unfortunate that Hollywood didn’t keep in touch after that because Luppi went on to lead a life so adventurous it seemed made for the big screen making her own contribution when she helped organize a reception in New Delhi for Jacqueline Kennedy during the first lady's 1962 goodwill trip to India Kennedy's trip came amid intense geopolitical tension yet won over a nation and turned her into a global icon “A Dinner for the First Lady,” are on file at the John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston During the Indo-Pakistani war nine years later where she took charge of their care and published a daily newsletter to keep them informed She and her diplomat husband divorced when she was 49 after which she headed back to the Middle East on her own to teach elementary school in Saudi Arabia Claudine lived quite a life,” said Glory Ellen Pearson Peel Asked to describe her cousin in just one word “Either that,” she added “or you could call her a self-made woman.” who spent the final years of her life in a nursing home in Sherman Oaks after suffering a stroke Friends and relatives prefer to focus on her remarkable life The eldest of eight children born into poverty in Lewiston Claudine Pearson was caring for her siblings by the time she was 5 “My mom came from nothing,” daughter Mary Basich said “She came from being a barefoot little kid in rural Idaho to really self-styling her own kind of glamorous world-traveler role.” She had stints as a journalist in Idaho and Las Vegas attended Brigham Young University and American University taught grade school and high school on two continents co-authored a cookbook and lived in more than half a dozen states and four countries “We called her the Energizer Bunny,” her daughter said Luppi got her first real job as a reporter at the tiny Lewiston Morning Tribune after graduating high school in 1946 The two shared a desire to travel and see the world they set out to do just that when Hobart became a diplomat with the U.S Claudine Luppi was a visible face of the American government during their postings “She was extremely involved in the local American community,” said Basich who was born during her parents’ time in India “She was really kind of a striking leader.” asked if there was anything her cousin couldn’t do Emilia Ibarra immigrated to the United States from Mexico putting down stakes in Fresno and giving birth to a son Eager to familiarize herself with her new country she took English language courses as she raised her son as a single mom working first as a massage therapist at a resort in La Quinta and later doing volunteer work to assist undocumented workers in the region Emilia would read the Bible with friends and every Sunday she attended Our Lady of Soledad Church with her son Ibarra was “very close to her faith,” Joshua said Well known in the community because of all the events and causes she supported Ibarra helped local migrants by providing them with food and second-handed clothes and took part in charity events at her church she performed dances from her homeland at the annual date festivals “She did more than at least 400 hours of community service work,” Joshua said Joshua remembered his mother opened her door to a family going through hard times and sheltered them for a month for free she would bring bread and wine for communion at local nursing homes Ibarra loved watching Korean soap operas with Spanish subtitles on television She even added “Salaheyo” -- “I love you” in Korean – to her vocabulary Joshua said his mother always made time to support him She cheered him on when he ran cross country took him to Mass when he graduated from high school and swelled with pride when he was accepted to Cal State San Bernardino Ibarra’s health began to decline in recent years first a stroke and then a bout of breast cancer She also had difficulty breathing because of constant bronchitis and carried an inhaler likely from her son who worked as a caregiver for people with disabilities in a nursing home During Joshua’s self-quarantine after he tested positive Ibarra took care of him but showed symptoms herself after just one day had trouble sleeping and had difficulty catching her breath in early May and was admitted to Eisenhower Medical Center Some nights at Miceli’s Italian Restaurant Nylo Corado’s attention shifted to the gospel number playing from the piano as he cleared tables after a busy dinner service Corado would take a seat at the drums by the piano “He was like ‘I'm gonna find the beat’ And we just jammed out and it was a beautiful thing.” They each had a background in music at their respective churches It wasn’t unlike the moments Corado shared at home after work with his wife who assembled around him as he strummed his guitar and led them in the songs he had learned playing in a church’s band in his native Guatemala 5 at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center after a two-week battle with COVID-19 but he devoted every possible second off the clock to his family If a friend asked Corado to join them on a quick trip to the store he would agree — but only if he could bring his family Anyone who knew Corado also knew about his “nene” and “nena” 5 He jumped at any opportunity to show photos of them Corado was raised by his grandparents in the small seaside town of Puerto San Jose Guatemala until his grandfather passed away and they could no longer afford to raise him A 10-year-old Corado then took a one-way bus 70 miles inland to Guatemala City to stay with another relative He stayed in the capital through the rest of his childhood and young adulthood working to support himself and cycling through temporary homes with relatives and friends in the city He maintained a long-distance relationship with Bautista Corado was known for his diligence and kind heart He occasionally got to exercise his passion for music while on the job The restaurant is known for its cast of professionally trained singing waiters and waitresses would often steal the show with a surprise performance He famously sang the refrain in Henry Belafonte’s “Banana Boat Song,” Sharpe said Corado had been teaching Andred and Victoria how to swim One of the family’s favorite pastimes was going to the beach at Santa Monica Corado watched his kids splash at the water’s edge and reflected on his own childhood on the beach in Puerto San Jose where he learned to fish and swim with his cousins “He didn’t get to have a whole lot of time with our kids,” Bautista said “But the time he did have with them was the best.” One of Corado’s dreams was to return with his family to live in Guatemala adding that he had already bought a home there In addition to his wife and young children Patricia Jewel Lopes treasured her family and its rituals including walking her only son -- her miracle baby -- to elementary school in the mid-1970s in the East Bay city of San Leandro so her husband crafted a compromise: Patricia would accompany young John three-quarters of the way until they reached a coffee shop near the school “Let her have that,” John Lopes III recalls his father telling him Young John soon warmed to their routine because they often would stop at the shop where Patricia would treat him to hot chocolate before school “She was the best mom she could be,” John Lopes III recalled “She brought a lot of value to people’s lives by making them feel special.” Patricia was the eighth of 10 children born to Orren and Bessie Hartman of Marshfield she lost her beloved mother.She had to drop out of eighth grade to care for her ailing grandfather on the farm she moved with an older brother and his wife to Alaska and became a nanny for their children She eventually accompanied them to Northern California They married in 1960.She adored her husband and yearned for a family tragedy almost struck when a motorist smashed into the Lopes’ vehicle The couple feared they had lost the child due to the collision Patricia’s life revolved around her family She shagged fly balls for him during practice she frequented a neighborhood nursing home just to chat with the patients she lovingly sent care packages to him in Germany John would bring dinner and groceries every Monday They would watch the San Francisco Giants; she enjoyed Buster Posey Pablo Sandoval and the amiable former manager “She always loved people who smiled,” John III said Phone calls included the question: “How’s John-John doing?,” her son said “She always cared about other people -- much more than for herself.” Patricia entered a skilled nursing center near her son’s Modesto home bonding with her 90-year-old roommate -- until the pandemic struck and the isolation took its toll and her health declined Lopes IV and Brandon Burgess; granddaughter Stacy Reeves; brother Orren C Saludacion “Sally” Solon Fontanilla came from the Philippines and built a full life in the United States traveling regularly with her husband and enjoying a community in their mutual workplace: St Fontanilla was born in the town of Tupi in the southern Philippines and began her nursing career soon after moving to the U.S spending about a month each time reuniting with family and friends — including a high school buddy The two had sat a couple of desks apart in class They went to the movies and bowled together what do you think?” Ben recalled with a laugh at a wedding their friends arranged in the Filipino city of General Santos After three years in a long-distance marriage she waited for him to arrive so they could decide together which house and car to purchase Ben went back to school for nursing and soon landed a job at St where his wife had been working since 1997 They adjusted easily to their new life together making friends and developing a work family Sally worked the night shift in the telemetry unit where patients are often in critical condition and need constant monitoring Mary assigned to care for COVID-19 patients and Sally piled on layers of personal protective equipment before doling out medication Sally initially took some time off work when the pandemic started but the veteran nurse couldn't stay away too long It was at the end of one of those shifts that Sally began to feel sick She came home with a low-grade fever and cough where she was tested for the virus and soon hospitalized Tethered to a ventilator for almost two months 5 at the hospital where she had worked for 23 years “These cases of COVID are real for front-line workers like us,” Ben said Co-workers in Sally’s tight-knit work community gathered recently to release a bouquet of colorful balloons etched with heartfelt messages: Miss you forever “I guess you don’t realize how tight you are with your work family until you experience something like this and I think everybody kind of came together at the end and realized how much we mean to each other,” Lampman said That extended work family continues to embrace Ben who would have celebrated his 20-year anniversary with Sally in December the two took trips almost every spring and autumn including visits to see the cherry blossoms in Washington They had planned an Alaskan cruise this spring Sometimes they come in and bring me some food I’m all alone in the house because there [were] just two of us.” were looking forward to seeing Fernando Jr They had both raised him and saw his graduation as a validation that their sacrifices had been worth it Both Alberto and the elder Fernando Reyes died of COVID-19 in April just before I was set to walk the stage for commencement was something I really struggle with,” Fernando Reyes Jr taking long shifts at the front desk at the Ritz-Carlton and Omni hotels in San Francisco so that he could provide for his family He didn’t really have any free time and usually needed to rest on his one day off felt lucky for the small moments with his dad whether taking a drive around San Francisco to pick up his pay stub or catching a movie because he was making sacrifices so I could be comfortable,” Fernando Jr Alberto took care of his grandson while his son was working and together they built a bright-red swing in his backyard in Vallejo had instilled a strong sense of Filipino values in the younger Reyes especially generosity and the importance of family would spend about a month every year in the Philippines bringing balikbayan boxes — corrugated boxes with everyday essentials — to friends and family there got sick with what they believed to be COVID-19 Although they had been divorced since Fernando Jr While Alberto was admitted to Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center Alberto died in the hospital April 20; his son died April 22 Miriam Reyes Valbuena and Maria Angelie Reyes; Fernando Jr.; and Miriam Reyes Valbuena’s children As music blared and a convention of skiers from all over the country partied into the night Julia Alexander stood on a dance floor at Idaho’s Sun Valley Ski Resort in early March smiling and dancing alongside a costumed dinosaur She just was a few weeks shy of her 82nd birthday “She was not a feeble old woman at all,” her daughter A retired teacher and San Diego school administrator now living in Upland she and her daughter had been to China and Brazil and Australia They cruised the Mediterranean and saw south France from a riverboat There were plans for much more -- at least one international trip per year -- when mother and daughter traveled to Ketchum Idaho for the National Brotherhood of Skiers’ annual Black Summit It was in Idaho where she and her daughter both contracted COVID-19 in what would later be recognized as a super-spreader event who would come “within an inch” of losing his life the virus quickly tore through their family as her daughters watched on an iPad in a different room of the hospital She was one of four known to have died after contracting COVID-19 at the skiers convention in what would be her last conversation with her daughter Alexander remembered their final trip with only fondness “She was present to the fact that she lived a good life,” Kathy said later Alexander grew up during a time that called for such courage as segregation and Jim Crow policies reigned throughout the South she moved West to live with her brother and sister-in-law in San Diego met her first husband and spent the majority of her adult life Her calling as an educator came almost as naturally as her famous banana pudding Over 30 years with the San Diego Unified School District before becoming a vice principal at Nye Elementary she often pre-checked their assignments and returned them with corrections she was still fortifying her grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s schooling with follow-up lessons at night who was recovering from double knee surgery Kathy’s daughter found her grandmother shivering under a blanket at her home in Upland The novel coronavirus had only just begun wreaking havoc in the United States who remained in the hospital through early May He was told of his mother’s death only after he regained consciousness several days later The rest of the family has since recovered from COVID-19 Kathy has often returned to that final conversation with her mom -- and the strength she showed in her final days It was that sense of courage that punctuated her entire life Richard Ellwood was a family man through and through The small things in life brought him great joy He’d show up for Shabbat dinner on Friday night and tell his daughters he was the luckiest man ever “He didn’t need something extravagant or expensive It was just sitting down and holding my hand for two minutes,” said his daughter “Those were the moments that made him so happy.” Ellwood died at the age of 81 of complications from COVID-19 after a nearly three-week battle that his family thought he would win he emailed his family his regular goodnight message had washed his pajamas in anticipation of his return home and Meppen had ordered all the ingredients to make his favorite pasta: a savory dish with a homemade low-salt marinara sauce mixed with sautéed vegetables and ground chicken These simple acts of love defined a close-knit family that had taken good care of each other throughout the pandemic and long before but what he would share with you was from his heart,” said Meppen he wanted to tell you he was proud of you.” He received his bachelor’s degree from Cal State L.A. a trade he maintained for more than 40 years even tending to the needs of a few of his faithful clients from his hospital bed Taking care of his souped-up Mustang was a favorite pastime and everyone in the family agreed that one day he should get a Corvette and was known to sneak away from the table after dinner to sneak a cookie or a piece of cake His children would then cut the pilfered piece in half in an attempt to keep him healthy we always knew what he was going to do,” Meppen said “He saw always the good in people,” she said “That kept him enjoying his life and his relationships.” Deborah Lynn Aguilar’s son Stephen was driving home from a neighborhood convenience store when shots rang out from another vehicle She founded a support group and spent the next 18 years comforting those who had lost loved ones to gun violence in Salinas She would rush to crime scenes to hug shell-shocked parents and let them know they were not alone in their grief She helped organize marches and vigils in Salinas and Sacramento and Washington She and other bereaved mothers spoke to Soledad state prison inmates to steer them away from violence and