Obituaries

Obituaries

PASSAGES: DEBORAH MCELRAVY, FORMER PRESIDENT, GROSSMONT HEALTHCARE DISTRICT

 

East County News Service

October 3, 2016 (La Mesa) — Deborah McElravy, former board member and president of the Grossmont Healthcare District, passed away on September 19, 2016.

A native of Glassport, Penn., McElravy graduated from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh with a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy. She spent 40 years in the healthcare industry as a practicing pharmacist and over a decade on the Grossmont Healthcare District board of directors, working improve healthcare for the community.


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PASSAGES: DR. ROBERT H. KOKERNOT,GROSSMONT HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1940 GRADUATE

 

East County News Service

Photos:  Dr. Kokernot and his Grossmont letterman’s sweater

September 11, 2016 (El Cajon) — “We’ve lost another wonderful Foothiller,” the Grossmont  High School museum curators wrote in an e-mail announcing the death of Dr. Robert Hutson Kokernot, 94. Dr.Kokernot was a graduate of the class of 1940 and was inducted into the Hall of Honor at Grossmont in 1967.


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PASSAGES: GROSSMONT HIGH STUDENT RYAN WILCOX, TEEN WHO INSPIRED A COMMUNITY

 

East County News Service

September 7, 2016 (El Cajon) -- A memorial tribute was held Monday night at Grossmont High School to honor the life of Ryan Wilcox, 18, who passed away after a valiant battle against cancer since age 3 and more recently, leukemia.  Ryan’s struggle captured the hearts of people across the community, even drawing Hollywood celebrities to his home in El Cajon.


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CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF SIMON WESSELINK AUGUST 20 AT DESCANSO TOWN HALL

 

East County News Service

August 1, 2016 (Descanso) - Simon Wesselink, who recently passed away at the age of 70, will be honored with a life celebration at Descanso Town Hall on August 20 at 6:00 p.m.


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PASSAGES: EVANGELICAL MINSTER, “LEFT BEHIND” AUTHOR TIM LAHAYE DIES AFTER STROKE

 

East County News Service

July 25, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Evangelist Tim LaHaye,  co-author of the best-selling “Left Behind” Christian book series and founder of local Christian schools, died today at age 80 in a local hospital of complications from a stroke.  Time Magazine once named LaHaye among the 25 most influential evangelicals in the U.S.


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PASSAGES: PHILANTHROPIST CONRAD PREBYS PASSES AWAY AT 82

 

By Miriam Raftery, East County News Service

July 25, 2016 (San Diego) — Conrad Prebys, a generous philanthropist who supported numerous San Diego nonprofit organizations, health and education centers, died Sunday, July 24th of cancer at Scripps Mercy Hospital with his family at his side.


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MEMORIAL PLANNED JULY 10 FOR COUPLE WHO DIED IN BORDER FIRE

 

 

By  Miriam Raftery

Update July 6, 2016:  The Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity of James Peter Keefe,53 and also confirmed that the second body is that of his wife,but has not released her full name pending efforts to locate her relatives in Canada.

Memorial fund established for Jim and Kyrie Keefe

July 3, 2016 (Potrero) –A memorial service is planned for July 10th at 11 a.m. to commemorate Jim Keefe and his wife, Kyrie.  The service will be held at 28020 State Route 94 in Potrero,  the site where the young couple lived.  Bodies believed to be theirs were found by volunteer searchers among boulders 50 to 70 yards behind their home after the Border Fire.

“Let’s get together to honor them, talk to each other about what happened that tragic day, and salute two wonderful people who brightened our lives and made us smile. See their art, tell some stories on the mic, hear some music, walk the property, cry, hug,and laugh,” Claudia Millerbragg posted on the Potrero Town page on Facebook, adding that people should bring chairs.


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PASSAGES: RICK ALEXANDER, FORMER GROSSMONT-CUYAMACA COMMUNTY COLLEGE DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER AND REALTOR

 

East County News Service

June 21, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Rick Alexander, a prominent East County realtor, long-time member of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Board, and active member in community organizations passed away June 13th.  A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, July 9th at 10 a.m. in the Performing Arts Theatre at Cuyamaca College. All are welcome to attend.


