The Memorial Wall

Anne Knight Sutherland Derosa passed away peacefully at home with her 2 rescue dogs close by on Wed, Dec 16.2020.  Anne led an extraordinary life touching many people along the way. 

Anne went to the University of Southern California School of Commerce where she met her husband of 40 years Ronald Dean Sutherland who preceded her in death in 1996. Later in life, Anne married another gentle soul Ettore " Dick" Derosa, and they shared several years together before his passing in 2012.

Anne accomplished and was involved in many organizations over the years. Out of college, she worked in television; she served as the Director of the Foundation for Retarded Children of the Desert now known as Angel View where she and a few others organized the James Franciscus Celebrity/Pro Tennis Tournament which eventually evolved into the BNP Paribus Open, now the 5th biggest tennis tournament in the world; she was active in the neurological program at the Learning Center in Riverside, Sherman Institute, Laubach Literacy Programs, Women's Auxiliary at Desert Hospital; She was the first woman president of the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) in Palm Springs, CA.; she was on the first women's athletic board at the University of Southern California; a docent for many years at the Palm Springs Desert Museum, and then later at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. She and Ron, with a few others, started the USC Alumni Group Cardinal and Gold in the Coachella Valley; for many years she also did public relations and fundraising for Riverside County's District Attorney, Grover Trask; in later years she was very involved with the Music Academy of the West in Montecito where she and Dick sponsored many aspiring opera singers and percussionists.

Anne touched so many lives with her vivacious loving personality. She most enjoyed her family and friends, her dogs, USC Trojan football & basketball teams, tennis, watching golf, music, and art.

Anne was very proud of all of her children, Sue Lunt (Chris) of Aurora Colorado, children Brooke, Daniel, Andrew, Matthew, and Lauren; Lori Sutherland of Atherton, CA, children Taryn, Kylie, and Rhys; and Lisa Sutherland of Rancho Mirage, CA, along with her 4 great-grandchildren.

We were so fortunate to have an incredible physician Dr. David Ko who went above and beyond in his empathy and loving care of Anne. We will always be grateful to him and the wonderful hospice team at Charter Hospice; the numerous nurses, LVN's, home health aides, Chaplain Dana, and support people. The staff at Rancho Mirage Health & Rehabilitation Center and Vibra Rehabilitation Hospital; the wonderful caregivers, Maria Ramos & Betty Lua

Fight on mom!!

Albert Griffiths Of The Gladiators Dies At 74

Pioneering reggae singer and musician Albert Griffiths of roots band The Gladiators has died, his former manager, Cabel ‘Jeffrey’ Stephenson, told The Gleaner. Griffiths, who had been ailing for some time, passed away on Wednesday morning at his home in St Elizabeth. Born on New Year’s Day, Griffiths was two weeks shy of his 75th birthday.

“Albert stopped touring about 14 years owing to illness and has been at his home in Aberdeen, where he was being cared for very well,” Stephenson said of the vocalist, who recorded blockbuster hit Hello Carol in the late sixties. “It is sad that an entire era of singers is passing away. The Gladiators were one of the first acts signed to Virgin Records and took their career on an international level.”

Stephenson, who also managed Toots Hibbert, said there were many similarities between the two.

“Those men were totally dedicated to the music [and] left enduring legacies that must be cherished. Albert always said that when he goes on stage, he is there to minister. I am very honoured to have worked among these great men, and they have taught me to be humble,” Stephenson said in tribute.

Griffiths started The Gladiators in 1967 while a session guitarist at Coxsone Dodd’s famous Studio One. He recruited his childhood friends David Webber and Errol Grandison to form the original Gladiators vocal group, and soon after, added Gallimore Sutherland and Clinton Fearon.

According to their bio, during the early 1970s, the Gladiators cut numerous records for various producers, but it was their Studio One recordings such as Bongo Red, Jah Jah Go Before Us, Mr Baldwin, and Roots Natty that became their biggest hits. This success attracted the attention of Britain-based Virgin Records, which gave the group their first major recording contract in 1976. Their debut full-length album for Virgin was Trenchtown Mix Up, followed by Proverbial Reggae (1978).

