Joseph "Joe" English

(November 18, 1921 - September 16, 2005)

Obituary published September, 18, 2005

Long time Santa Cruz resident, Joe O. English passed away September 16, 2005 at the age of 83 years. Joe was born to Minnie and Ben English in Ritchey, Missouri on November 18, 1921. He was a graduate of Midway High School and lived in Missouri until 1942 when he joined the Coast Guard and was stationed in Santa Cruz. He served in the Pacific during WWII. He met his wife, Louise Alves, at a dance at the Coconut Grove and they eventually married, settled in Santa Cruz, and had three children. Joe worked for Coast Counties Gas & Electric Company which became PG&E, for a total of 36 years.

After his retirement, he and his wife took many trips to visit his mother and sister and other family members in Missouri, to Hawaii to visit their daughter, Marylou and her family, and to many other parts of the U.S. and the world.

Joe was parishioner of the Star of the Sea Catholic Church, A member of Knights of Columbus Council #971 an Honorary Past President of the C.P.D.E.S., a District Governor of the Cabrillo Civic Club, member of the I.D.E.S., a Distinguished Service Award Recipient of the S.E.S., a member of U.P.P.E.C., the U.P.E.C., the Brotherhood of St. Anthony, the Aptos Grange, the S.I.R.S., the I.B.E.W. Union, the I.S.M.M. and the American Legion Post #64.

Joe is survived by his wife of 61 years, Louise, daughter Natalie and husband Richard Williams of Aptos, and their children, Melanie and Shawn; daughter Marylou and husband Jose Soriano of Hilo, Hawaii, and their children Kevin Soriano and Marisa Palacol; son Rob and wife Linda, of Aromas and their children Amy Haas and Ryan. He is also survived by his sister, Mona Beck of Ritchey, Missouri, two nieces, a nephew and their families, and by his close friend and Godfather, Joseph Mello of Aptos.

A viewing will be held Tuesday, September 20, 2005 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel, 1050 Cayuga Street Santa Cruz, Ca. Lodge presentations will begin at 7:00 p.m. at Pacific Gardens Chapel. A Rosary and Funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, 515 Frederick Street, Santa Cruz on Wednesday, September 21, 2005 beginning at 10:00 a.m. A private internment will be at Holy Cross Mausoleum.

Donations may be made in the memory of Joe to the Cabrillo Civic Club #24, Memorial Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 4223 Santa Cruz, Ca 95061 or to Our Lady Star of the Sea, Building Fund, 515 Frederick St. Santa Cruz, Ca 95062.




John "Ludd" Shea

(January 1, 1924 - January 7, 2005)

Obituary published January 11, 2005

Services will be Thursday for Ludd Shea who passed away January 7, 2005 at Driftwood Healthcare Center. He was 80 years of age.

He was a native of Kansas City, Missouri. Ludd was a compassionate and independent Irishman. He served in the army in World War II in England. After a few years in college he met and married his wife, Jackie, and they had one daughter, Karen. He began his 31 years as a salesman for Nabisco in Kansas City and then was transferred to Santa Cruz in 1955. Many friends remember the times he dropped off Nabisco products for them. He was active in Knights of Columbus and in his church. His wife died in 1982, he retired, and continued to be very active and social. He was a supporter of the Watsonville Band and traveled with them to Europe and the South Pacific. After a stroke in 1995 he moved to Oak Tree Villa in Scotts Valley. He enjoyed his new residence, although stated that the "women were too old." He lived there until his death.

He was a member of Our Lady Star of the Sea Church and more recently of San Agustin Church. He was a Third Degree Knight of Columbus, Council 971 and a member of S.I.R.S. He loved to travel, enjoyed bike riding and especially enjoyed time with family and friends.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, 515 Frederick St, Santa Cruz, CA. Thursday January 13 at 10:00 a.m. Visiting hours will be at Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel 1050 Cayuga St, Santa Cruz Wednesday from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A private cremation and inurnment will follow.

Contributions may be made to the Knights of Columbus, Council 971 Charities.




Robert Yonts

(June 28, 1920 - May 11, 2005)

Obituary published May 13, 2005

Services will be Sunday and Monday for Robert B. Yonts, Sr who passed away May 11, 2005 at Dominican Hospital. He was 84.

Bob was born in Beloit, Wisconsin, one of eight children born to Edward and Anna Yonts. He grew up in Beloit on the Rock River where he learned to fish and raft in a Tom Sawyer type of existence. At seventeen he joined the U.S. Coast Guard and served during World War II. He attained the rank of Chief Petty Officer. Following his discharge from the Coast Guard he joined the Naval Reserve and also attended USC where he studied electrical engineering. He later joined American Hospital Supply where he worked for twenty five years as a Sales Representative in Spokane, Washington and the San Francisco Bay Area.