gang life “She helped a lot of families,” said Aguilar’s sister “My sister was a beautiful example to everyone.” held a memorial vigil in a Salinas park for victims of street violence They would light a Christmas tree and Aguilar “would be Mrs Claus and read to the children and give them gifts,” Duran said Afterward families would go to a nearby church hall to share a potluck meal and display photos of those they had lost Aguilar remained strong and upbeat in the face of continued death “My sister was always the one who kept us together Aguilar was in good health until she was hospitalized with COVID-19 Francesca and Christopher; five grandchildren; brothers Robert By Bettina Boxall The word "Poetry" was tattooed on David Iribarne’s arm in ornate script not that anyone who read his vivid verse or heard him speak at the Sacramento Poetry Center or coffeehouses in his hometown needed confirmation he was a poet to his core He wrote about love and loss and relationships with a keen and empathetic eye Writing allowed him to unburden his soul and strengthen it “Bones Skin & Soul,” was published in 2014 by Cold River Press and it was a crowning achievement He was bipolar and had been bruised by life but he learned to manage his condition as best he could and had gotten training to help others in therapy sessions He could be very sweet,” said Laura Martin who ran a Thursday night writers’ group where Iribarne found a haven They had known each other at Sacramento State and reconnected when she joined Sacramento’s poetry community; he introduced her around and shared a performance stage with her “I know he wrote about a lot of things,” Martin said “but in the group he started writing more about his family He would get really good feedback when he wrote about family because he knew a lot about loss It’s a very sacred thing when a writer shares those things.” Iribarne’s appearance was as striking as his poetry His brother Matthew loved the contrast between Iribarne’s hulking build and gentle nature “Seeing him walking down the street towards you Iribarne constantly dribbled a basketball in the house and played basketball at Sacramento High Matthew recalled his brother once lost a tooth when he dunked and the backboard came down on top of him He fearlessly cheered for his beloved Philadelphia 76ers when they played the Kings in Sacramento and it would have been easy to guess he had been an NBA player because he stood 6-foot-5 “And not like a beanpole 6-foot-5,” Matthew said which is why when you played him in basketball — which I did on occasion — probably your best bet was to get out of the way His physical solidity led Matthew and their sister Nancy Gervais to believe Iribarne would recover after he was diagnosed with COVID-19 And for a short time he seemed to rally while hospitalized But then the 47-year-old took a turn for the worse and died on Sept one of thousands of Californians who have fallen victim to the coronavirus “I think that it’s so overwhelming and it does just become numbers I think people need to realize we have feelings and we love them,” Gervais said “I think it’s important that you tell people’s stories In his obituary in the Sacramento Bee and elsewhere his family requested donations in David’s memory be made to the Sacramento Poetry Center as somebody who struggled with making public appearances and speaking in front of people,” said Tim Kahl “He was able to work up the courage after coming to the open mic several times and as he got to know people they encouraged him more and more because his work was incredibly sincere.” The center also hosted a book launch/birthday party for him when his book was published and he couldn’t attend Cindy Domasky became a mother figure to Iribarne at the writing group and visited him at the care facilities where he lived in recent years She’d bring a copy of his book to the nurses’ station so they’d appreciate who he truly was Iribarne hadn’t been able to attend the writers’ group for several years but Martin told him there was always a place for him at the table “He was always excited that we were keeping it open for him So I still feel like we have a chair for him,” Domasky said he was in a motorcycle accident so severe that it almost took his life Doctors told his family there was no longer any detectable brain activity and asked if they could start harvesting organs He went on to stop abusing drugs and alcohol — something he struggled with in his adolescence — and would stay sober for more than 30 years He became a sponsor through Alcoholics Anonymous helping hundreds of other recovering addicts said that story that best encapsulates his brother who died from COVID-19 in San Jose on March 23 “Even though he was rough around the edges,” Granstedt said compassion and caring to help those like him deal with their demons.” Theodore Granstedt was a Northern California native who continued to love long motorcycle rides across the country A husband to wife Brenda Shepard; a brother; an uncle and a loyal friend Granstedt started feeling ill three weeks before his death When he eventually did make it to O’Connor Hospital he was only there for a night before he died Ed got a text from his brother at 12:19 a.m By Julissa James Sally Lara was working part time as a phlebotomist at Riverside Community Hospital who had recently retired from full time work at Redlands Community Hospital decided to pick up more shifts to help during the crisis she fought with the hospital’s administration over worker safety They complained that the hospital provided proper protective gear only to only nurses and physicians Lara was at the forefront of advocating for hospital workers across all departments to have equal protection and safety said she believed the lack of protective equipment and safety protocols may have cost her mother her life “The legacy that she left behind is to just know who you are and you can make a difference,” Campos said Lara was able to secure a hotel room to self-quarantine when she started showing coronavirus symptoms on Mother’s Day weekend so Campos and her brother took her to a hospital in Redlands where she remained on a ventilator for nearly 20 days who said her mother grew up in a turbulent household with an abusive father She just would stand up for her siblings or take the hit instead of them,” Campos said “I think because she came from such a sad childhood she refused to have that be the way she lived her life.” “She just didn't want that for her kids or her grandkids and she wanted to break that generational curse,” Campos added Lara met her first husband at Victory Outreach Pomona a church that specializes in providing housing and rehabilitation services She worked with women who were homeless and struggling with substance abuse and helped scores of them recover and start anew “When she passed and I shared her story on Facebook .. so many messages from people that I had no idea who they were ‘Your mom changed my life’ or ‘Your mom was an angel in my life.’ or ‘She helped me so much or she seen me when no one else did.’ ” Campos believes her mother will be remembered for the lessons she imparted to others “‘It’s all about perspective,’” she remembers her mother saying “That's the way she would always tell us like ‘you can either miss me because I'm gone It's about your attitude and how you choose to apply it.’ ” a veteran character actor who was a vital player in classic 1970s films such as “The Conversation” and “Nashville,” has died at a rest home in Los Angeles from complications of COVID-19 said he died April 14 at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital the industry retirement facility where several staffers and some residents have tested positive for the virus N.J.-born Garfield first set out as a boxer and a sportswriter While covering sports for New Jersey’s Star-Ledger he studied acting at night and eventually joined the Actors Studio Garfield would become a supporting-player mainstay of some of the best films of the ’70s including Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Conversation”; “The Candidate” with Robert Redford; Robert Altman’s “Nashville”; Woody Allen’s “Bananas”; Billy Wilder’s “The Front Page”; William Friedkin’s “The Brink’s Job”; and Richard Rush’s “The Stunt Man.” In “Nashville,” Garfield played the manager and husband of Ronee Blakley’s country star He plays the furious police chief in 1987’s “Beverly Hills Cop II” who goes on an expletive-laden tirade against Eddie Murphy Judge Reinhold and John Ashton before he gets fired himself including one shortly before filming Roman Polanski’s “The Ninth Gate” in 1999 and one in 2004 that led to his residence at the Motion Picture & Television Fund home in Woodland Hills Ray Hylton’s arrival was much anticipated at family gatherings unique outfit would he be wearing this time What kind of flowers did he pick up for his sisters did he come equipped with his delicious arroz con coco “He was just so colorful,” niece Natalie Lopez died of complications from COVID-19 on Jan Hylton couldn’t help but shower his family with love he loved to surprise them with his famous “Money Time” — two words that summoned a flock of kids ready to collect Hylton’s spare change He was the second-youngest child and only boy out of four siblings who were raised mostly by their mom Hylton started working on a farm at age 5 to help support the family Hylton and his family left Guatemala to take up farmworker jobs near Vancouver when Hylton was about 18 they found farming jobs in Washington state before finally settling in the Los Angeles area Hylton did a little bit of everything when he was in his 20s in Los Angeles He became a certified electrician and worked at Alpha Beta a now defunct grocery chain; he took English classes to master the new language; he attended a local community college; he got his real estate license; and he rode around in his prized MG Midget but my dad did a hell of a job with me,” Chris said Hylton drove Chris to and from school every day He put him in baseball in middle school and high school And he made sure to regularly smother him with hugs and kisses Hylton had worked at the CVS distribution center in La Habra for the last 30 years Ten years ago he bought a home in Victorville he bought an RV to live closer to work during the week He showed up with donuts at Chris' house after his 12-hour overnight shifts Chris and Chris’ wife Michelle would all go to the gym together Sometimes Chris would join Hylton at his favorite club where his dad broke a sweat dancing to old disco tracks No one else in the family quite matched Hylton’s authenticity “He not only stood out with his personality or good character but he was also really creative with his hats Even his hobbies were really unique,” said Lopez his loving personality and even some of his subtle idiosyncrasies like the way he chewed his food Zaeptha and Belvenia; half-sisters Scarlett and Caroline; half-brother Jerry; three grandchildren and many nieces and nephews Erane Marie Garrett was known for her energy Garrett enjoyed passing out popcorn with the staff at her Sonoma nursing home and looked forward to monthly hula exercise lessons and shows put on by her daughter She still knew the words -- some in Hawaiaan -- to the popular song “She learned them as a child on the radio,” said Donna Keegan was born and raised in San Francisco and worked as a secretary for years in Oakland The mother of two also lived in Alameda for a while to be close to her younger daughter Garrett was originally going to be named Irene but the priest who baptized her pronounced her name “Erane” After her husband left her alone to raise two young girls Garrett got a job as a secretary in the personnel department at Moore Dry Dock She also worked as a secretary for a now-defunct paper company Garrett made sure her daughters attended private Catholic school and the two awoke to freshly-polished shoes each morning for school Garrett and the girls would walk or take the bus to a local swimming pool even though Garrett did not know how to swim herself “She would always take us down there to give us a nice thing to do on the weekends,” Keegan said Garrett volunteered at her grandchildren’s school and for Meals on Wheels made the trip to Kona on the big island of Hawaii just to be there When Garrett tested positive for COVID-19 and had to be isolated she tried sneaking out of her room at her nursing home “She wanted to be out where the people were,” Keegan said Keegan taught a hula exercise class once a month for the residents Keegan would also take her mother to her own hula performances at the nearby Sonoma Valley Woman’s Club Garrett beamed with pride as she watched her daughter six grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren Maria Teresa Banson was known as "Mama Teng," the go-to person for students or coworkers who were looking for advice In her Human Behavioral Organization class she motivated her students to “go out of your comfort zone and explore the world in a different perspective,” wrote Ria Uy-Salazar but a great teacher leaves a positive impact to one’s journey in life after school.” Paul in Iloilo City for more than 20 years before moving to Southern California in 2005 she worked as a secretary for an immigration law firm and later as a clerk at the Hubert H Banson had hypertension and borderline diabetes which made her more susceptible to the coronavirus She died of complications from COVID-19 on June 27 whose four adult children also immigrated to the U.S. she would go to the malls with her best friend Paul’s when they were both in the Philippines sometimes visiting former students in different parts of the United States Columban Catholic Church near downtown Los Angeles or St Banson had a good memory and often sent cards on her friends’ birthdays and always brought extra food for her colleagues and friends Valdevieso wrote on the GoFundMe page: “Teng was a caring and thoughtful person She would show up in my doorsteps with fruits or just anything she could think of.” “We were not brought up [on]...sodas and juices but every time she would remember to give extra sweets like chocolates to us,” Aileen said She remembered getting the sweets in school lunch boxes with notes saying “good luck today” or “I love you.” Aileen inherited the knack of helping others from her mom she lent 10,000 pesos to a friend and didn’t get it back she remembered her mother telling her: “You have to look out for yourself You only give extra to other people if you know we have something for yourselves.” “That’s my mantra in life now [that] she’s away,” Aileen said Maria is survived by her husband; two brothers Danilo Baltazar and Mario Baltazar; her four children Jule Bryan Banson and Ken Philip Banson; and one grandchild It was always easy to spot Deborah Elizabeth Gallagher -- she liked to stand out “She drove an orange Volkswagen bug with flames on the sides,” said Gallagher’s son “She bought it from a high-schooler who was a neighbor.” “She didn’t want to be seen in anything that wasn’t showy.” she and her sisters attended Notre Dame Academy With her jet-black hair and bright blue eyes Gallagher was voted the “Irish Colleen” of Toledo by the local newspaper -- an award given to the girl who looked “most Irish” in honor of St but their home base eventually became Idaho Falls It was there that she picked up the flaming VW bug “My mom had really close relationships with older people and was connected to them Gallagher enjoyed the company of the older residents She liked to help them with their grocery shopping or just take them around town “She really believed older people were worthwhile and found them to be so much fun Gallagher would often enlist the support of her seven children too bringing meals over to the elderly or shoveling their walks and mowing lawns,” Charles said “She was very young at heart -- she never thought she was old,” said Charles “She always wanted to come back to California,” said Charles She moved into an assisted living center in Sacramento and quickly got to work befriending the other residents But Gallagher refused to see herself as a senior Accustomed to being the one taking care of others Gallagher was resistant to being on the receiving end of caregiving ‘I don’t need anyone to take care of me,’” said Charles And Gallagher made it her mission to befriend everyone “She thought she was 30 years younger than she actually was.” Her vim led to quite a few accidents “There were a few falls in the last couple years where she broke her wrist he’d often bring along Werther’s butterscotch candies We would walk around the building together too “I got special permission to go in before she died,” said Pat Gallagher had made several trips to the hospital he knew it was one last opportunity for her to have a ride in an attention-grabbing vehicle “I told the people driving the ambulance to put the lights on and the siren ‘My mom likes to be the center of attention Deborah Elizabeth Gallagher died from complications related to COVID-19 on April 22 at age 96 nine grandchildren and a great-granddaughter Arthur Montoya II helped run the family restaurant known in Indio and beyond for its authentic Mexican food and friendly service remembers spending afternoons and nights at Teresa’s Cafe walking to his family’s restaurant from the nearby library and then waiting for his father to get off work or to eat with the family The family