May 27, 1940 — June 4, 2016

Quin Denvir died on June 4, 2016, with his wife and children at his side. He was diagnosed four years ago with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable lung disease. He was hospitalized late last month and died at Sutter Medical Center in Sacramento. He was 76 years old.

Born on the South Side of Chicago on May 27, 1940, to parents Paul Francis and Dorothy (Ryan) Denvir, Quin had been a Davis resident since 1975. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Ann Isabel (Gallagher) Denvir; his daughter, Karen Ryan Denvir (married to Anthony Hakl); his son, Paul Gallagher Denvir; grandsons Quin Denvir, 15, Ryan Hakl, 14, John Denvir, 13, Colin Hakl, 12, Frankie Denvir, 11, and Tommy Denvir, 7; and brothers John Denvir and James Denvir.

Quin’s personal and professional accomplishments were numerous and extraordinary. Those closest to him will remember him as loving his true love Ann, with whom he shared an enduring bond. They also will remember him as a loving son, brother, father, grandfather, uncle, cousin and friend. He was loved and respected immensely in return. Many people will miss him.

In 1958, Quin graduated from Chicago’s Saint Ignatius College Preparatory School where he was a National Merit Scholarship finalist. He earned a Navy ROTC Scholarship and attended Notre Dame University. He graduated cum laude in 1962 with a degree in English. He spent four years as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, serving as a supply officer and also working in the Pentagon for the Secretary of the Navy. Quin earned a master’s degree in economics from American University in Washington, D.C., in 1966. He graduated with honors from the University of Chicago law school in 1969.

Quin’s practice of law stretched across five decades. His first job was with the prestigious law firm Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C. He left that practice in 1971 to take a position in El Centro with California Rural Legal Assistance, a nonprofit legal group that represents migrant laborers and the poor. Later in the 1970s, Quin worked as a public defender in Monterey County, and during his first term as governor, Edmund G. Brown Jr. appointed Quin chief counsel for the California State Department of Health. In 1978, Gov. Brown appointed Quin state public defender, a position he held for six years.

In 1984, Quin returned to private practice, first as a partner in the Sacramento office of Marron, Reid & Sheehy for about three years, and then as a sole practitioner specializing in criminal defense. In 1996, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit appointed Quin the federal public defender for the Eastern District of California. He remained at that post until his formal retirement in 2005. In recent years, Quin continued to manage a handful of cases from his home office. He also served as of counsel to both Rothschild Wishek & Sands LLP and Lightfoot Steingard & Sadowsky LLP.

Quin’s legal career has been chronicled in the local and national press over the years. He will be remembered as a complete lawyer, capable of handling most any kind of case. But he will be remembered mostly as a devoted advocate for the indigent, from the notorious to the relatively unknown; an exemplary appellate attorney who handled scores of appeals in state and federal courts, including three at the U.S. Supreme Court; and an ardent foe of the death penalty.

In addition to his family and the practice of law, Quin was a lover of words, both written and spoken. He read every day and maintained an impressive library of collectible books. He was devoted to conversation, often over a beer. He prayed and attended Catholic mass regularly. He loved Notre Dame. He made a point to enjoy the outdoors, particularly hiking. He walked all over Davis regularly and for long stretches. In earlier years, he covered many miles in and out of town on his bicycle. He was a patron of music and the arts. Quin and Ann traveled all over the United States. They frequented national parks and presidential libraries. They also toured the world.

A funeral mass will begin at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 14, at St. James Catholic Church, 1275 B St. in Davis. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, the Denvir family would be honored if you considered a donation to California Attorneys for Criminal Justice (CACJ) Foundation or the CACJ Political Action Committee.

May 21, 1931—June 3, 2016
Laurence (Larry) Meredith Kimble, 85, of Davis, passed away on Friday, June 3, 2016.
Larry was born in Portsmouth, Ohio, on May 21, 1931. He attended Ohio Wesleyan where he received a bachelor’s degree. While at college, he met Jay Smyser, a man who became a lifelong friend, brother, and member of the Kimble Family. After University, Larry joined the Air Force and served at a radio station in Morocco.
A Systems Analyst for the University of California for 30 years, Larry retired in 1990 and moved to Davis in 1991. He was an avid sailor on the San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento Delta. He owned several sailboats and other watercraft over his lifetime. He and Louise were members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis, greatly enjoying that community.
Larry and Louise were highly motivated to remain healthy and active and both attended Fit for Life classes at the Davis Senior Center for over a decade. Larry was a man who loved his family deeply, always making time for them. He was optimistic, open and accepting of people for who they were, which made him a natural teacher and mentor. Larry lived long and well, enjoying cooking, jazz music, boat building, and running around Davis in his Miata convertible. Larry will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Larry is survived by wife Louise Bettner; brother Robert Kimble; sons Dave and Jeff Kimble; daughter Tracy Cliver; and grandchildren Ashley and Cameron Cliver, and Morgan, Audrey, Connor and Helen Kimble.
A celebration of life for Larry Kimble will begin at 1 p.m. Sunday, July 3, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis, with a short reception following.