Notably, at the time, The Gladiators was a full band and also included musicians such as Sly Dunbar on drums. Lloyd Parks on bass, Uziah “Sticky” Thompson on percussion, Ansel Collins on keyboards, and Earl ‘Wire’ Lindo on synthesizer. Errol Thompson and Joe Gibbs were their engineer and mixer. Relentless touring throughout Europe, the United States, South America, and the Pacific made The Gladiators a top draw.

Booking agent and producer Michel Jovanovic of Mediaone, based in France, told The Gleaner that he has worked with Albert Griffiths and The Gladiators — which at one point also included his sons Anthony and Al — since 1997. Jovanovic remembered Griffiths as a great artiste who gave everything on his shows whether he was performing for 45,000 people or 400.

“It’s very sad. Albert had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s and he stopped touring entirely, but before that, there were several tours throughout Europe, the US, and Australia, where his music was in demand. His last tour was in 2006, and it was always a really great moment when Albert was on stage. He was a great artiste and a good man,” Jovanovic said.

Albert “Lee” Hoover, of Fossil, Oregon passed away on December 13, 2020, at the age of 91. Lee was born in Fossil on December 15, 1928, to the late Thomas Burton and Mary Esma (Gilliam) Hoover.

The Hoover family has been part of the Fossil community for 150 years, arriving in Fossil six years before the establishment of the first post office in town in 1876. Lee spent most of his childhood living in, and later just over the hill from, the now-abandoned mill town of Kinzua outside of Fossil. Lee’s father worked in Kinzua as the postmaster and his mother taught school there before taking over postmaster duties upon his father’s death. Lee worked many jobs as a young man in the former mill town, including delivering ice door-to-door from a horse-drawn wagon, driving the school bus, and later working in the sawmill.

Lee and his future wife, Patsy Ruth Woods, met while they both lived in Kinzua. Patsy moved to Kinzua from Cato, Missouri in 1941 with her family. After Patsy completed high school, she and Lee were married in Kinzua on September 18, 1949. For over 71 years, Lee remained the devoted and loving husband of Patsy Ruth. Once married to Patsy, Lee worked in ranching and started his own small logging operation. Lee and Patsy purchased their first ranch along Butte Creek in 1949 where they lived for 9 years before relocating to Fossil. After a few years in town, Lee and Patsy returned to Butte Creek in 1964 when they purchased the ranch where they would remain and raise their family. The Hoover home, which is one of the last remaining “Kinzua Houses,” was moved nearly 10 miles from the former townsite of Kinzua to its present location in the fall of 1980.

Lee was most at home on the Hoover Ranch, where he undoubtedly knew every speck of ground and many of his cows by name. Over the years, he raised a variety of cattle and harvested timber and hay on the ranch. In recognition of his sustainable management of the Hoover Ranch’s forest resources, Lee was named the Outstanding Western Tree Farmer of the Year in 1978 by the American Forest Institute.

Despite the demands of a growing family and a working ranch, Lee found time to serve his local community, including 15 years on the Fossil Administrative School Board and another 12 on the Educational Service District Board of Directors. He also enjoyed many years as an active member of the Fossil United Methodist Church and was even known to give a sermon now and then. Lee’s public service extended to county government. He was elected County Commissioner in 1978. In January of 1982, he was appointed as Wheeler County Judge and was subsequently elected to the post in the fall of 1982 for a six-year term. Lee’s service as County Judge followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, William Wesley Hoover, who was the first elected Wheeler County Judge and who played a major role in construction of the road connecting Fossil to Kinzua to support the newly-opened Kinzua Pine Mills.

Through the years, the Hoover home has been a common and welcoming stopping point for family and friends, who always found an open door, a hot pot of coffee, and, on a good day, a freshly-baked apple pie. Lee particularly enjoyed unexpected visits and conversations with strangers and friends alike. He was a fount of knowledge and a go-to source on topics ranging from animal husbandry and forestry to politics and the law.