brought the visitor food “without any hesitation,” Vicente said in the military or through 43 years at the Imperial Irrigation District that Vicente said he will remember most about his father after Montoya died Sept 10 due to COVID-19 complications at the age of 70 Montoya often provided a soundtrack of music and laughter he brought his guitar overseas while deployed during the Vietnam War He took his kids to the Tejano Music Awards in San Antonio It was only a short time from when Montoya was admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 symptoms to his death but Vicente still feared the possibility of an outbreak Vicente was grateful for the opportunity to honor his father and gain closure after his death knowing that many other families couldn’t hold memorials during the pandemic but I’m hoping that his death won’t be in vain,” Vicente said “and that people will think about actually wearing the mask more than they do and really take it seriously.” Vivian Anne Fierro would have been celebrating 31 years of being sober on June 9 She spent her three decades clean helping those around her who also struggled with addiction She worked as a group facilitator at an addiction treatment center a marriage and family therapist and was an active member of East Los Angeles’ Narcotics Anonymous group died on April 25 of COVID-19 complications — and those she helped in their addiction recovery have showered her Facebook page with memories and thank yous Her brother Dave remembers attending many of his sister’s basketball games in the mid-80s at East Los Angeles College where she earned her Associate of Arts degree “She had that Mamba-esque mentality,” her brother said Fierro left Los Angeles for the Bay Area where she joined the San Francisco Conservation Corps an organization dedicated to helping young adults and improving San Francisco’s environment and to open up your life and boundaries,” Dave said It opened up her heart and soul to the idea that there is more to life than the East L.A Fierro later returned to Los Angeles and continued helping others “She believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself,” her Narcotics Anonymous sponsee Donna said “She was really good at seeing what it was you needed help with.” Fierro even put a homeless friend in a motel for an entire week “She would be one of those few people who would put their hand out and make you feel safe.” Fierro’s body was found in her Commerce apartment after a general welfare check An autopsy revealed she was positive for COVID-19 She is survived by her father Alfonso and brothers Daniel and Dave “Thank you for being a rainbow in my cloud,” one Narcotics Anonymous friend wrote on her Facebook page Her life was synonymous with early Hollywood’s golden age “I remember Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney playing outside the window and Katharine Hepburn was always trying to get me to play tennis.” she said in a 2015 interview Bernstein was still a Fairfax High student when she landed an after-school typing job at MGM Studios that propelled her into a life spent on movie sets Bernstein worked as filmmaker Stanley Kramer’s executive secretary befriending the likes of Sidney Poitier and Vivien Leigh along the way Leah Bernstein died at age 99 from complications of COVID-19 She was the sixth resident of the Motion Picture and Television Fund skilled-nursing home to die from the virus Her family has since praised the heroism of those who helped care for her while the virus spread through the Woodland Hills facility Bernstein grew up dreaming of a life in the movie business After working every night until midnight at MGM she resolved to put herself through Woodbury Business College to become an executive secretary Her trademark wit caught on quickly among Hollywood executives witty sense of humor and was a flirt until her last days,” Bob Beitcher Beitcher said Bernstein often noted her pride in the social impact that the movies she created with Kramer made The Oscar-winning filmmaker also died at MPTF in 2001 Bernstein spent most of her time volunteering or with her family as well as three grand-nieces and -nephews and nine great-grand-nieces and -nephews He was a father of five girls who gave his youngest daughter his own first name And when he would visit the Compton mobile home park where his parents lived all the kids in the neighborhood flocked to him Garibaldo loved playing soccer and football with the children in his big and he would even show off how to do a handstand while riding Garibaldo was 55 when he died on April 11 of COVID-19 he came to visit my mom and he had a full head of white hair “He was only older by like three minutes.” Alonso said her family is reeling from its losses to COVID-19 Where there should have been a dining table in Richard Geoffrey Salmon’s home He always kept his favorite things front and center “He reminded everyone that you didn’t have to be embarrassed about the things that brought you joy,” Salmon’s nephew Aaron Curtiss said you didn’t have to put the things of your childhood behind you you could adapt them and enjoy them and if it brought you joy kept the same enthusiasm even while living with Parkinson’s disease at Lindsay Gardens Nursing and Rehabilitation outside Visalia where he continued to build models with trembling hands Salmon's family said their goodbyes through the window Salmon was the second of four kids and oldest boy born to Nancy and Richard Salmon in Visalia Jim jokingly called them the Salmon Tabernacle Choir Salmon brought his baritone voice to a barbershop quartet he returned to Visalia to work at his family’s furniture store Salmon eagerly shared his passion with the kids Now Curtiss’ office in Denver is full of model railroad locomotives Although the family is scattered across the country from California to New York his mother arranged for her brother to leave the nursing home Salmon sat in his wheelchair and talked about the things he recently read Curtiss talked to him about trains and model railroads Along with the physical signs of the disease Parkinson’s had robbed Salmon of “a certain sharpness but he continued to see the uncle he knew best when Salmon spoke to Curtiss’ young sons “They loved him because they could see that sweetness that genuine sense that he cared about them and engaged with them,” Curtiss said “and that’s all any of us look for in life: that somebody hears us and sees us and loves us for who we are Distance could not stop Roger Santicruz from taking care of his family When his niece in Las Vegas texted the family group chat that she had car trouble he was ready to book a flight from San Jose to help her “He [would drop] everything he’s doing when one of us needed help,” his oldest son As a former ground crew worker for American Airlines and used that to his advantage in his retirement traveled together frequently and had seen the pope at Vatican City The couple had just returned to their home in San Jose from the Philippines Santicruz came down with a cough and was admitted to Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose along with Tessie and their three children where he found a job at the Columbia Records pressing plant where he worked at San Jose International Airport and San Francisco International Airport “Once he woke up in the morning and made his coffee after that he would start working,” Lester said and would spend his free time working on backyard projects and gardening met Santicruz while coaching a local basketball league that his grandkids were in Santicruz would come over to Fadrilan’s house to watch boxer Manny Pacquiao’s championship fights and Fadrilan would attend Santicruz’s golden wedding anniversary celebration he would leave whomever he was with to welcome Fadrilan “He was very down to earth,” Fadrilan said Fadrilan and his wife planted a succulent in his name then I have a continued memory of Roger,” Fadrilan said For all the hit songs he drove up the charts for all the admiration he drew as he rearranged the pop music landscape there was a darkness deep in Phil Spector’s soul that would forever shadow his genius Even as anthems such as the Ronettes’ “Be My Baby” and the Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin‘” erupted from radios across America the acclaimed record producer was a brooding manic man with a white-hot temper and a fondness for gunplay all of which would manifest itself on a winter morning in 2003 when he fatally shot actress and nightclub hostess Lana Clarkson in the foyer of his castle-like mansion in Alhambra Dispatched to prison after being convicted of second-degree murder Spector died Saturday while in custody in a Northern California hospital where he was being treated according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Spector was hospitalized after becoming ill with COVID-19 said a source familiar with his medical condition who wasn’t authorized to speak publicly on the matter Spector had been an inmate at the California Health Care Facility in Stockton which specializes in housing medically vulnerable people with existing health conditions “It’s a sad day for music and a sad day for me,” said Ronnie Spector “The magical music we were able to make together was inspired by our love I loved him madly and gave my heart and soul to him.” But Ronnie Spector added: “Unfortunately Phil was not able to live and function outside of the recording studio Spector was twice tried for Clarkson’s death the first trial ending with a hung jury and the second with a conviction Clarkson died of a single gunshot wound to the mouth on Feb just three hours after meeting Spector at the House of Blues the Sunset Strip music club where she worked as a hostess loving woman who would be 58 years old now,” her family said Sunday in a statement brightness and love of life have sustained her family since her murder 18 years ago.” Spector’s subsequent second-degree murder trials laid bare the producer’s erratic mood swings darkening depression and isolation from an industry he once seemed to rule He was ultimately sentenced to 19 years to life in prison Stripped of his flamboyance and tassel of dark hair he appeared to be just another senior citizen in prison photos — a balding man with a pair of hearing aids driven and as much a star as the artists he produced He made the top 10 chart 14 times between 1958 and 1965 created a signature sonic avalanche in the studio known as “the Wall of Sound” and — record by record — revolutionized popular music Spector awoke pop music from its early-1960s doldrums and crafted a sound that would influence record-making for generations informing the music of such acts as the Beach Boys ever wrought deeper changes in the way the rock industry looked To come out of a vacuum and force such changes at such speed with such totality — even now it’s hard to conceive the force and self-belief it must have taken,” author Nik Cohn wrote after spending time with Spector in 1969 moved to an apartment in Los Angeles’ Fairfax district with Spector and his older sister Spector honed his fabled Wall of Sound methodology Up to half a dozen guitars strummed chords in unison the texture so thick that the horn and string arrangements were almost subliminal He fostered a core of studio musicians who became known as the Wrecking Crew many of them highly respected jazz and session players Sonny Bono and Oscar-winning arranger Jack Nitzsche flaunting his success and delighting in public confrontations He hobnobbed with the Beatles and the Rolling Stones in London surrounded himself with bodyguards and was the subject of one of Tom Wolfe’s earliest pieces of “new journalism,” “The First Tycoon of Teen,” a portrait of youthful excess he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Though deeply affected by the death of his 10-year-old son without the bodyguards and confrontational attitude that had punctuated his forays in public as a younger man He began hosting an annual party at an old-fashioned bowling alley in suburban Montrose and he regularly held court in his home with friends But everything darkened again the night of Feb when Spector went out on the town in West Hollywood and Beverly Hills Witnesses recalled Spector downing cocktails as he moved from restaurant to restaurant He ended the evening at the House of Blues on the Sunset Strip and after some persuasion she agreed to accompany him to his home after her shift On the way to Spector’s castle-like estate in Alhambra De Souza was sitting in the black Mercedes-Benz in the estate’s driveway when he heard a popping sound about 5 a.m Spector emerged from the house holding a handgun According to testimony before a Los Angeles County grand jury Spector told police that he shot the actress by “accident,” but he later changed his story and said she had killed herself Clarkson had appeared in small roles on television series including “Three’s Company,” “Night Court” and “The A-Team,” and she was a cult heroine after playing the title role in the 1985 period adventure “Barbarian Queen.” Specter received a mandatory life sentence George Shark Chou Chin was a true family man he was the fifth-eldest son of 16 children born to successful businessman Chin Lin Ngoon and his wife Family members said he was his mother’s favorite They had four children in Burma (now Myanmar) “He sacrificed a lot to bring us all to this country,” said his youngest daughter Chin worked as a warehouse clerk at the General Motors plant in Sparks he would spend time with his family and occasionally take Grace to the movies “The weekly commute between Nevada and San Francisco was difficult for him because he would only be able to spend one or two days with us before returning,” Grace said “One of my fondest memories was going to watch the FIFA World Cup in 1994 with my dad and my brother he would get tea and pastries at ABC Bakery in San Francisco with family and friends eating sweets and spending time with friends and family He would always joke around and tease people But he would also go above and beyond to help people Chin and his wife moved to Davis to stay closer to their newborn grandson they moved in with Grace to help her raise her three children and teach them Chinese while she started her own business Chin contracted COVID-19 while at Stollwood Convalescent Hospital in Woodland and died at Woodland Memorial Hospital on April 22 He was tested for the coronavirus after a housekeeper had tested positive on March 30 Nelly; son Simon; daughters Catherine Cheah and Grace Osborne; and seven grandchildren He is preceded in death by his son Richard Bruce Barack would have turned 80 in April and had no intention of slowing down A thoracic radiologist who spent most of his career practicing at the Veterans Administration and training UCLA residents Barack continued working even after retirement until his death Dec “He just loved what he did,” his daughter Lauren said … He loved looking at film to problem solve when she was a radiology resident first learning how to read a chest X-ray we were usually not so knowledgeable,” Wu said But Barack provided a low-pressure learning environment “He would always be very enthusiastic in pointing out the interesting findings and asking us what we think,” she said Barack made a real effort to get to know his trainees – their family situations “He loved those young people,” said Adrienne Barack “They all trusted him and came to him – he listened to so many people crying.” “You know that children’s store Janie and Jack We kept them in business for years,” she said “Every time there was a new baby we would go and buy clothes.” write recommendations and connect them to job opportunities he would call or text to tell her she was doing a great job “He’s like a father figure in my life,” she said “It was just so sad for me to realize that there’s not going to be somebody there to cheer me on.” Barack earned his bachelor’s and medical degrees at Washington University in St He completed his internship at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami A lifelong liberal who opposed the Vietnam War and disliked President Nixon Barack contemplated fleeing to Israel or Sweden with his wife and young daughter to avoid becoming a soldier But a call from the National Institutes of Health saved them offering Barack a research position and a means of completing his service without going to combat Barack later finished his residency at UCLA beginning a half-century devotion to the Bruins whose games he and Adrienne attended almost without fail since 1971 Barack’s other passions included music and sushi The couple regularly attended performances of the L.A Philharmonic and ate weekly at his favorite sushi restaurant Kiriko on Sawtelle – which was where Bruce took people if he liked them “We were not stay-at-home older people,” she said Barack also raised hundreds of orchids in the backyard of the couple’s Brentwood Glen home.