He served as President of the Board of Directors of his Homeowners Association and was a former member of the Knights of Columbus. During his military service he was stationed in Alaska which was an experience he fondly remembered throughout his life. He was described as the consummate trout and salmon fisherman. He was an avid gardener and loved animals. He believed all people had good qualities, he always had a plan of action and he loved his extended family.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Dorothy Yonts in 2003 and his seven brothers and sisters. He is survived by his sons, Robert B. Yonts, Jr and his wife Bjorg of Soquel and John M. Yonts of Sunnyvale; He is also survived by five grandchildren, five great grandchildren, seven grandchildren by marriage, twenty great grandchildren by marriage and numerous nieces and nephews

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church 435 Monterey Ave, Capitola, CA, Monday May 16, at 11:00 am. A Vigil Service will be held at Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel, 1050 Cayuga St, Santa Cruz, CA Sunday May 15, at 7:00 pm. Friends are invited to call at the chapel Sunday from 5 pm until service time. Interment will be private.

Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1555 Soquel Dr, Soquel, CA 95065.



Harry Ferrari

(1913 - November 28, 2005)

Obituary published December 1, 2005

Services will be Monday for Harry Ferrari who passed away on November 28, 2005 in Santa Cruz. He was born in 1913 in Santa Cruz the son of Enrico and Angelina Rossi Ferrari. He resided his entire life in Santa Cruz where he lived in the family home on Ocean St. Extension. He graduated in 1931 from Santa Cruz High School and attended St. Mary's College.

At the age of 21 he went to work for Emil Sick's Select Beer, where he worked for the next 7 years. At the age of 28 he enlisted in the U. S. Army. He served in the 7th Infantry Division and was stationed in the European Theater during WWII. Following an honorable discharge from the military, he returned to Santa Cruz where he worked for two different beer distributorships before joining Andy's Distributors for a few years. Harry then purchased a distributorship for Burgie and Schlitz beers and it was named H. Ferrari Distributors where he worked until his retirement in 1972.

During his entire adult life he worked on his 15 acres of orchards growing a variety of fruits. Harry pruned, picked and shipped his fruit to the market.

He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Rose Ferrari of Santa Cruz; his sister Rosalie Ferrari of Santa Cruz; his 4 children Terri Gaub of Granbury, TX, Marty Gaub of Santa Cruz, Debbie Gordon and husband Rey of Santa Cruz, and Sandi Sunde and her husband Bruce of Hudson, WI; his 7 grandchildren, Harold, Jennie, John, Marty, Jason, Jaime, and Kirsten; he is also survived by 5 great-grandchildren.

Harry was a member of the Marconi Club, Knights of Columbus Council 971 and the Eagles. Harry was respected, loved and will be missed by his family and many friends.

Funeral procession will leave Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel 1050 Cayuga St., Santa Cruz, CA Monday, December 5 at 12:30 pm and will proceed to Holy Cross Catholic Church 126 High St, Santa Cruz, CA where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:00 p.m. Friends are invited to call at Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel Sunday December 4 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. A private interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, Santa Cruz, CA




Augustine Duarte Gomes

(December 24, 1923 - May 5, 2003)

Obituary published 2003

Augustine Duarte Gomes was born on December 24, 1923 in Rio Vista, CA.. He was the loving son of Mrs. Mary Pitta. Augustine grew up as a member of a distinguished farming family from the Central Valley and was a graduate of Stockton High School, and Humphries Business College. Augustine married the former Mrs. Melba Champion, and is survived by his loving wife Melba, of Santa Cruz, his son, Daniel Gomes of Santa Cruz, stepson Larry Champion of Red Bluff, CA. and also survived by his grandchildren, Matthew, Thomas and Laura Champion.

Augustine’s life touched many facets of the local community. Augustine lived as a prominent member of the Manteca farming community. Augustine also served as a distinguished businessman in Capitola, CA. and eventually served as head of the Capitola Chamber of Commerce. He worked for the Sylvania Corporation in Santa Cruz for 7 years. Augustine then combined his lifetime of farming and business experience as the manager and accountant for an agricultural Co-Op project located in Watsonville, CA. His professional career culminated when he retired from the auditor’s office of the city and county of Santa Cruz in 1987.

Augustine was and active member of the Elks Lodge #824 of Santa Cruz, and also the Knights of Columbus #971, and a long time parishioner of Holy Cross Church. He was a 50 year member of UPEC.

Augustine died on May 5, 2003 at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz. Loving father, husband, and member of the Santa Cruz Community, you were loved by many and will be missed by all.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, May 9, 2003 at Holy Cross Church (126 High Street in Santa Cruz) beginning at 11 a.m. A vigil service will be at Benito and Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel (1050 Cayuga Street) in Santa Cruz on Thursday evening, May 8, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Friends may pay their respects at the chapel on Thursday from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. A private committal will be at Santa Cruz Memorial Park Mausoleum.