Lee was a devoted family man who leaves behind a strong, solid legacy. He relished in his family’s many accomplishments and was a constant presence in their life milestones. In addition to his wife Patsy, Lee is survived by his daughter Susan Anne Humphrey and her husband James, his daughter Debra Ruth Stubblefield and her husband Daniel, his daughter Connie Lee Keith, his son William Wesley Hoover and his wife Cynthia, and his daughter Peggy Jo Logan and her husband Bryce; as well as 21 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild - with more on the way! Lee was predeceased by his son, Leslie Lee Hoover, and his grandson, Joshua Everett Logan.

A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 23rd at the Fossil United Methodist Church, 1004 Main Street, Fossil, Oregon 97830. Following current Covid guidelines, face masks and social distancing will be in place.

It is with great sadness the family of Daniel James McGuire announces his passing on Saturday, December 12/2020 at Lakeshore Care Centre in Coquitlam BC, at the age of 88 from Covid-19.

Dan is mourned by his large and extended family including his partner June Gallagher, his six children Laureen Barker (Vern Barker), Janet McGuire, Jack McGuire (Paula Wild), Marcia McCafferty (John McCafferty), Tara McGuire (Cam Mollard), Kevin McGuire (Erin Wright) and their mother Yvonne McGuire, his many grandchildren, Lena MacMillan (Duncan MacMillan), Carly McConnachie (Travis McConnachie), Evan McGuire, Molly van Leusden (Derek van Leusden), Patrick McCafferty, Sean McCafferty, and Lyla Mollard, and his great grand children, Jeremy, Blake and Corbin MacMillan, Owen, Clayton and Elliot McConnachie, and Eli, Simon and Nia van Leusden, his siblings, Maureen, Brian (Carol), Jack (Daphne), Sheila (Neil), Larry (Shirley), and Mike (Nancy). Dan was pre-deceased by his grandson Holden, his brother Patrick and many other dear family members and friends.

Dan was born November 23,1932 in Radville, Saskatchewan to Janet (neé Cowden) and Ernest McGuire. The oldest child of a large and busy family of eight children, Dan was a promising student and athlete. He attended the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon where he became a mechanical engineer. During this time he met Yvonne (neé Box) and they were married in 1955. His career took the McGuires and their growing family to many parts of Canada including stops in Toronto where he worked for De Havilland, Edmonton and finally to Vancouver where they settled in Port Moody and their family grew to include six children.

The largest part of Dan's career was spent with BC Gas where he took on many challenges locally as the Manager of the Plant and Measurement Department and internationally as a member of the International Gas Union.

Dan enjoyed travelling, winemaking, photography, classical music, running marathons and cross country skiing but it was in long distance cycling that he found his true passion. As a founding member of the Cross Canada Cycle Tour Society and the BC Randonneurs Cycling Club he completed many long and arduous rides including the famous 1,200 km Paris-Brest-Paris ride on three separate occasions. Through cycling he met June Gallagher, they became partners in 1990 and the two were inseparable from then on. In 2014 at the age of 81, as his Parkinsons Disease became more of a hindrance Dan completed a 10,000 km circumnavigation of Canada's farthest corners. Dan was happiest on his bike.

A celebration of Dan's extraordinary life will be held virtually on January 23. Details to follow.