“ Barack and Adrienne both caught COVID-19 in December possibly from repairmen who came to the house to fix a furnace Amid the winter surge of patients in Southern California the ambulance couldn’t take him to his beloved UCLA and he was instead treated at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica I never really realized that I would speak about him in the past tense,” Adrienne said an unbreakable courtship that began for Walter White in Palm Springs in 1948 when he first noticed Mary Anne Jorgenson They both had arrived that night at the Chi Chi Club with someone else and that was pretty much it,” his son Randall White said “They were inseparable after that and married the next year.” White received two Purple Hearts and returned from his stint in the Marines with shrapnel in his leg That souvenir remained for the balance of his life 7 when White died from complications of COVID-19 in Rancho Mirage White was severely burned by boiling water in a kitchen accident early in life White and other members of his family did odd jobs including caring for seniors and working as fruit pickers throughout Northern California White was evacuated twice because of his injuries but both times returned to the front lines in the South Pacific He was recognized for actions above the call of duty on Guam when he carried wounded Marines to safety mostly in office supplies before finishing in the insurance business Primary among White’s passions was restoring vintage cars a love that dated to his purchase of a 1949 Plymouth Special Deluxe shortly after he was married he would buy and sell cars all the time,” Randall White recalled “He had everything from Jaguars to Model A’s to everything you can imagine from the ’30s and ’40s and into the ’50s.” White’s last such car was a 1950 Studebaker that his son now owns White and his wife brought a second home in Powers Lake he found another 1949 Plymouth Special Deluxe became “grandparents” to dozens of members of their extended family the couple’s homes in California and North Dakota were the centers of many celebrations White also raised horses — Arabians and quarter horses — at a ranch he started with a friend in Indio That business began with a stallion named El Greco White also was active in the Coachella Valley community as part of various charitable and service organizations “They were members of every dance group that existed out in the desert,” Randall said they were known as ‘The Dancers.’ Any event that went on They would dance regardless of whether anyone else was dancing.” Randy Giang Ta was just 24 when he and his siblings Albert and Susie fled Vietnam in 1979 on a fishing boat during a storm managing to survive even after drinking from a puddle of water filled with bugs and debris on the boat They arrived in a refugee camp called Air Raya in Indonesia They could continue their journey to Canada was the hardest country for someone seeking sponsorship as a refugee Randy Ta arrived with a single suitcase and $40 in his pocket he resolved to work hard to make sure the long journey would be worth it for generations to come “Your granddad was an incredible man,” his son Brian wrote in a letter that he intends to give his future children “He’s the reason why we’re in the United States.” and Ta worked odd jobs while attending community college He eventually received a technician certificate and began a career as an electrical technician for 3M which manufactures medical ultrasound machines “He grew up really frugally and had to do a lot of things in the U.S “He had a lot of self-drive to learn things on his own.” It was there at a little trail behind the Doppler building in San Jose that Ta began running “I remember thinking it was so funny because my brother was more tired than my dad,” Vanessa said After his employer relocated to New Jersey he quit working a regular job and helped fix electronics around the neighborhood in Eastside San Jose San Jose has one of the largest Vietnamese populations outside Vietnam Ta would insist they try the local pho “just to affirm that San Jose pho was better than anywhere else in the world,” Vanessa said Ta tested positive for COVID-19 in mid-March a week before shelter-in-place rules were ordered in Santa Clara County He was intubated for 39 days in the ICU and put in a medically induced coma at Regional Medical Center in San Jose before he died on April 23 Brian and Vanessa; and siblings Susie Ta and Tom Hsieh He was preceded in death by his elder brother Rosaleigh George made sure that everybody would know the important details of her life “Rosaleigh had an extensive career as a licensed cosmetologist,” George’s grandson Damon Holmes said reading from the passage his grandmother had written in cursive letters then becoming an instructor of cosmetology teaching in several beauty schools including in San Francisco.” George also revealed that she was an avid churchgoer and world traveler it was impossible to convey every aspect of her life in a narrative spanning 150 words Holmes said his grandmother’s hobbies included painting ocean scenes and synchronized swimming performances she would put on as part of a group that also included her daughter “It was really something,” Damon said of the choreographed movement in the water George was living with her daughter and grandson before she died of complications from COVID-19 at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula in Monterey on March 30 George hadn’t been feeling well for two days when her family took her to the hospital George passed out in the bathroom and had to be taken back to the hospital by ambulance the family learned her prospects were bleak Relatives weren’t allowed to see her in the isolation ward so they said their goodbyes over a phone that was placed near George’s ear by a hospital worker She had been in the hospital for about a week when she died “We’re just blessed that she didn’t have to go through any real type of suffering or anything,” Damon said four great-grandchildren and many great-great grandchildren George also left behind the obituary that her grandson believes she wrote sometime in the early 1990s judging from the portrait of herself that she included “That’s just the kind of woman she was,” Damon said Whenever Dave Cristofaro has an important task he’d rather set aside for a while and then grit his way through whatever has to be finished “She would just never allow us to quit in the middle of anything,” Dave said of his mother whether it was finishing a baseball season or a dance class Carmella didn’t just preach it; she enforced it and we used to hide from our mom in the morning before practice You are not going to be the kind of people who start and don't finish things.’" Cheryl wound up being a success in four sports however -- playing Led Zeppelin on his drum set rather than practicing the piano and joining the plumbers union instead of going to college and becoming a doctor Dave wound up doing the most taxing of plumbing chores He remembered co-workers asking him what he had done to aggravate the boss It was so exhausting that Dave finally changed his mind and headed off to college going on to become a business owner and market researcher he would find out that his mother and his dad leaned on the boss to make sure he wore Dave out that summer Cristofaro was living at a Mission Viejo assisted living facility when she was diagnosed in January with COVID-19 She was hospitalized and died six days later and unemployment climbed as high as 80% in Ohio's bigger cities she always took really good care of it,” Dave said and she would never leave them out of the case She always taught me that it was really important to take care of the things that you spend money on Cristofaro also handled the family’s finances and no one was above reproach when it came to balancing the family budget ‘You’re off on our checking account by 20 cents,” he said Dena Louise Connelly died the way she lived — as a fighter she was an honest woman with great integrity a person who would tell it like it is and remain unafraid of hurting someone’s feelings She cared about the things you cared about but didn’t care what you thought about her died April 30 after battling COVID-19 for weeks Connelly was orphaned as a child and shuffled through the foster care system She moved to Los Angeles in her 20s and later gave birth to a daughter she worked as a data entry clerk at a bank Connelly’s hobbies included gardening and reading mystery books She enrolled at Long Beach City College at 63 to pursue a degree in art though the goal escaped her while she lived in an assisted living home for seniors Molinar said it’s unclear how her mother contracted the novel coronavirus She suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and had been hospitalized repeatedly over the years Connelly sought treatment at a hospital and eventually was placed on a ventilator healthcare workers tried to help her breathe on her own who is a nurse at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica where her mother died sat at her mother’s bedside and held her hand in the final moments “At least she was able to hear me say that.” Connelly is survived by her daughter and two grandchildren hanging out with the tight crew of friends he had known since childhood “He loved his lawn,” said daughter Estrella Fierroz “He canceled his first meeting with my mom because he said he had to work on his lawn.” Whatever activities Estrella participated in as a child — softball and now that I’m an adult I realize it was so incredible to have that support,” she said His daughter said Fierroz — outgoing and funny in a “Dad-jokes” kind of way — was raised in the San Fernando Valley and lived there his whole life For 26 years he worked as a mechanic for the U.S He had a lot of friends and loved to have a good time Grabbing pizza and a beer at a local restaurant called Tony’s Pizza was one of his favorite things to do He also loved to go to Santa Barbara for the city’s annual Old Spanish Days Fiesta and grabbed a table at the same restaurant every year Fierroz had just started filling out his retirement paperwork in early December when he tested positive for the coronavirus His symptoms didn’t worry his family too much at first and the week before Christmas he called an ambulance to take him to the hospital He was transferred to a rehab center on New Year’s Day and seemed to be improving “He was in good spirits — even the doctors told me he was a really chatty Fierroz told his mother he would be coming home soon But his health took another turn for the worse and he was intubated in the last week of January Fierroz had many friends who would have wanted to attend his funeral and mourn his passing the family didn’t want to encourage a gathering After graduating high school in Wisconsin in 1948 Rosemary Hoell was expected to find work and get married without a college education because “her parents didn’t think the daughters needed to go to college,” according to her daughter Mary Rushka fulfilled her parents’ wishes by finding a job in public health and marrying David Rushka and she’s taken a lot of initiative in her life.” and Rosemary Rushka decided to go to college at age 45 with her sons Joseph and John still at home the Green Bay native graduated magna cum laude from San Francisco State University with a degree in health science she found a job as a health information officer at the American Academy of Ophthalmology in San Francisco which fit her perfectly as she loved to take on responsibility “She’d already done a great job at being a wife and a mother,” Mary said “but she was able to pursue a lot of her goals.” Rushka retired after 20 years at the academy volunteering with Bay Area health groups and spending time with her family and Rushka eventually moved from their home in Daly City to Sterling Court She contracted COVID-19 while living there and was transported to Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco Medical Center None of her family members were able to see her after calling the ambulance to pick her up from Sterling Court Only one of her three children still lives in the Bay Area two weeks after contracting the coronavirus nine grandchildren and great-granddaughter Among all the fathers and grandfathers who ever used the old line about having to walk a mile to school in the snow He grew up in the 1920s on a farm in Kremlin where not even blizzard conditions could convince his strict parents that he deserved to stay home it was a mile and a half” to the one-room schoolhouse “They didn’t want you to lose your sense of direction cutting across a field so they made us follow the fence line” along the road “We had to spend half an hour thawing out our cheeks.” He went on to serve his country in World War II driving a halftrack for the Army and fighting in the Battle of the Bulge the last big German offensive of the conflict When he moved to California and joined the Lodi Fire Department after the war When he met and then married the love of his life When anyone in the neighborhood needed their television or stereo repaired The couple also ran King’s Café in Lodi for 10 years to be closer to their growing extended family He was a dedicated San Francisco Giants fan and was at the World Series game on Oct that was postponed because of the Loma Prieta earthquake His family said there couldn’t have been a better father or grandfather “He always let us know how much he loved us and how he could not have lived so long without the love of his two daughters,” said one of them but changed her mind after her father said “’It might be the last time’ — and it was.” Frieders said that the family was told that he and four other residents of their board-and-care facility probably contracted the disease from a staff member the virus made the final goodbyes quite painful Frieders said she was allowed to visit her father in person for 15 minutes during his final hours I had to really be very careful and quarantine after that because then I could have been a carrier “I did risk it because I did want to go in there and be with him six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren Music was a huge part of Sandy Blum’s life she’d sing along with pop songs on KBIG-FM (104.3) or KIIS-FM (102.7) and participated in local musical productions of “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Oklahoma,” “South Pacific" and others Blum joined various neighborhood singing clubs they were always out on the dance floor,” son Eric Blum said died of COVID-19 complications on New Year’s Eve less than a week after symptoms first appeared on Christmas Day She was particularly vulnerable to the virus having battled Parkinson’s disease for more than 15 years Sandra Helen Blum moved to Los Angeles with her family in 1952 and grew to love the beach and the Rose Parade and earned her bachelor’s degree from Cal State L.A She taught in the Los Angeles Unified School District supporting her husband as he made his way through medical school the couple lived in Oceanside while Bob was stationed at Camp Pendleton during the Vietnam War The couple raised their two sons in the San Fernando Valley where Bob spent five decades as a cardiologist and Sandy taught third grade for 20 years at the VBS Harold M she volunteered as a court-appointed special advocate for the foster care system and was a docent at the Skirball Cultural Center and Sandy had a penchant for Japanese artwork and culture Their home is filled with such mementos collected over the years Writes Eric: “There was little that ailed her which couldn’t be cured with a pint of Ben & Jerry’s or a one-pound box of See’s Nuts & Chews.” Blum is survived by her husband; sons Eric and Josh; her younger brother His deadpan humor ran flat and could be so sarcastic that he played even during his 18 months spent in the rural villages of Mawali he had a standing tee time every Saturday morning at 9 But his beloved golf game could not interfere with his No Sandra remembered how if she had a swim meet or school event when she was young he would skip out on his own commitments to be there-–even if it meant missing golf time “Anything we were involved in,” Sandra said And Sperling was just as dedicated to his wife They began dating in their senior year of high school and were engaged a year later This month would have been their 65th wedding anniversary “You don’t hear love stories like this anymore,” Janice said Sperling was hospitalized after injuring his knees in a fall at his Sacramento home was rushed to the same hospital with symptoms of COVID-19 his wife became short of breath and was admitted to the same hospital saw him in person and said their farewells days before he died No other family members could see him because of hospital restrictions where he remained for his life outside of his time in Japan he studied business at Sacramento City College and went on to work for the city of Sacramento as an account clerk in the treasurer's office He eventually served as president of the Sacramento Retirement Association Sperling and his wife attended Faith Presbyterian Church where the first woman believed to have died of COVID-19 in Sacramento was also a parishioner eight other parishioners have tested positive for the virus Sperling’s wife and children have since recovered Sperling kept up his passions until the end when he could hardly walk because of arthritis he played in a putting tournament with the Land Park Men’s Golf Club In a video posted on the club’s Facebook page and is greeted by rapturous applause and congratulatory handshakes “You could put 1,000 people in a line and no one would have anything bad to say about him.” Jack Ohringer had many titles throughout his life — stock broker and he had the cutest little ponytail I had ever seen,” Jamie Szabadi said of the first time she met her husband you pretty much became a friend for life.” Ohringer earned his