Billie Little, a longtime Davis resident, died on June 3, 2016, at the age of 89.  A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. Friday, June 24, at St. James Catholic Church, 1275 B St. in Davis. She was a longtime volunteer at the church.

June 13, 1924 — April 14, 2016

Patricia Eileen Powers Allen of Davis died peacefully on April 14, 2016 at her home in Seal Beach. She was 91 years old. 

Pat was born in Rosedale, Pa., on June 13, 1924. While attending college at UC Berkeley in 1943 — where she majored and excelled in the study of English literature — she met Thomas L. Allen. They were married on July 15, 1944, when they were both 20 years old. Their marriage lasted through more than 70 years of adventures, and gave them both great happiness. 

At the end of World War II (in which Tom served as a junior officer on a submarine in the Pacific), they moved to Pasadena, where Tom earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry at Caltech. In 1950, the couple moved to Davis, where Tom was a member of the chemistry department faculty until his retirement in 1994. They lived in Davis for more than 65 years, and raised four children there. 

In 1968, Pat began working as a volunteer for Suicide Prevention of Yolo County. Within a few years, the organization asked her to become its volunteer director. She was tireless in her efforts to build the organization, and when she finally stepped down in 1979, a full-time paid director was brought in to replace her. For her work with Suicide Prevention, the city of Davis awarded her the Brinley Award in 1978. 

Pat Allen loved literature, music and the theater, and took up portrait painting in her 50s, working primarily in chalk pastels. She shared a love of the wilderness and the outdoors with her husband, and together they made a point of taking their children on summer camping trips in the Sierra Nevada mountains, often several times a year. A natural athlete who swam competitively during her teen years, Pat obtained Red Cross certification and gave swimming lessons to hundreds of local children, as well as many of her own grandchildren. She took up locally competitive tennis in her 40s and continued to play into her 80s. 

Following the death of her husband Tom in June 2015, Pat relocated to Southern California to be near family.

She was beloved by her extended family and a circle of close friends and neighbors, and is survived by her children Kathleen Rodgers of Nelson, British Columbia; Tim Allen and his wife Shona of Medford, Ore., and Jacquelyn and her husband John Trautt of Long Beach; Diana Kay, the widow of her son Keith (who died in 2004 at age 50) of Woodstock, Vermont; Keith’s former wife Jane Allard Allen of Petaluma; brother Jim Powers; sister Judie Howard; 16 grandchildren (Dawn, Russell, and Keith Rodgers; Colton, Jason, Rene, and Logan Allen; Rael Hodges, Brianne Island-Smith and Janine Island; Adrienne Gonzalez, Jess and Lee Trautt; Tom and Jackson Allen, and Linea Kay); and 12 great-grandchildren. 

She was predeceased by her parents, Rolla and Agnes Powers, sister Kathy Harris, son Keith Allen, and husband Tom Allen. Her brother Jack Powers died in June 2016.

A memorial service will begin at 4:30 p.m Saturday, Aug. 13, at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 27074 Patwin Road in Davis, with a reception immediately following.

April 10, 1920 — June 13, 2016

Kay Ryugo died peacefully in Boise, Idaho, on June 13, 2016. 

He was born on April 10, 1920, to Juntaro and Mutsu Ryugo in Sacramento, California. During World War II, he served stateside in the 442nd Regimental Battalion and 100th Infantry Battalion. 

He attended UC Davis and completed his Ph.D. in plant physiology. From 1955 to 1988, he was a UC Davis Pomology professor and had many colleagues in Japan, Italy, Chile, Greece and China. In his spare time, he enjoyed ceramics and woodworking, and crafted numerous violins and other stringed instruments. 

Kay and his deceased wife Masako had wonderful times together traveling abroad, and spending time at their Soda Springs cabin. 

He is survived by five children, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. 

Private burial services are pending. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Parkview Presbyterian Church, 727 T St., Sacramento CA 95811 or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Aug. 27, 1919 – May 30, 2016

Kate Muriel Erickson, age 96, passed away from natural causes on May 30, 2016, surrounded by her family and in the loving care of the staff at Foxmoor Assisted Living in Woodbine, Md. She was born on Aug. 27, 1919 to, Charles and Kate Pinkett and grew up in London, England.

She served with the Royal Air Force during World War II as an airplane mechanic and met her husband Earl Duane (Eric) Erickson, an American serviceman from South Dakota, after the war, in Germany. They married in London on March 17, 1946, and lived in Europe for several years before moving to the Washington, D.C., area to raise their family. They resided in and around D.C. for more than 40 years. She was a devoted, loving wife and mother, an active member of St Paul’s English Lutheran Church, an avid reader and an enthusiastic bridge player later in life.

She was predeceased by her husband, Eric, in 1996 and then lived for more than 15 years in Davis near her daughter, Caroline. She volunteered for many years at Sutter Davis Hospital Auxiliary, helping patients and assisting with the Auxiliary newsletter. Some of her favorite times were walking with her family in the gardens and nature trails around Davis. She moved back to the Washington, D.C., area for the last two years of her life.