Dr. Lawrence "Larry" Raphael Freedman, M.D. died in his sleep on December 12, 2020 in Los Angeles. He was 93 years old and had been in declining health due to Parkinson's disease. Larry was born in the Bronx, New York, the only child of Hanna and Hyman Freedman. Larry's family moved to New Haven, Connecticut when he was in middle school. After graduating from Yale University at age 18, Larry earned his M.D. from Yale University School of Medicine where he was chief resident in Internal Medicine, and then professor of medicine. During a leave of absence from Yale in the early '60s, he served as chief of medicine of the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, a research and medical center supported jointly by the American Academy of Sciences and Yale University Medical School. In 1973, Larry was invited to serve as professor and chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Lausanne and the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Switzerland. He returned to the United States in 1980 after being appointed professor and chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at the Veteran's Administration Wadsworth Medical Center, University of California at Los Angeles. Larry was a life-long and passionate researcher, who published extensively on infectious diseases and was a pioneer in discovering the cause of endocarditis, an infection of the heart valve. In addition to his passion for medicine and research, he loved classical music and opera and played the piano throughout his life. Larry also loved hiking and cross-country skiing, especially in the Engadin region of Switzerland.Larry leaves behind his beloved wife of 65 years, Rina Stahl Freedman, and his loving children Julia and Leora (Anthony Press) and grandchildren Anna and Jeremy Press.In lieu of flowers, please contribute in Larry's memory to an organization of your choice that works to save the planet and combat climate change.

Indio - Douglas A. York (age 80 years) died at home in Indio, California on December 8, 2020. He had battled Multiple Systems Atrophy and related health issues for over 25 years. At his passing, he was surrounded by his wife, daughter, and daughter-in-law. As his spirit left this world, any fear of death, was replaced with joy and he comforted his girls with his infamous side-assed grin.

Douglas was born on June 5, 1940 in Centralia, Illinois to Harry and Violet (Johnstone) York. In 1947, he moved with his family to the Coachella Valley. Stories of his younger days included working the fields of various ranches, collecting bottles for ice cream money, adventures with Jack the family mule, and epic battles with his sister. He was a 1957 graduate of Coachella Valley Union High School. In the fall of 1957, he attended college in San Diego, but returned home during his first semester after the sudden death of his father. He married Linda McIntosh on September 13, 1958.

In 1958, Doug began his career in general contracting with the firm of Meredith & Simpson Construction Company, engaged in commercial and industrial construction. Under Bob Simpson's mentorship Doug excelled and became partner in the firm in 1968. In 1983, Doug became sole owner of Meredith & Simpson Construction Company and Pressure Cool Co. The construction experience included the building of packing and pre-cooling plants for fruits and vegetables, commercial buildings, custom homes, public schools, motels and hotels, supermarkets and shopping centers, warehouses, churches, service stations and bulk plant facilities. However, Doug received the most satisfaction from helping farmers bring their product to market, especially in third world countries. He was involved with several non-profit groups that provided international development of third-world nations. The concepts and equipment that Pressure Cool Co developed have been applied and emulated throughout the world. Doug traveled and lectured world-wide to promote education, research, development, design and fabrication of pre-cooling and cold storage plants and the highly specialized equipment used in the postharvest cooling and storage of fresh fruits, vegetables and flower stock. He most enjoyed the countries of Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Egypt, India, Morocco, Holland, Brazil, Russia, Turkey, Croatia, and Armenia.

He was a mentor to his employees, his community, and globally.

Doug's commitment to community service to the City of Indio and the Coachella Valley included serving as President of the Indio Chamber of Commerce, Chairperson of the Historic Mural Committee, County of Riverside Parks Advisory Commission (1974-1992), Eisenhower Medical Center Board of Trustees, Valley Sanitary District Board, Board of Directors Coachella Valley Wild Bird Center, and President of Coachella Valley Historical Society. He worked to ensure the success of the Tamale Festival, Southwest Arts Festival, and Coachella Valley Historical Museum. Doug received Recognition from the State of California for efforts to preserve and restore the 1909 Schoolhouse and decades of service to the City of Indio and the Coachella Valley. The City of Indio established the Doug York Plaza to recognize his generous commitment and service. The Coachella Valley Historical Museum dedicated the 1909 School House in his name.

He enjoyed exploring the desert in his jeep, hiking and camping with his family, Western art, and wood carving. He was a talented Kachina carver. He loved hosting canoe trips down the Colorado River and adventures with the Posse. For many years, he was an enthusiastic co-driver for his son's race team, Day Racing.