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PASSING OF HELEN CHAVEZ, WHO HELPED HER HUSBAND GIVE BIRTH TO AND SUSTAIN AMERICA'S FIRST ENDURING FARM WORKER'S UNION

 

Source: Cesar Chavez Foundation

Photo:  Helen and Cesar Chavez with six of their eight children in 1969 at the United Farm Workers’ “Forty Acres” property outside Delano. Standing from left are: Anna, Eloise and Sylvia. Seated are from left Paul, Elizabeth and Anthony.

June 6, 2016 (Keene, Ca.) - Helen Fabela Chavez, 88, who played a vital role helping her husband give birth to what became the first enduring farm workers union in U.S. history—and sustained Cesar Chavez during the 31 years he led the United Farm Workers of America—passed away today, Monday, June 6 at a Bakersfield hospital surrounded by many of her seven surviving children, 31 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.


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PASSAGES: HERMAN SALERNO, RAMONA WINEMAKING PIONEER AND OPERA SINGER

 

Memorial to be held Thursday, May 12

East County News Service

(Ramona) –Herman Salerno, 81, an Italian opera singer, founder of Salerno Winery and a pioneer in our region’s winemaking industry, has passed away. 

Linda McWilliams, president of the San Diego County Vintners Association, remembered Salerno as “a pillar of the early winery community in San Diego County and Ramona. He was an award-winning winemaker and helped and encouraged so many, particularly in the Ramona AVA.” She added, “A visit to his winery was not just about tasting the wine but a view into the entire culture of art,food, old world conversation but also the joy of his operatic voice.”


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PASSAGES: SQUARE FOOT GARDENING CREATOR DIES AT 84: PUBLISHER TO CARRY ON LOCAL AUTHOR’S WORK TO COMBAT WORLD HUNGER

 

East County News Service

May 2, 2016 (San Diego) -- “Build a box. Fill it with Mel’s Mix. Add a grid…and start planting.” Mel Bartholomew, creator of Square Foot Gardening, has passed away at the age of 84 in La Jolla, California. His easy, innovative method of growing vegetables revolutionized the way millions grow their own food. 


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PASSAGES: A FOND FAREWELL TO “MR. EAST COUNTY” B.W. `STONEY’ STONE

 

East County News Service

May 1, 2016 (Santee) -- B. W. "Stoney" Stone, also known as “Mr. East County” of Santee, passed away peacefully in his home on Wednesday, April 20, surrounded by his family and loved ones.


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RIDER DIES AFTER HORSE FALLS AT LAKESIDE PARADE GROUNDS

 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy Billy Ortiz

April 24, 2016 (Lakeside) – Yesterday morning’s Western Days Parade in Lakeside was marred by tragedy.   Diana Cavender, an experienced horse trainer and member of the Escondido Mounted Posse, has died of head injuries suffered in a fall that occurred when her horse spooked while she was riding to a staging area after the parade.


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PASSAGES: FORMER FIRST LADY NANCY REAGAN, 94, REMEMBERED BY CALIFORNIA LEADERS

 

By Miriam Raftery

March 6, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Former First Lady Nancy Reagan, one of the most influential presidential wives in modern times, passed away today at age 94 of congestive heart failure.


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PASSAGES: BAJA BLOG COLUMNIST SUSAN MAHALICK

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

 

February 8, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – It is with great sadness that we report the death of East County Magazine’s “Baja Blog” columnist Susan Mahalick, 60.  She passed away at the University of California San Diego Medical Center last week following an illness.


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PASSAGES: NATIVE SAN DIEGAN AND PROMINENT BUSINESSMAN DAVID CHARLES PRICE DIES AT AGE 86

 

 

Photo: David Charles Price   1929 - 2016                            

January 22, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- Services will be held Saturday, January 30 in Carlsbad for David C. Price, who passed away January 13 at age 86.