nickname during his days at Taylor Allderdice High School as a member of the Gamma Phi fraternity After attending Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh he followed his passion for the ocean and enlisted in the United States Coast Guard Ohringer and his best friend moved to Los Angeles with Szabadi's children Kara Lyne and Zack “I really do believe that he treated my brother and I like his own kids,” said his stepdaughter He liked to dance and was said to have appeared on "American Bandstand." He loved to be the life of the party and his family said he brought joy to them and to his friends he and friends came up with a series of dances they'd perform at "every single bar or bat mitzvah" they attended And dance was like a really easy way for him to access that.” he was a person of "unmatched" generosity and a determined gift-giver So when he would ask her what kind of present she wanted she would say "a pony — knowing that he couldn't deliver or shouldn't deliver and he thought it was the funniest thing in the world.” when Ohringer started having unusual difficulty moving following his regular dialysis treatment Ohringer was rushed to an emergency room on May 10 He received the notification that he had tested positive for the infection on May 11 Ohringer remained hospitalized on a ventilator until he went into cardiac arrest and died on May 25 He agreed to donate his blood and organs to assist any efforts to combat the virus Kara Lyne and Zack Szabadi; his three siblings Lee Ohringer and David Ohringer; and numerous lifelong friends and relatives Jimmy Lee was the person his friends called for advice about almost anything Need a restaurant recommendation in Koreatown and he’d probably take you there and tell you about the building’s hidden history Lee and some UCLA friends had played in a band called People Mover and in his 40s he was still playing for a cover band called the Buzzrites He was always up for a set and a chat in Lenn Kano’s basement When Julie Ha felt nervous about directing a documentary shoot alone “He was just that kind of friend that he would push himself to try and help you if he could,” Ha said “The fact that he could make so many of us friends feel that he had our backs and that he was there for us Where did he find the time to make us all feel that way?” A self-taught journalist who was born in Korea and came to the United States as an infant editor and managing editor at KoreAm Magazine culture and politics for the Korean American community It was published monthly in print until about a year ago and a revamped version is online as Charactermedia.com It was a haven for a man who felt like an outsider while growing up in Orange County but he loved what the mission of the publication was about,” publisher James Ryu said a week after he tested positive for COVID-19 He had been living in his childhood home in Orange and was caring for his mother; his father had died of heart failure in October The swiftness of his death stunned those who knew him and he had a lot of life left to live and a lot more to give and it’s just horrible that’s been taken away when it didn’t have to be,” said Kano who worked with Lee at UCLA’s student-run radio station Ha couldn’t help using the present tense when speaking of Lee during a phone interview “When you think about the people that you have in your life and how friends can become your chosen family Jimmy definitely was like family,” she said Lee’s work for the magazine ranged from pop culture to weighty issues He and colleagues produced stories about Korean bath houses — with a staff visit — about Korean American actress Grace Park and a series on incarcerated Korean Americans Ryu — who had COVID-19 over Christmas — said Lee wrote “stories of people Go through the archives: he has written a lot of stories that the L.A Those are the stories that come into the heart of the Korean people.” Ha said Lee found his identity while discovering the diversity within the Korean community in Southern California but he found beauty in that jumbled mess,” she said he explored that jumbled mess with passion and curiosity and imagination." said her brother was able to do his work virtually for the media company Shout Factory a few days after he got his test results on Jan 6 and he told her he might go to the hospital their mother called Smith to say she didn’t hear Lee stirring but it was early and Smith said to let him rest Their mother called again and insisted Smith come over A neighbor administered CPR until paramedics arrived “I’m glad it was me that went in because it would have probably broken my mom,” Smith said Smith wonders if things might have taken a better course if her brother had gotten an oxygen monitor from his doctor He had recently lost 20 pounds and often rode his bike to the beach “There’s no rhyme or reason why it would take him like this.” She said she has been overwhelmed by his friends’ praise of his generous spirit and his work “I read his articles but I guess I just took it for granted that this is what he did I keep thinking that’s something that would have happened later on down the road but obviously that’s not going to happen now.” but then I also told her he led a very cool life,” Smith said so I don’t think he was lacking for anything.” He was a godparent to friends’ kids and a devoted uncle to Smith’s daughters “He had taken my oldest to a couple of concerts I could see later on where they would have bonded quite well over music because that was already happening.” emails and texts to be sustained by glimpses of his humor and caring nature ‘I’ll see him when it’s all over,’” she said “Some of us actually had an outstanding date to see him right before the pandemic and we said we’ll have lunch when it’s safe but I think sometimes there are days when you don’t want to accept it The fact that Arnie Robinson learned to long jump using a discarded mattress in the driveway of his San Diego home offered the first hint of his fiery drive Winning a gold medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal revealed his talent the pile of titles at the USA Outdoor Championships the NCAA championships with San Diego State Robinson’s legacy reverberates because of a warming blend of humility and service in the shadows who had fought an aggressive brain tumor since 2005 he didn’t wear them on his shoulder,” said Paul Robinson who said his father had contracted COVID-19 To understand the fiber of Robinson’s unassuming Paul learned his father owned a gold medal when he was about 6 or 7 administrators and friends marveled that he never discussed his enormous defying gravity and bicycling through space to go 27 feet No lucrative athletic and TV careers loomed like sweet-swinging boxer Sugar Ray Leonard Robinson’s ’76 gold represented self-fulfillment they weren’t making much money,” said Bryan Kyle “It was about heart and wanting to compete.” What did Robinson do after he reached his sport’s mountaintop He wasn’t obsessed with the rear-view mirror The family told a story about a mix-up of medication to control Robinson’s seizures a couple weeks ago The dosage that slowed him for a decade and a half during his fight with glioblastoma was accidentally cut in half Robinson began to repetitively lift his leg “After all those years under seizure medication he was trying to work out or exercise,” Paul said He survived a near-fatal collision with a drunk driver in 2000 — on the way home from a track meet of course — that required the infusion of 40 pints of blood and more than a month in intensive care Told he had perhaps six months to live after his cancer diagnosis in 2005 Robinson simply stiff-armed another life-threatening challenge When youth track in San Diego craved state-of-the-art timing equipment Robinson spent more than $35,000 out of his own pocket a two-time gold medalist in the 4x400-meter relay vividly recalled seeing Robinson at meet after meet as a kid the two-time Olympic medalist — Robinson won bronze in 1972 — left an impression “I had no idea who the man was or what his accomplishments were,” Henderson told the Union-Tribune in 2018 “I just knew this man was making our meets as professional as he could You go to a track meet now and there are five guys in a tent running the timing system “And Arnie didn’t charge any of the youth organizations a dime.” He worked to make everyone along the way proud The financial challenges of rising through the amateur track ranks failed to faze Robinson or derail his emerging dream While navigating the track circuit through Europe Robinson learned of a teammate who lacked the money to secure a hotel room Though Robinson had enough to grab a small room for himself he decided to sleep in a park with his teammate Robinson’s riches came in the form of sweat equity and compassion Robinson was asked what he saw when looking at a photo of his winning jump a moment of excellence frozen forever in time Cancer and medication limited his ability to communicate Robinson flashed a rare moment of self-acknowledgement and Los Angeles native Gregory Everett was excited about one of his favorite annual activities the film he was probably most proud of: “41st & Central: The Untold Story of the L.A Black Panthers” for a course on Black nationalism During what were then still the early days of the COVID-19 era Everett did not seem to mind working remotely to explain violence and desperation that led to the formation of the Black Panther Party including the 1969 killing of Bunchy Carter and John Huggins he inspired others to make films of their own “He had a fire in his belly about doing the thing that occurs to you to do,” said UCLA history professor Mary Corey and what he instilled in students was that ‘can do’ idea ‘Don't just think about it and wish you could do it; get your phone and go out and make a movie if you want to.’ He got people to step out from the dreaminess and go from idea to making it real What Everett did not know that day was that it was the last time he would interact with UCLA students about his film a relative had contracted the coronavirus and passed it on to the rest of the family Jeffrey said he remembered his dad telling him his love for filmmaking began with a Super 8mm camera when he was 16 although he did win a best documentary award from the Pan-African Film and Arts Festival for “41st and Central.” Corey said “He was always scuffling for the next project or whatever to actually get the permissions that he needed in order to have it shown on TV or shown in theaters,” Corey said Jeffrey said his father was a family man at heart “He made an active effort to be a part of our lives He showed up to all the parent-teacher conferences and all the baseball games or performances at school And he would spend time with us at home watching a movie or a TV show.” Everett also worked as a party producer and promoter “He would have people bring canned goods to his parties to get in and then he would donate all those canned goods,” Jeffrey said Becky Blair was the youngest of six siblings and she enjoyed the benefits that went along with birth order “Kind of the typical baby of the family — she got away with more than most of us did You know how that goes,” said her sister Michelle Blair-Weeks Blair was a loving aunt to numerous nieces and nephews before she died of complications from COVID-19 on Aug and the kids loved her because she was just like a big kid,” Blair-Weeks said After graduating from Santa Rosa High in 1974 she held several jobs before joining Agilent Technologies where she did manufacturing and assembly work she often was at the forefront of drives to help the less fortunate putting things together for donations and charity organizations,” Blair-Weeks said because of complications from diabetes and other health issues Blair sold her home and moved to a convalescent facility in Petaluma where she could receive care Blair used a mobilized wheelchair to venture out but the onset of COVID-19 curtailed her ability to socialize which was especially difficult for a “people person,” Blair-Weeks said I’m not going to survive it,'” because of her medical problems Blair was hospitalized for an infection and was diagnosed with the virus and then she had a plasma infusion from a recovered COVID patient and that’s when things went south,” Blair-Weeks said Blair remained in Petaluma Valley Hospital as her condition declined and nursing staff held a phone to Blair’s ear so her sister could speak to her but Blair-Weeks is not certain that Blair could hear or understand her as she said goodbye “It's really hard to wrap your head around the devastation from this virus,” Blair-Weeks said “and while you never think it's going to happen to someone in your family he would accompany his father while dropping off his mom for her night shifts at the hospital “She was always one to offer help,” said John “Others’ happiness was always her priority” she was a nurse at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center Marcos’ colleagues and family believe she caught COVID-19 at work while treating a sick patient she was admitted to the hospital herself and died there on April 17 At a vigil for Marcos held outside the hospital this month colleagues described her calming presence and clear head in stressful situations “We’ve lost a really good one,” said one nurse at the vigil in 2001 but still provided support to her family in the Philippines Her death has caused ripples of grief back home especially the ones in the Philippines,” said John said her family loved Celia for being sweet and loving She selflessly risked her life while taking good care of a COVID-19 patient,” Lardizabal said in an email Marcos and her two sons had planned a trip to the Philippines for April But she spent most of her vacation time visiting her family in the Philippines She always thought about which presents to take for them By Soumya Karlamangla When Donald Lackowski retired from the Navy in 1994 he traveled widely but always returned to his home in San Diego “He never wanted to leave San Diego because he didn’t understand how he could ever live without a Navy base nearby,” his daughter died at Torrance Memorial Medical Center from COVID-19 on April 2 He had been living in an assisted living facility in Redondo Beach an operating room nurse at Torrance Memorial was with him as he died and sat with afterward holding his hands and praying for nearly an hour “All I can say is thank God that I had that [time] with him.” serving as an engineer for more than 35 years including one for a weapon stabilizer for Navy ships where he settled for the next chapter of his life Lackowski became one of the original docents on the Midway He was also a volunteer ranger at Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park several summers kayaking from island to island to check on residents Lackowski will be buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii with full military honors once crowd restrictions are lifted a 34-year-old Glendora resident and LAFC soccer fan he had visited Disney World and Universal Studios in Orlando who had a history of asthma as a child and beat testicular cancer in 2016 tested positive for the coronavirus on March 13 He was admitted to a Pasadena hospital the next day and spent about a week on a ventilator an LAFC fan page took a moment to memorialize their devoted member Black and Gold Forever,” wrote the Heart of LAFC twitter page Members of the boisterous fan group LAFC 3252 who knew Ghazarian said he had been looking forward to seeing more games He had season tickets and played an amateur game at Banc of California Stadium in 2019 “Jeff was one of the most infectious people I have ever met,” wrote a friend “His laugh and positivity changed any group he was in and made life a little better The world is a little sadder with him gone.” By Eduard Cauich and Alejandra Reyes-Velarde Antonia “Toni” Sisemore lived to care for elderly patients as a certified nursing assistant a devotion that likely cost the 72-year-old her life Sisemore worked for several decades at Stollwood Convalescent Hospital She had retired from her job but returned three years ago “because she was lonely and said she’d rather work than stay home,” her brother Felipe Sanchez said Sanchez said his sister likely contracted the coronavirus from a patient in early April she died April 30 at Sutter Medical Center in Sacramento “She liked taking care of old people; she took pride and a real interest in taking care of them,” Sanchez said She and my younger sister took care of my father in his last days Family members were concerned about Sisemore at the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak 32 residents and 34 staff members at Stollwood had tested positive for the virus she’s really stubborn,” Sisemore’s daughter “She’s going to do what she’s going to do.” and moved with her family at a young age to Solano County where she attended school and farmed before graduating from Vacaville High School Sisemore suffered a debilitating back injury in an automobile accident She recovered after months of physical therapy and remained relatively healthy until undergoing knee-replacement surgery two years ago Sanchez said Sisemore began experiencing headaches and body aches in early April She took a coronavirus test and went into self-isolation for two weeks avoiding contact with family members while her daughters and nieces brought food