So much joy and beautiful memories came from the huge effort he always put into delighting others! Doug was always the perfect example of "work hard and enjoy all that life has to offer". He put a crazy amount of work into racing, his business, the bird center, etc. He could go from exhausted, dirty, sweaty one hour to wearing a suit and tie to attend a special dinner the next hour to celebrate someone's achievements. Many learned from Doug that happiness can come from making and seeing other people happy. And probably the most important lesson, there is always room for dessert.

Doug is survived by his beloved wife of 62 years, Linda and his sister Doris (Jack) Morey. He is also survived by his daughter Deborah York-Eby, Daughter-in-Law Lorraine York, Grandchildren Deanna (Brian) Stevenson, Danae (Zach) Knight, Deidre (Sam) Morrison, John Douglas Eby, and Samantha Eby, Great-grandchildren Emily Stevenson, Rust Knight, Rowyn Knight, and Bailey Morrison, Niece Becky (Steve) Manning, Nephews: Ricky (Pam) Welte, and Paul (Staci) Welte, numerous great nieces and nephews, Life Long Friends Carl and Grete Cox, and Posse Members Bruce and Dolores Clark and Jim and Ginger Engle, and dear friends Ron and Norma Hare. Predeceased by his parents Harry and Violet York, beloved son Darren York and great niece Crystal Cooper-Espinoza.

Appreciation is extended to the caregivers of the Palms in La Quinta for caring for Doug for two and a half years. The family also wishes to give their heartfelt thanks to Bristol Hospice and Amore Home Care for providing exceptional care as Doug completed his journey.

Cremation has taken place under the care of Fitzehenry-Weifel Funeral Home. At Doug's request, no services will be held.

Terry Robert Kollar - Age 78, of Grand Blanc, died December 4, 2020.

Terry was born May 26, 1942 in Flint, the son of Robert and Roberta (Parker) Kollar.

He married Karen Benson on June 26, 1966. He proudly served his country in the United States Army. Terry is survived by his wife, Karen; son, "Tony" Kollar (fiance Lesli Litton); brother, Rick Kollar; sister, Brenda (Keith) Dilley; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.

The longtime Englewood resident died on Dec. 4 at age 79. In recent years, he developed a form of Parkinson’s Disease and was being cared for in an assisted living facility, where he contracted COVID-19, said Esther Horton, his wife of 51 years.

Horton served on the Englewood Water District board, was on the Charlotte County School Board for 12 years, was a county commissioner for eight years and ended his career in 2008 as Charlotte’s supervisor of elections.

The Mac Horton West County Annex opened last December on San Casa Drive in Englewood. The Winchester Boulevard extension, a 3-mile-long, four-lane road that connects Placida residents with River Road, was named in honor of Horton when it opened in 2015. 

He was the first to drive on the road, and news photos show him tooling down Winchester Boulevard as a passenger in a white Jeep. 

“It makes me feel like I may be important, and that I did something important,” Horton said during the dedication ceremony covered by the Herald-Tribune. “It’s amazing to me what can be done when citizens and elected officials get together for a common cause.”

He worked with Sarasota County Commissioner Shannon Staub to complete the long-awaited $17.4 million hurricane evacuation route that serves residents of both counties. 

“Shannon and Mac were a team when it came to Englewood,” Esther Horton said. 

Staub said the two first met while campaigning for their first terms in 1996 and vowed to work together. Most of their efforts centered on Englewood, the Gulf-front community that straddles the county line and often gets neglected by both counties.

Intercounty cooperation on the Winchester Boulevard project was unprecedented, because the land was in Sarasota County, but Horton persuaded fellow Charlotte commissioners to spend the money to finish the badly needed hurricane evacuation route that connects the Placida area to River Road and Interstate 75. 

“It worked out beautifully,” Staub said. “We set the tone to help bring the two counties together to look at things as a region, not just as two counties separately. We worked as a unit together for Englewood but also for the two counties.”