A lifetime San Diego resident, David C. Price was instrumental in the formation and operation of several San Diego area businesses and real estate developments, and was actively involved with various philanthropic ventures benefiting San Diego County. Most recently he lived in Carlsbad and formerly resided on Mt. Helix with his family for over 30 years. He also served for eight years on the Cajon Valley School District board in the 1960s. 

Price was born in San Diego on October 21, 1929.  He was a 1947 graduate of Grossmont High School and graduated from San Diego State University in 1951 with a bachelor's degree in chemistry. After serving two years in the Army, he worked in the aeronautical industry for 15 years, including serving as General Manager of Advanced Structures in La Mesa, a division of Whittaker Corporation.


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PASSAGES: LEADERS AND LUMINARIES LOST IN 2015

 

 

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

 

 

December 28, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – The lives of some prominent local luminaries were extinguished in 2015, though their legacies live on. Here we remember those who are gone, but never forgotten:


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MEMORIALS PLANNED FOR GARRY MCCLINTOCK SEPT. 20 AND 26

 

September 1, 2015 (Descanso)—A series of events are planned to honor the memory of famed saddle maker Garry McClintock including a memorial ride and barbecue on September 20th, as well as a church service and reception September 26th.


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ON THE TRAIL WITH GARRY MCCLINTOCK: A MEMOIR

 

By Marty Jorgensen

September 1, 2015 (Descanso) -- When I think of Garry McClintock, what I will remember more than anything else is his attitude towards life.  He was always upbeat and positive, and full of curiosity of the world around him.  He had the inner and spiritual strength to continue to carry that on despite his long illness. When you spoke with Garry you always felt that he was really interested in what you had to say, and you always seemed to go away better for it.  His shop was always somewhere that you could not only buy a saddle or tack or have it repaired but a place where you could find out what was happening, in Descanso or in the equestrian community.  It was as much a social center as it was a saddle shop.  And I cannot remember him in any conversation ever saying a bad thing about anybody.


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PASSAGES: PROMINENT PALESTINIAN BISHOP DIES IN POWAY

 

August 22, 2015 (Poway)--The Most Rev. Samir Hana Kafity, twelfth president-bishop and primate of Jerusalem and the Middle East, and bishop-in-residence at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in Poway, died on Friday afternoon at home after a stroke. He was 81 years old.


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PASSAGES: GARRY MCCLINTOCK, DESCANSO'S FAMOUS SADDLE MAKER

 

Memorial planned for September 26, 2015

By Miriam Raftery

August 16, 2015 (Descanso) –For the past 43 years, Garry McClintock has been making saddles to outfit trail riders and cowboys across our region. On August 14th, the master  saddle maker passed away at his Descanso home. With his passage, a towering part of San Diego’s western heritage rides off into the sunset. though his memories live on.

East County Magazine’s “Sounds of History” host Helen Ofield interviewed McClintock for our radio show on KNSJ. You can hear the  series here, including McClintock discussing the art of saddlemaking in part 1 and the history of vaqueros in our region in part 2:

http://k001.kiwi6.com/hotlink/7avse2re64/Soundsof_History-GarrymcClintock-saddles1.mp3

    http://k001.kiwi6.com/hotlink/n2cwhibth1/SoundsofHistory-2McClintock-Vaqueros.mp3


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DEADLY HEAD-ON TRAFFIC COLLISION

August 16, 2015 (Chula Vista) -- A La Mesa mother and daughter were killed Thursday in a head on collision on SR-125 just north of the San Miguel Ranch.

Diane Defenbaugh, 60, and her daughter, Kathryn “Katy” Defenbaugh, 29, both veterinarians, were heading to SeaWorld to celebrate Katy’s 29th birthday, but never made it there.