to her door Sisemore was hospitalized for two to three weeks and placed on a ventilator Her two daughters were allowed to don protective gear and visit before she died Sisemore is survived by her brothers Felipe and Gabriel Sanchez daughters Noemie Adela Sanchez and Ruth Edwards John’s Facebook page described Sisemore as “one of our most talented and dedicated CNA’s” and praised her for her tireless work ethic dedication and compassion toward those more vulnerable than herself “Her selfless sacrifices and unwavering commitment to our residents astounded and inspired all of us here at St generosity and warmth never failed to put a bright smile on all of our faces bravery and devout faith had a profound impact on our campus But there was a quiet strength beneath that soft-spoken demeanor a virtue he always hoped to pass along to his two sons “A quiet man with quiet leadership,” Lori described As an instructional aide at Lincoln Elementary School in Paramount joined a singing group of student mothers called Abe’s Babes picking them up later in life as an homage to her Hawaiian culture “She was always known to have a smile on her face,” Lori said Lori and Eric were contacted by the assisted living facility in Cypress where Betty was staying she was admitted to the hospital and tested for COVID-19 Her grandsons said their goodbyes through the hospital door stricken now himself with symptoms of COVID-19 he’d taken care of his mother whenever she needed him balancing her care with his search for additional IT work as Eric and Lori spent hours waiting in the hospital that Lori believes they both contracted the virus Lori got a fever three days after that hospital visit less than three weeks after his mother died from COVID-19 Outside of a mild case of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease he and his sons hit the driving range together who preferred singing and dancing and wanted to travel the world He worked 25 years in IT at Unified Grocers leaving only when the company merged with another He enjoyed a glass of wine after work and NPR on the radio Camille “Sasha” Ellington had big hopes for how her life might change after the removal of a benign brain tumor which for the last few years had severely diminished her vision She would paint and spend more time with her grandchildren She would take herself to the beach and dip her toes in the water Ellington had the brain surgery in mid-February But she came down with pneumonia as she recovered at Cedars-Sinai in Beverly Hills Though her condition improved for a few days and she was sent to a residential care facility in Culver City her respiratory symptoms returned with a vengeance She was admitted to Adventist Health White Memorial in downtown L.A. where she would test positive for COVID-19 and spend her final days Ellington lived in Marina del Rey with her daughter Ashley she moved to the Los Angeles area in 2004 after living in Virginia and Massachusetts being able to see snow and the ocean in the same day if she felt like it Ellington was a retired entrepreneur who helped people start their own businesses She was a Patriots fan and an excellent cook “My mama was brilliant — a brilliant woman,” Frank told The Times “You could talk to her about all kinds of things.” Ellington is survived by her daughters Joyel Jeanne Mary Roche was a lifelong Californian never living far from her birthplace in San Francisco A nun for years and later a teacher after leaving the order 2 at Nazareth House assisted living community in San Rafael from cardiac disease with COVID-19 officially listed as a contributing factor but she was happy.” Kelly considered Roche her honorary aunt Kelly’s aunt was in the convent with Roche and the two women also left the order about the same time – “They were too independent,” Kelly said Roche was diagnosed with giant cell arteritis and within days she had gone completely and irreversibly blind Roche did not want to learn Braille or use assistive devices and so She just gave up and then got COVID and I think that did her in.” Roche was part of the first graduating class from Mercy High School in San Francisco in 1956 and became a nun with the Sisters of Mercy in 1957 She received a bachelor's degree in education and taught in several parochial schools in the Bay Area She was married to Keith Fraser for about 15 years Anthony of Padua Catholic Parish in Novato “She was really a much beloved teacher,” said Kelly “People would still come up to her in recent years to say hello and to tell her how much they loved having her as a teacher Which is interesting because she was very strict Julie Bennett loved to regale friends with stories about her decades-long career as a character actor in TV’s golden age and as one of Hollywood’s most successful early female voiceover artists She was the Southern-tinged voice for Jellystone Park resident Cindy Bear in “The Yogi Bear Show” TV cartoon in the 1960s and ’70s and when Mattel’s Talking Barbie doll spoke it was Bennett’s voice that children heard Bennett appeared in sketches with entertainers including Bob Hope Johnny Carson and the married comedy duo George Burns and Gracie Allen and she did guest spots on “Leave It to Beaver” and the original “Superman” series.“ She was one of the last throwbacks to that era,” says her talent agent Mark Scroggs who remembers that Bennett never went out without her hair who had been living in an assisted living facility in Hollywood died on March 31 of complications from COVID-19 practically adopted Bennett as a member of his family often inviting her to his house in Burbank for dinner she suddenly broke into her Southern-belle voice for Cindy Bear The voiceover work was especially lucrative for someone as versatile as Bennett in particular for cartoons produced by the legendary animation studio Hanna-Barbera such as “Yogi Bear,” Scroggs said there were only a handful of women who did that at the time for shows like 'The Flintstones,' 'The Jetsons' and 'Rocky and Bullwinkle,' he said “She loved entertainment — that was her life,” Scroggs said In her heyday at the dawn of the TV age in 1950s and throughout the ’60s and ’70s “she would bounce from show to show,” he added but she found jobs plentiful in that arena too appearing in TV series such as “The Donna Reed Show,” “Dragnet,” “Get Smart,” “Gunsmoke” and the sketch-comedy program about relationships Bennett also starred in TV commercials and voiced the character of Aunt May in an animated “Spider-Man” series in the 1990s Bennett had her first brushes with the world of show business when she was a little girl was doing business with powerful clients in Beverly Hills with Bennett at his side who kept Bennett distracted with a board game Scroggs recalls Bennett telling him about many other stars she’d met where she briefly worked as an actress in the theater but Jerry Lewis was mean to her,” Scroggs recalls her confiding to him once Bennett branched out into managing other entertainers using the name Marianne Daniels for that side of her career One of Bennett’s biggest — and weirdest — jobs was as a voice-over performer in Woody Allen’s 1966 directorial debut “What’s Up English-language dialogue was dubbed over a Japanese spy movie Scroggs says he watched the movie with Bennett in February It was one of the last times he was able to enjoy her company before she fell ill in late March She died a week after being admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles Bennett wasn’t married and she didn’t have any children Scroggs says he was grateful to have welcomed her into his family and for the chance in recent months to listen to her relive some of her adventures from the bygone days of Hollywood James Lanier Craig liked to visit Flight 126 Cafe one of his favorite breakfast spots in his hometown of Santa Paula sip a cup of hot black tea and watch the planes fly in and out of the town’s small airport It was the perfect spot to meet up with friends Everyone loved him,” said Flight 126 owner Evie Kramer “He was truly cherished in this community.” He volunteered for 15 years as the football coach at Santa Paula High School and went on to work as an announcer and statistician at school basketball games He was an active member of the local Masonic community and spent 38 years working in the Santa Paula oil industry as an oil gauger Craig would photograph the Ventura County landscapes surrounding his home “We loved to go down to the Ventura beach at sunset to take photos,” said his son Jason Craig “The tranquility of the beach helped him relax Familial love was a driving force in Craig’s life He was a father to three and grandfather to 10 “She would sit on his lap and inspect his arm for ‘owies,’ and he would just sit there for ages and let Adele put Band-Aids all over his arms Those who knew him said Craig treated everyone in his life with that same love as though they were part of the Craig clan too Many people outside of his immediate family saw him as a paternal figure “He was always so positive with the kids he was coaching,” said Santa Paula High School football coach Mike Montoya ‘The next play is the most important play,'” to buoy their spirits And it’s that closeness so many in Santa Paula already miss Craig died May 9 at Ventura County Memorial Hospital of complications related to COVID-19 Born in 1956 in Santa Paula to Wilford and Martha Craig James Craig spent his life serving the Ventura County community he called home His mother and his wife had the same name and were known as Big Martha and Little Martha the summer after he graduated high school,” his wife said and we were married by July the following year — that was it In many ways it was Craig’s ability to blend in that made him stand out His own children experienced that warmth throughout their lives he was a good and fair disciplinarian,” said his daughter Melissa He would never make you feel bad about yourself.” And Craig’s surefire way to lift his loved ones spirits “I loved those big bear hugs so much,” his wife said Josh Craig and Melissa Lewis; and his 10 grandchildren Victor “DJ V-Funk” Martinez knew instinctively how to read a crowd and what to play to get them dancing the 36-year-old worked as an environmental supervisor at the Porterville Developmental Center overseeing custodial staff at a state residential facility for developmentally disabled adults Martinez performed as a disc jockey under the name “DJ V-Funk” for more than a decade in and around his hometown of Porterville providing the soundtrack at countless quinceañeras but Martinez insisted on playing certain events for free like school fundraisers or a party to raise money for a community member’s kidney transplant His turntable skills changed the course of his life more than 15 years ago when his not-yet wife was looking for a DJ to play her upcoming birthday party His life further bloomed as a devoted father to their son Adriel Martinez never wanted to miss a moment of his children’s lives — not a ballet class or a soccer practice or a Little League game When Adriel marched in his first Veterans Day parade with the school band his father walked alongside so he could take pictures the whole way It wasn’t just his own children whom Martinez doted on “He wanted to be everyone’s father,” his wife said He was a ringleader of camping trips — including an annual retreat for at-risk youth — and played Santa Claus at Boys and Girls Club holiday parties Martinez and his wife experienced an “instant” connection when they first met Both of their lives had been profoundly shaped by violent tragedy each found a soul mate who could grasp what the other had been through and I understood his,” said Emelina Martinez who lost a brother in a shooting before meeting her husband Martinez’s mother and sister were murdered in the family home when he was 13 he was put on the witness stand multiple times to testify against the killer and later given an award by the Tulare County district attorney’s office for the “exceptional courage” he showed in bringing the assailant to justice Others might have wilted under the weight of such grief But Martinez knew what he wanted: to build something new with Emelina and create a shelter of love and stability for their children particularly as the pandemic bore down around them He made sure his family had hand sanitizer and took care to wipe down the inside of their cars before they got in His wife believes Martinez contracted COVID-19 at work because his job required him to enter units with COVID-19 patients to ensure they were being cleaned properly Emelina works at the same facility as a psychiatric nurse Martinez died at Bakersfield Adventist Health Hospital on Aug But as they approached their 15th wedding anniversary the couple wanted to do it again “the right way,” with a church wedding and Emelina’s father walking her down the aisle they had decided to postpone their fall wedding until after COVID-19 They had looked at rings and carefully chosen the tannish-brown suit that Adriel would wear as a groomsman along with the princess-like dress that Ambrielle would don for flower girl duties Emelina had found the perfect white dress at a friend’s bridal boutique Emelina walked down the aisle of the Porterville Funeral and Cremation Center on her father’s arm “More than Words” by Extreme and “Amber” by 311 — the songs Martinez had picked out for a very different version of this same moment — played as his wife and father-in-law made their way toward him It was a world away from the day Victor and Emelina had wanted or planned But she was still going to wear the dress for her groom and sisters Antoniette Barboza of Bakersfield and Julie Martinez of Porterville Jay Calhoun had a passion for building houses She recalled how Calhoun gained interest in home building from their father 9 at Memorial Hospital in Bakersfield – the same hospital where he’d been born 58 years earlier The Central Valley was home to Calhoun much of his life but he spent a few years in the Bay Area building homes Campbell remembers how Calhoun loved adventures and the outdoors he and friends rode jet skis from a Southern California dock all the way to Catalina Island “We talked about that for years,” she said Calhoun would spend weekends skiing in Mammoth and Big Bear he signed autographs when he was mistaken for then Los Angeles Raiders quarterback Jay Schroeder when Campbell’s son was young and sitting on a teeter-totter Calhoun saw an opportunity to have a bit of fun running fast and he jumps on the other end,” she laughed but that’s what Jay loved to do …he joked around.” Some of these memories were shared at a graveside service in Bakersfield for Calhoun shortly after his death he lived life to the fullest,” Campbell said Driving along Glendale Avenue with his daughter Jackie Ricardo Saldana would blast the corridos — popular Mexican folk ballads — of Ramón Ayala Antonio Aguilar and Los Tigres del Norte from his car speakers she began to embrace the music and culture of her father “He’d be like ‘Don’t ever be embarrassed of who you are,’” she said died of COVID-19 complications on April 13 He had worked as a construction worker since he immigrated to Southern California in his early 20s Jackie visits her father’s grave every other day playing the music she would “bump” to alongside her father when he was alive — reminiscing about his love for boxing and his Mexican heritage it makes me feel like he’s right there with me,” she said Saldana’s favorite hobby was watching boxing and lucha libre the Saldanas would visit Jackie’s aunt’s house to watch “El León de Culiacán” fight it out in the ring Gathering around the screen to watch Chávez throw punches brought the family together — and Saldana loved that “I saw that everybody together made him happy,” Jackie said eating hamburgers at the Troy Drive-in in Glendale and watching classic Pedro Infante movies with his family He spent his final days at Glenhaven Healthcare He also faced multiple underlying conditions and had been nonverbal and bedridden since the stroke do it like you’re fighting,’ and he would put his arms up as if he was boxing,” Jackie said about visiting him at the facility Saldana’s family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the living facility where at least four other residents have died “This virus is like a monster; it grabs you and it doesn’t let you go,” Jackie said whenever there were Latino employees behind the counter he would wait for the manager to step away “How are you doing?” he would ask the workers in Spanish can we just order some food without social upheaval After a decades-long career advocating for immigrant rights and bilingual education Aranda wasn’t about to let retirement distract him from the cause “It was like breathing for him,” Hinson said the Northern California couple came down with COVID-19 26 at the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco My father said it was like having knives tear through his body,” said Aranda's daughter Xan Mario Jaime Aranda was born to a Mormon family in Chihuahua His family — with its religion and Chinese roots — faced discrimination so his mother raised him to be socially aware “She had him reading Dickens and Gandhi when he was a kid,” Xan said “She wanted to make sure he understood both revolution and peace.” as a teenager and eventually earned a sociology degree from Brigham Young University and the couple moved to Chicago to start a family that would grow to include four sons and three daughters His career included high-profile jobs with the city’s public school system the state department of education and the private Latino Institute He also served as president and publisher of the Spanish-language newspaper Exito President Carter and Chicago Mayor Harold Washington sought his advice coming out as gay and moving to the Bay Area He met Hinson and helped raise his husband’s two children from a previous marriage “We’d have two people over and he’d cook enough for 30,” Hinson recalled Their 20 years together also included kayaking and hiking and Aranda took to studying Buddhist philosophy People around the city of San Rafael — especially the Latino workers — came to know him as the man who always checked on their well-being and urged them to get more education “It brought him joy to do that,” Hinson said “He was just wired to improve people’s lives.” and she would tote up complicated math problems in her head -- at lightning speed -- while doing routine errands Navigating household bills and estimating grocery store totals were her forte “You could give her 20 sums and she’d total them in her head – sometimes she’d correct the bank teller,” Morquecho said and she’d stop me: ‘Just gimme the numbers!’ She never doubted her math.” Chavez Godinez’s very first numbers were 7-3-44 the day she was born in La Ribera in Jalisco the family moved to Mexicali in Baja California when Chavez Godinez met Manuel Duenas Godinez through a mutual friend They married when she was 17 – he was the love of her life the couple emigrated to El Centro and eventually had four daughters and one son Chavez Godinez -- who received her GED at Imperial Valley College -- worked seasonally in the fields picking grapes and melons alongside her mother on private farms in the Coachella Valley and as far north as Delano She packed tomatoes at Green Valley Farms in Brawley and asparagus at the Abatti Farms in El Centro.It was hard labor – something she didn’t wish for her children -- but Chavez Godinez took pride in work well done “She was proud of the strength that it took,” Morquecho said she said she picked melons like it was no big deal.” She was especially proud of her work in the asparagus-packing shed where she was known as one of the most prolific and efficient workers As the freshly picked asparagus rolled by on the conveyor belt Chavez Godinez quickly counted and bunched them stubby or overly tall stalks made it into her groupings before binding them with rubber bands you shouldn’t ever have errors,” Morquecho said “Her daily count of asparagus bunches was always high because of her quickness and her accuracy.” specializing in traditional Mexican dishes She made three special varieties of tamales for Christmas: one with especially juicy pork chicken and vegetables in a unique spice blend and one a sweet tamale with chopped pineapple tiered cakes topped with tiny fountains for weddings and quinceañeras particularly back to Mexico City to visit family where she’d often toast the reunion with two shots of tequila And she blew off steam at California’s Golden Acorn Casino and Quechan Casino on outings with her sister or friends Chavez Godinez wasn’t a high roller – she played the slots -- but the excitement was no less palpable She’d toss quarters into the machine and yank its arm gleefully watching the clusters of cherries and golden bells whirl by while waiting for the red 7s to line up just right But the single number Chavez Godinez was most proud of “Her family meant the world to her,” her daughter Patty Talamantes said and she always wanted a house full of guests Chavez Godinez was hospitalized on March 8 after enduring chest pain and trouble breathing; she died April 5 from COVID-19 She is survived by her husband of 59 years Manuel Duenas Godinez; children Patty Godinez Talamantes Ivonne Godinez Miranda and Erika Godinez Morquecho; sisters Bertha Romo Avendano Silvia Romo Olivarria and Lourdes Romo Chairez; 15 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren When Raul Miramontes and Adeline Lopez met they were both working in the fields of the Central Valley where they would settle and raise their family “They were real cute,” their daughter Michelle Miramontes-Medina said “He’d always crack silly jokes at my mom.” Both longtime residents of the Seven Trees neighborhood of south San Jose Raul and Adeline Miramontes died of COVID-19 complications April 27 and June 21 Raul would be roaming at “la pulga,” or the Berryessa Flea Market in San Jose He’d sometimes repair bikes and wagons or build things to sell “He’d always take neighborhood kids to help them make some money,” Michelle said Adeline dedicated her time to raising their three children but also offered a hand to a local bank teller babysitting her two children while the teller worked “They were practically our brother and sister,” Michelle said Adeline would bring her specialty Spanish rice and Raul would bring the tunes He loved playing the corridos of Los Tigres del Norte the iconic norteño band that started its career around the same time that the couple settled in south San Jose “My dad would always ask to play them at get-togethers,” Michelle said “They’d talk about going to their concerts.” Michelle remembers going on two-week vacations every year to Disneyland or the San Diego Zoo or Mexicali She said those trips were some of her best memories Raul and Adeline lived with their daughter Norma Norma was admitted to the hospital April 13 about a week before Raul suffered from severe chest pains and a hard time breathing Raul tested positive for COVID-19 on April 25 and was diagnosed with pneumonia He died two days later at Regional Medical Center After first testing negative for COVID-19 and later positive for antibodies Adeline was taken to Visalia to stay with Michelle following the death of daughter Norma “We thought she was going to be OK,” Michelle said She tested positive two days later and was intubated that same day She spent a month at Kaweah Delta Medical Center “My grandma passed on Father’s Day,” their granddaughter Melissa said Raul and Adeline are survived by their children Michelle and Carolyne nine grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren Before Eliseo del Rosario Moya left for the hospital with worsening COVID-19 symptoms on the evening of April 5 “He combed his hair and brushed his teeth – even though he could barely breathe,” his son Mark Moya says The elder Moya died of complications related to the virus on April 10 at age 75 Moya was known as a consummate professional and a man of great intelligence and integrity He worked for more than 40 years as an X-ray specialist ultimately becoming head administrator of the radiology department at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles including the Medical Center of North Hollywood Radiology was something of a detour for the elder Moya He immigrated to the United States from Quezon City His plan was to travel to Chicago to study medicine but during a stopover in Los Angeles to visit a sister and friends from the Philippines said he was so smart that he could teach college physics better than his teacher Moya was also the leader among his eight siblings while growing up in the Baesa section of Quezon City “He took care of us and made sure that we were safe,” especially from boys Filipino spring rolls and other dishes from his native country “He was the quintessential family man,” Mark says “He told me that as far as he was concerned cooking her meals and taking her to appointments He also tested positive for COVID-19 but experienced relatively mild symptoms Moya advised his son that the best way to cope with the death of a loved one is to keep moving forward with your own life this is part of the cycle of life,'" Mark remembers his father telling him “'Don’t dwell on things you can’t control.'" “As I come to terms with this,” Mark says of his father’s death “I have him in my head saying that constantly.” Lynne Lerner walked onto the set of “China Beach,” a 1980s television show about medics in the Vietnam War she met the man who would become her husband the two would share beautiful moments as a married couple attended Emmy events and watched TV shows in their Van Nuys home She acted in “General Hospital,” “Married With Children” and “Days of Our Lives.” He worked on shows that included “The Man in the High Castle,” “Ambitions” and “Drop Dead Diva.” Sometimes they worked together their decades-long Hollywood romance was cut short when Larry Lerner died from COVID-19 at the age of 71 Lynne said she and her husband got sick around the same time in mid-March their symptoms didn’t match with the most severe cases of COVID-19 and they followed all the safety protocols to protect themselves against the virus Their doctor told them to go to the hospital only if they reached a fever of over 102 degrees They felt they could battle it out at home Lynne said her husband appeared to be less sick than she was but he watched TV on their living room couch She teared up at the thought of not having been able to make him tea or lunch “I could hardly make it fast enough to sit back down,” she said she heard her husband bump into something in the living room He was admitted to the intensive care unit at Valley Presbyterian Hospital and put on a ventilator the couple called each other on FaceTime from their hospital beds everything’s fine,” she recalled her husband saying acquaintances–anyone who needed a place to stay “We always had people staying with us,” Melissa said “It was just my father’s generous nature.” though living on a tight budget as a mail carrier His generosity extended to everything in his life he would watch “Jeopardy.” No matter what else was happening–or what anyone else wanted to watch–Echaluce would be in front of the TV and got tested for COVID-19 at a drive-up station in San Jose His positive test result was not so much of a surprise: A week before just after lockdown orders were put in place Echaluce met with three friends at one of their homes one was in the hospital with symptoms of the virus three out of four in the group contracted the virus Although Echaluce had a history of diabetes his decline with COVID-19 was shockingly fast and was rushed to Kaiser Hospital in Santa Clara “He looked miserable over FaceTime,” Melissa said When it was clear Echaluce was nearing the end the doctors asked Melissa if she would like to come see her father to say goodbye the capital of the province of Albay in the Philippines Melissa remembered stories of her father’s meager upbringing and how he and his five brothers would share shoes Echaluce and his wife immigrated to the U.S settling in San Jose where they remained for life Echaluce first worked as a janitor at an elementary school and went on to become a mail carrier for the U.S after being “constantly overworked and overtired,” as Melissa remembered him saying Melissa said he would take his 3-year-old granddaughter he looked forward to buying him fast food too The tradition will live on in his daughter’s house: Every Friday the Academy Award-nominated cinematographer behind “E.T The Extra-Terrestrial,” “The Color Purple” and “Bugsy,” died Wednesday of complications due to COVID-19 The news was confirmed by a representative from the American Society of Cinematographers Daviau was nominated for five Academy Awards two of them for Barry Levinson collaborations: “Avalon” (1990) and “Bugsy” (1991) He was nominated for three others alongside Steven Spielberg: “E.T “The Color Purple” (1985) and “Empire of the Sun” (1987) Allen and I started our careers side by side with the short film ‘Amblin,’” Spielberg said in a statement “Allen was a wonderful artist but his warmth and humanity were as powerful as his lens He was a singular talent and a beautiful human being.” Allen Daviau was born in New Orleans on June 14 before relocating to Los Angeles with his family He got his start shooting early music videos for The Who and Jimi Hendrix before transitioning to moviemaking Over the course of his decades-long career he shot John Schlesinger’s “The Falcon and the Snowman” (1985) the Spielberg-produced “Harry and the Hendersons” (1987) Frank Marshall’s “Congo” (1995) and Stephen Sommers’ “Van Helsing” (2004) He was awarded lifetime achievement awards from the Art Directors Guild in 1997 and the American Society of Cinematographers After a 2012 surgical procedure left him using a wheelchair Daviau moved into a facility run by the Motion Picture and Television Fund in Woodland Hills where he spent his final days after being diagnosed with COVID-19 He is the fourth resident at the facility to die from complications of the coronavirus The pair were day laborers who often found work one short-term job at a time and Marcos’ employer needed another worker Gaspár's family says he was the type to downplay illness then was hospitalized with respiratory problems a small town in the Sierra Juarez mountains of Oaxaca As a teenager he immigrated to the United States so he found work as a day laborer on construction projects the same work he would do for more than three decades The couple moved to Van Nuys and had four children His daughter Lucy called the divorce his “downfall.” Gómez's long battle with substance abuse that his family says resulted in multiple stints in prison and at least three deportations led Lucy the last of his children who still spoke to him I can’t change you," Lucy recalled telling him Gómez was abundantly friendly and quickly struck up a conversation — it was in his nature She was getting ready to pay and Gómez wouldn't stop chatting Gómez stopped drinking and began attending Mass with Regalado His brother Marcelo says it was faith that helped both him and Gaspár recover Regalado and Gómez moved in together with her teenage daughter in Pacoima She got to dance with him one more time at Regalado's daughter's quinceñeara a few years ago He even began communicating with his other children again especially after things were so difficult early on jokingly asking him when they were going to get married His answer was always the same: “If you want to and the fate of the Alhambra Unified School District’s art and music programs rested in the hands of five elected board members The state had taken an axe to the district’s budget and Steve Perry recalled fearing that there was no way that he and his fellow school board members could avoid putting an end to the programs a colleague and staunch defender of the arts would end up being the lone dissenting voice knowing it would give her the ability to resurrect the motion Padilla came armed with fiscal ideas on how to trim the district budget while sparing the arts The vote to preserve the art programs was unanimous and spoke to not only Padilla’s tenacity but her unshakable dedication to providing a full and rich education for students in the district she helped oversee “She was one of the kindest women that I’d ever know but she was a fighter for kids,” Perry said worked as a secretary for the architectural firm Barker & Ott and then became a homemaker after marrying Al Padilla — who went on to become a legendary East Los Angeles football coach — and had three children Her dedication to her own children’s education foreshadowed her eventual legacy on the school board spending hours inside her children’s kindergarten classroom to help teachers with whatever was necessary she started leading fundraisers and attending high school football games One of her favorite kindergarten stories was when she watched a new teacher cook a pot of pinto beans for a Cinco de Mayo celebration Padilla watched quietly as the teacher poured the speckled beans into a pot without rinsing them or picking out the tiny rocks Padilla’s experience inside the classroom and on campus helped her see what students needed She eventually grew frustrated by what she viewed as a lethargic school board and believed she could do better — and so did thousands of community members who voted her into office in 1978 her son and an editor at the Los Angeles Times wrote in a 1999 Times story that voting for his mother was an electoral pleasure hard to describe Her campaign slogan continues to resonate with many in the community It was an inspirational message she saw painted on a wall on a family vacation to Mexico City: “Querer al niño es educarlo.” To love a child is to educate a child but her campaign slogan turned into a call to fellow Latinos an influx of Vietnamese refugees and Chinese migrants moved into the San Gabriel Valley They quickly outnumbered Anglo and Latino students in the district migrants created their own cultural resource centers the district struggled to take a stand on bilingual education and was forced to rethink how to better equip teachers for this new student population Padilla immediately recognized that Latino students were struggling and advocated for bilingual education and helped create the Alhambra Latino Assn described Padilla as a “revolutionary” who paved the path for students and Latino officials in Southern California “She was our cheerleader who was always rooting for us,” Sarmiento said Padilla is survived by her daughter and son She was predeceased by her husband and her eldest son Richard Tillson graduated from Indiana University with a master's degree in social work rose to be a deputy director of the California Youth Authority “His was a social work approach,” said his widow “He had a compassionate view of educating kids He didn’t think you should give up on anyone.” a facility that was one of the first retirement homes to have an outbreak He was born in Chicago and grew up in Indianapolis and in Dayton when he was recruited by the fast-expanding youth authority “He was very sociable,” recalled Meier Tillson “He was the kind of person that brightened up a room People would call on him to be master of ceremonies at events because he would always have something memorable to say.” she was a single mother who had dropped out of high school and taught criminal justice at Cal State Sacramento After Tillson retired from the youth authority in 1996 he worked for a decade as a part-time consultant for the National Council on Crime and Delinquency a nonprofit research group focused on criminal justice reform The Tillsons enjoyed traveling and took cruises to China and South America Tillson is survived by his sister Myra Phillips along with three grandchildren and one great-grandchild Lynn Naibert’s life forever changed the day of his freshman orientation at the University of Iowa intellectually minded student was prepared for a rigorous course of academic study What he wasn’t prepared for was what happened next: He spotted a young blonde woman in high heels leaving a building “They were the best couple,” said his daughter Lynn and Penelope were together for 60 years until her death in 2015 and their love story is one of many achievements in a life well-lived Naibert died on April 20 due to complications of COVID-19 as she was known) lived for five years in Quonset huts designated for married couples on the school’s campus “They were freezing in the wintertime and so hot in the summer,” Reeb recalled “but my mom and dad had the best time there.” where Naibert taught English and history at Lincoln High School He became an advocate for the school’s Latino students who later honored him for his tireless commitment to securing scholarships and admissions to colleges and universities Naibert became associate dean of student affairs and financial aid at UC-San Diego but he soon returned to his passion for teaching at city schools and working in district counseling Naibert read deeply and vastly on all kinds of subjects He subscribed to the New York Times Book Review and he loved going to the corner market on Sundays to purchase the Los Angeles Times He had a particular passion for books about the Middle East Paul’s Episcopal Church in downtown San Diego after losing a friendly handball bet to the dean of its cathedral — and he loved it so much that he never left He also cherished his time volunteering at the San Diego Czech House a gathering place for people of Czech and Slovak heritage “He was just a really thoughtful person,” Reeb said Naibert was moved by the Buddhist teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh he visited Buddhist temples and relayed his learnings to his family His daughter said he will live on through his favorite meditative mantra: “Breathe in Church and music were two enduring pillars of Ressie Cameron’s life she sang with her sisters on Sunday morning broadcasts of a local radio station She went on to become a musical leader in her Pentecostal denomination She organized local and state choirs that didn’t just perform on Sundays They sang at revivals as far away as Hawaii and Alaska and at fundraisers for the NAACP and the needy she coordinated an interdenominational music festival in San Jose that drew singers from 15 Bay Area churches She served as an officer in the local branch of the National Assn for the Advancement of Colored People and worked with the Council for Civic Unity to promote racial harmony in the San Jose area After her March 13 death in a San Jose hospital from COVID-19 a church member posted on Facebook that Cameron had not too long ago advised her “to never stop shoutin’ and praise dancing for the Lord.” How it encourages others “I’m going to shout and praise Him even harder now.” Theirs was a classic high school love story She was in the band and he played on the football team They met after a game and were married less than a year after they graduated the new wife becoming Cynthia Brasil after taking her husband Manuel’s last name They eventually ran a trucking business together Cynthia handling the books and Manuel hauling hay They took one last vacation as a couple to Monterey in late August checking into a hotel for a three-day getaway Cynthia did not immediately know that the flu-like symptoms were a sign of COVID-19 She was admitted to the hospital in early September and her husband a day later the couple sharing a room before Manuel was discharged in less than a week succumbing to the virus at Doctors Medical Center in Modesto on Sept who lived with his daughter and son-in-law and made that trip with them to Monterey A flurry of tributes started pouring in on Facebook after Cynthia’s death from passengers who rode on the bus routes she navigated for more than a decade while driving students and special-needs children before departing for the trucking company that she ran with her husband Cynthia made sure her children stayed busy with activities they loved Tina was a cheerleader and son Mauel Perez Jr played football from Pop Warner through high school “She was just always present in our lives,” Gassittie said One of Cynthia’s favorite hobbies was collecting miniature Christmas villages from Department 56 that she displayed around her home during the holidays the fun-loving outfielder who was best known for his clubhouse pranks and a dramatic pinch-hit home run that helped the Dodgers win the 1981 World Series who hit .267 with 102 home runs and 531 RBIs in a 20-year major league career from 1966-85 suffered from dementia and was in a Granada Hills nursing home when he died of complications from COVID-19 “COVID was the one thing he couldn’t fight,” Johnstone’s daughter told the Associated Press and his family moved to Southern California when he was a toddler He attended West Covina Edgewood High and signed with the Angels in 1963 the start of a lengthy career spent with the Angels In his first postseason appearance for the Phillies in 1976 Johnstone went seven for nine with three RBIs in a three-game National League Championship Series loss to Cincinnati But his biggest October hit came for the Dodgers in Game 4 of the 1981 World Series Johnstone followed Mike Scioscia’s walk with a pinch-hit two-run homer off Ron Davis to pull the Dodgers to within 6-5 The Dodgers scored again in the sixth and twice in the seventh to win 8-7 The Dodgers won Games 5 and 6 to win the championship “It was certainly memorable,” said Fred Claire the former Dodgers general manager who was the team’s vice president of public relations and marketing in 1981 “But I think the biggest contribution of Jay was just in keeping all the guys around him loose.” He set teammates’ cleats on fire and nailed them to the floor He and former Dodgers pitcher Jerry Reuss once replaced the celebrity photos in manager Tommy Lasorda’s office with pictures of himself “If there was a tax on the amount of fun we had “There are so many different memories … but unfortunately Johnstone and Reuss once dressed as groundskeepers and dragged the Dodger Stadium infield in the fifth inning of a game against Pittsburgh on Sept The players hustled into the clubhouse to change into their uniforms and returned to the dugout Johnstone once gave Lasorda’s uniform to the Phillie Phanatic the mascot placing it on a blow-up doll “and having a blast with it,” Reuss said Claire was heading from the field to the press box as a game was about to start when he saw Johnstone — in full uniform — ordering a hotdog from a concession stand outside the Dodgers clubhouse get your butt in the clubhouse!’” Claire said “I don’t know if that was Babe Ruth-like or Jay Johnstone-like Johnson appeared in the hit movie “The Naked Gun” as a member of the Seattle Mariners in a game against the Angels and had a broadcasting career He wrote a 1985 book called “Temporary Insanity,” with author Rick Talley Johnstone is survived by his wife of 52 years CORONA:(VVNG.com)- At approximately 6:30 p.m. on Saturday evening a fight ensued between two notorious biker gangs known as Hell’s Angels and the Mongols what started as a fight escalated into a shooting and a crash on the southbound 15 freeway near El Cerrito Road in Corona The shooting between the biker gangs caused at least one shooting victim to be transported to Riverside Community Hospital for treatment is being guarded while the patient or patients are being treated to prevent any retaliation or further violence as a result of this incident There was a motorcycle chase between the two gangs preceding the motorcycle crash The shooter attempted to exit at the El Cerritos exit The mid-evening crash and subsequent shooting caused a full closure of the 15 freeway South near Cajalco Road in the city of Corona diverting traffic at Ontario Avenue The closure caused major traffic delays for commuters in the area At this time details about the exact number of victims is unconfirmed More information will be updated as it becomes available Drivers are asked to avoid the area for several hours while the investigation continues we’re dedicated to keeping the Victor Valley informed with essential Our newsroom works tirelessly to bring you the latest stories that matter—news that fosters awareness If you value our reporting and want to see it continue local news accessible to everyone—because an informed community is a stronger community Riverside County News Source — Officials today were saddened to announce that Anthony Barajas a 19-year-old rising TikTok star with nearly a million followers worldwide – who was gunned down while watching a movie with a friend last Monday night succumbed to his injuries and passed away early this morning Officials have described the shooting as an “unprovoked attack” and the victim had lingered in a coma and on life support since the shooting The fatal encounter happened at Regal Edwards 18 at the Corona Crossings during a 9:35 p.m a movie about a 12-hour window of time when all crimes – including murder – are deemed legal Officials have since reported that Goodrich was shot in the back of the head while Barajas was shot in the eye Officials have also said that while serving a search warrant at the suspect’s residence detectives investigating the shootings discovered Goodrich’s wallet and other possessions inside his residence Although officials initially reported having no leads and no suspect details in a double shooting that left 18-year-old Rylee Goodrich dead and 19-year-old TikTok star Anthony Barajas (L) critically injured in Corona they quickly developed leads and gathered information that led them to arresting 20-year-old “The Corona Police Department has been notified that Anthony Barajas passed away early this morning,” Corona PD officials updated in their most recent social media release regarding the now double fatal shooting “We extend our thoughts and condolences to his family and friends,” they continued “The Corona Police Department is working with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office to add an additional count of first-degree murder against Joseph Jimenez,” added officials; who had no further information or details to report of Corona was one of two people who died after being gunned down inside a Corona movie theater last Monday During the suspect’s first court hearing her distraught father angrily confronted the gunman who glanced in the dad’s direction but made no comment of the unincorporated Corona community of El Cerrito was seen in court yesterday morning; where Goodrich’s father angrily confronted him as he was being led into the courtroom in handcuffs and leg shackles That was my …” the distraught father yelled before breaking down in tears and being comforted by a friend Although Jimenez looked in the sobbing father’s direction he did not answer or respond in any way and his arraignment has been continued until next week Anyone with information about this investigation is encouraged to call the Corona Police Department at (951) 736-2330, option 3, or Senior Detective Dan Neagu at (951) 739-4916 or by email Original (UPDATED) Story: Critically injured in Corona shooting that killed friend SEE ALSO: UPDATED: Corona movie theater shooting leaves woman, 18, dead, man, 19, on life support – Victims ID’d a 19-year-old rising TikTok star with nearly a million worldwide followers remains in critical condition and on life support after he and a friend were gunned down inside a Corona a movie about a 12-hour window of time when all crimes – including murder – are deemed legal Hemet teacher killed, husband critical, after struck by hit and run driver while using PCH crosswalk Sovovatum Village Town Center, “an attractive gateway to Tribe’s vast landholdings”, to break ground at Soboba MSJC Temecula Valley Campus completed, “Cutting-edge academic facility” expands access to SW Rivco learning Distracted driving suspected after driver plows into back of CHP SUV at scene of earlier crash Hemet inmate accused of murdering cellmate at Riverside County jail 14-year-old unlicensed driver runs stop sign, kills Hesperia man, 59 Although he is still technically alive, some members of Barajas’s family – including Julia Barajas, who created a GoFundMe for the victim’s ongoing medical costs and other expenses – are already reporting that although being kept alive by machines he has “We lost our amazing brother, son, and friend in a tragic accident and is on life support currently,” she has explained in the fundraiser As for the ongoing investigation authorities yesterday announced the arrest of a man suspected of gunning the couple down Authorities have said there is no known motive for or gang-ties related directly to the shooting and that the incident appeared to be “an unprovoked attack.” Corona Police Department began investigating the double shooting around 11:45 p.m. after a cleaning crew discovered the victims on the ground with gunshot wounds inside Corona’s Regal Edwards 18 movie theater inside Crossings at Corona which received assistance from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Major Crimes Bureau – Forensic Services Unit and the Riverside County Gang Impact Team (GIT) detectives received witness statements that ultimately led to identifying Joseph Jimenez Based on the gathered information and developed leads Corona PD detectives and others located and arrested Jimenez at his address in the 19000 block of Envoy in El Cerrito They later served a search warrant at the address detectives located a firearm and additional evidence related to the crime scene according to officials; who said the firearm matched the caliber of the weapon used in Monday’s deadly shooting Although officials did not specify the nature of the evidence collected Jimenez’s charges indicate he robbed one or both of the victims at the time of the shooting Jimenez was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside on suspicion of murder Online jail records indicate he remains in custody in lieu of $2 million bail or bond and is scheduled to be arraigned at the Riverside Hall of Justice tomorrow SEE ORIGINAL RELATED STORY: UPDATED: Corona movie theater shooting leaves woman, 18, dead, man, 19, on life support – Victims ID’d “Anthony was the light of so many peoples lives and there are tough times ahead,” Julia Barajas continued in the victim’s GoFundMe; adding that the money raised will be used toward Barajas’s ongoing medical costs and other expenses As of this update the fundraiser had already amassed $58,364 toward its originally stated goal of $30,000 Contact the writer: [email protected] Trevor Montgomery moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS) he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County-based newspapers Valley News and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; the Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County; and Mountain Echo in Shasta County He is also a regular contributor to Thin Blue Line TV and Law Enforcement News Network and has had his stories featured on news stations throughout the Southern California and North State regions Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.) During his time with the sheriff’s department Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes Trevor has been married for more than 30 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 18 grandchildren Pingback: Ontario property to be developed into shopping center featuring Burlington, Five Below, Hobby Lobby and Planet Fitness – Riverside County News Source Pingback: COVID-19 Remembrance Flags at Temecula Duck Pond coming down – Permanent memorial bench and plaque planned – Riverside County News Source Pingback: UPDATE: Big Bear residents killed after plane crashes near Banning Municipal Airport – Riverside County News Source Pingback: Three injured, one seriously, after car plows into Jurupa Valley power pole – Riverside County News Source Pingback: Attempting to leap from moving car during Riverside pursuit, man fatally injured – Riverside County News Source Pingback: San Jacinto man dies after fiery crash into tree in Temecula – Riverside County News Source Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.