She said she will miss her old friend and still treasures a photo of the two dressed as Mr. and Mrs. Claus at an Englewood holiday function. 

“He was a wonderful person. He stood for what he believed in,” Staub said. “He had the interests of both counties in mind to do the right thing. You can’t beat that.”

Esther and Mac met when he was working at an Englewood grocery store owned by her father, L.A. Ainger. Tributes have been pouring in from friends and colleagues since last week.

“He will be remembered as a nice person and a decent human being,” she said. “I can tell you that although he spent a lot of years in the field of politics, it was never about politics for him. It was about getting a job done right. He was there to serve and he was serious about serving, and he tried to do what he felt was the best thing for the county and the citizens. He made himself available anytime. He always did it with a smile on his face.”

Former Charlotte County Commissioner Adam Cummings said Horton’s legacy was as a consensus builder who worked across county and district lines to get things done.

“Mac was all about legacy,” Cummings said. “If he had two defining traits, it would be legacy and consensus. He wanted to bring people together.”

Horton often wore bright red suspenders to commission meetings and sported an amiable Southern gentleman demeanor to go along with his silver hair and beard. 

“He had a tendency to ‘aw shucks’ you,” Cummings said, adding that his friend and mentor had a keen mind and a devotion to building “bricks and sticks” to leave a tangible government record behind. “He was a very sharp guy. He was very intelligent, grasping nuances that not many of us do. He was a caring public servant and my friend, colleague and mentor.”

Retired Herald-Tribune columnist and longtime Englewood resident Eric Ernst said Horton’s “good-old-boy” demeanor often put people at ease.

“Mac was a true original in local politics,” Ernst wrote in an email. “One minute he’d talk about issuing sanitary sewer bonds; the next, he’d offer a tip for boiling peanuts (‘Always the green ones, Eric.’). 

“Of the many local elected offices he held, Mac may have done his best work on the Charlotte County Commission. At meetings, he'd often have a folksy expression to put people at ease in the midst of controversy. Whether you were a constituent, a journalist or a peer on the dais, Mac had a way of making you feel special, as if your opinion really mattered.”

When he was the county’s supervisor of elections, he led an effort to save the historic Charlotte courthouse, which was built in 1928 in Punta Gorda. At the time, it was an unpopular cause, but Horton’s respect for history spurred him to lead efforts to save the yellow-brick building that had fallen into disrepair.

Horton moved his supervisor of elections office into the building, only to lose a reelection bid in 2008.

Mac V. Horton was born in Fitzgerald, Georgia, on April 23, 1941. Arrangements are being handled by Lemon Bay Funeral Home & Cremation Services. A memorial service and celebration of Horton’s life will be held later, “when it’s safe to gather,” Esther said.

Reprinted from the Herald Tribune

Dawn Heath, 78, of East Homer passed away peacefully at home on November 30 after a year of declining health. She was born January 12, 1942 in Cortland NY, the daughter of the late Leon and Lillian Dawson.

Dawn was a lifelong resident of the area, raised and educated locally. She had been employed with Agway, Tractor Supply Co., and worked the family farm. She held memberships at the East Homer and Truxton Methodist Church’s.

She was a very kind-hearted person who always enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Dawn was an outstanding cook and her baked-beans and desserts were often requested at family gatherings and local celebrations.

She is survived by her husband James Heath, her children Charlene (Terry Horner) Ryan, Brian (Laurie) Heath, and Michele (Joe Ditaranto) Heath, and brother Gary (Rita) Dawson. She cherished her grandchildren, step-grandchildren, great grandchildren, and cousins.

Dawn requested to be cremated and a celebration of life will be announced at a later time.

Mary Talmadge passed away on November 30th, 2020 from Advanced Parkinson's disease, in Anthem Arizona where she had been living since 2018. Mary's passion was singing and dancing for the PDG Entertainers Group annually in Palm Desert Greens Country Club, Palm Desert, CA. She will be dearly missed by family and friends.