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PASSAGES: MTS CHIEF BILL BURKE PASSES AWAY

 

June 28, 2015 (San Diego)--Bill Burke, the chief of police for the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), passed away today of unknown causes. He was 68 years old. Burke started with MTS in 2001, was promoted to director of security in 2004 and became its first chief of police in 2011. Prior to working with MTS, Burke was the chief of police for the Cook County Sheriff’s Department in Chicago, Ill.


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PASSAGES: ACCIDENTS CLAIM EAST COUNTY LIVES

By Miriam Raftery

May 26, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Accidents have claimed the lives of several local residents including Xochil Calvario or Ramona, Darrell Thomas King of Alpine, and Michael Young of El Cajon. In addition, a fatal Pine Valley accident killed Casey Phillip Ellis of Yuma, Arizona.


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SANTEE TRACK STAR KILLED IN CRASH

 

East County News Service

May 1, 2015 (Santee) – Ryan Willweber, a track star and junior at West Hills High School in Santee, has died of injuries sustained in a crash yesterday afternoon.  Two other students were injured, including Willweber’s brother, who reportedly suffered broken bones.


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PASSAGES: JAMES W. LOISELLE, RETIRED NAVY CAPTAIN

 

Memorial services set for May 1st at Miramar National Cemetery

April 25, 2015 (San Diego) - James W. Loiselle, a retired Navy Captain and defense contractor, died April 14, 2015 from an accident at his home, the San Diego Daily Transcript reports.  Loiselle, who lived in El Cajon and Coronado, was named by San Diego Daily Transcript as one of the top 15 most influential people in the technology field in our region.


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PASSAGES: MANZANITA TRIBAL CHAIRMAN LEROY ELLIOTT

By Miriam Raftery

April 9, 2015 (Manzanita Reservation)—For the past 18 years, Leroy Joseph Elliott has served as Chairman of the Manzanita Band of the Kumeyaay Nation.  A respected leader and elder in the Native American community who led efforts to revive cultural traditions, Chairman Elliott passed away on March 18, 2015.

Born on April 18, 1943 to John Elliott and Adelina Aswayo at the Soboda Indian Hospital in Riverside County, Elliott was raised on the Manzanita Indian reservation in East County and attended Mountain Empire High School.  He served as a firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service and as Assistant Fire Chief of the Campo Reservation Fire Department.    

According to California Indian Education, Elliott was the last fluent speaker of the Kumeyaay language at Manzanita.  He dedicated himself to preserving and teaching the Kumeyaay language to his people, advocating for continuance of the language, traditions, cultures and beliefs.   He led efforts to revive bird songs, traditions passed down through thousands of years of Kumeyaay history, preserving them for future generations.


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PASSAGES: ACCLAIMED POTRERO POET STEVE KOWIT

 

April 3, 2015 (Potrero) – Steve Kowit, well-known poet, author, teacher and Potrero resident, passed away this morning following heart surgery  Kowit taught at Southwestern College and San Diego State University, mentored many, and inspired a generation of local writers through his teaching, readings and writings.

He was distinguished by his many awards for poetry, which include the National Endowment Fellowship in Poetry, two Pushcart Prizes, the Atlanta Review Poetry Prize, the Ouroboros Book Award, the 2006 Tampa Review Poetry Prize, and most recently the San Diego Theodore Geisel Award.


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PASSAGES: ROY COOK 1943-2015, NATIVE AMERICAN JOURNALIST AND TEACHER

 

February 27, 2015 (San Diego) – Roy Cook, founding journalist of the California Indian Education site and publisher of the website www.americanindiansource.com, died in his San Diego home on February 18, 2015 at age 71.  KPBS named him an American Indian Heritage Month Local Hero in 2014 for his many accomplishments.


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KYLIE ROWAND REMEMBERED IN VALENTINE'S DAY MEMORIAL SERVICE

 

By Miriam Raftery

February 15, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--A toddler who captured the hearts of a community has died after a long battle with neuroblastoma cancer.  A memorial service was held on Valentine’s Day for Kylie Rowand of Alpine, with hundreds of mourners dressed in pink at Shadow Mountain Church in El Cajon.


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