She is survived by her daughter, Caroline Schore (Neil), and three sons, Duane (Marina), Mark (Pamela) and Robin (Linda); six grandchildren (Michael, Stefanie; Nika, Cody, Hartley; Aria); and a pending great-grandchild.

A memorial service will be planned at a later date. In place of flowers, please consider a donation to a local hospice organization or to a local senior center, or any other charity.

June 13, 1921 — June 13, 2016

Fidel Mendoza of Knights Landing passed away on his 95th birthday, surrounded by his five children, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Fidel was the patriarch of a very large extended family which included numerous nieces and nephews who all looked up to him for support and guidance.

Fidel came to this country from Michoacan, Mexico, at the age of 17. He met and married Lupe Savala, in 1947. Theirs was a love story that lasted until her death in 2008, 61 years. They spent most of their married life in Yolo County where they raised their family and worked in farming for Dan Best Enterprises.

Fidel was preceded in death by his wife Lupe and his granddaughter Rosie Gonzales. He is survived by his daughters Tonie Flores (Joe) of Santa Ynez, Erlinda Gonzales (Rick) of Davis, Bertha Cortes (Louie) of Vacaville; and sons Vincent Mendoza (Geri) of Shafter and Fidel Mendoza Jr. (Janis) of Vacaville. He also leaves 17 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews throughout Yolo, Sutter, Sacramento Counties, and in Mexico.

Rosary and viewing will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 21, at McNary’s Chapel, 458 College St. in Woodland. Burial Mass will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 22, at Holy Rosary Church, 301 Walnut St. in Woodland, followed by entombment at St. Joseph’s Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to Yolo Hospice, 1909 Galileo Court, Davis, CA 95618. 530-758-5566

June 29, 1923 — June 6, 2016

Jack Alfred Palmer died at his home on June 6, 2016, at the age of 92. He was a resident of the University Retirement Community of Davis. 

Born June 29, 1923, in Rigby, Idaho, and raised by his parents Alfred Merle Palmer, M.D., and Lora Burt Palmer in Oakland. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley in 1948. He loved football and either attended or watched every Cal vs. Stanford game for more than 60 years. He was a member of the Sigma Phi Fraternity, Life Member of the U.C. Alumni Association, and Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. 

From 1943 through 1945, he served in the U.S. Army 492nd Engineering Equipment Company in New Guinea, and Leyte and Luzon, Philippines, building air strips and bridges. He was a Life Member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers and Past President of the Golden Gate Chapter. He was a principle owner of California Hydronics Corporation, retiring in 1988 after 30 years.  

His first job, at age 12, was delivering the Oakland Tribune newspaper. At 15 he herded goats in Willets, on the Eel River, where he shot quail with his .410 shotgun. He shot his first deer, a forked horn, at age 16, the same year he joined the NRA. He loved fishing, bird hunting, backpacking, and the mountains, especially Sierra City, Sardine Lakes and The Sierra Buttes. 

He is survived by his son Jack Jr. (Andrea), daughters Lynanne (Kelly Mehlhaff) and Jennifer, five grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. His wife of 33 years, Shirley Perryman Palmer, preceded him in death. 

There will be a family celebration of his life in the future. In lieu of flowers you may make a donation to Yolo Hospice, 1909 Galileo Court, Davis, CA 95618.

Jan. 4, 1965 — June 13, 2016

Born on Jan. 4, 1965, in Syracuse, N.Y., Susan was a Davis resident for 20 years after moving from Fremont in 1997.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in food science and technology from UC Davis and was a homemaker and caregiver for most of her life. She was a member of the Lutheran Church of the Incarnation in Davis.

Susan was a creative person who enjoyed many crafting activities, including jewelry design. She loved the outdoors and enjoyed gardening and biking. Susan was a wonderful cook. Her beautiful smile and laughter will be sorely missed by those who knew and loved her.

She is survived by her spouse of 15 years, Yoshinori Mochizuki; son, Christopher Koki Mochizuki, age 11; mother, Alice Jane “Jan” Slagle; and siblings, C. David Slagle and Christopher Eric Slagle, both of Greenfield, Ohio.

A memorial service will take place in August. Details will be announced.

Please direct any donations to Lutheran Church of the Incarnation for Mt. Cross Camp.

Nancy B. Crosby, a Davis resident for 55 years, died peacefully in Davis on June 15, 2016. Born in 1931 in Santa Ana, she was 84 years old.

No funeral service is planned, but a memorial will take place later this summer. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that remembrances be given to Yolo Hospice.

July 26, 1930 — June 24, 2016

Irving Broido of Davis died June 24, 2016, at the University Retirement Center after a long illness. He was 85.

Irv was born in 1930 in London, Ontario, to Clara and Solomon Broido. His parents were originally from Cherkassy in what is now Ukraine. From Canada, they moved to Chicago, where Irv lived until he moved to California. He majored in mathematics at the Berkeley campus of the University of California. After graduating in 1952, he taught mathematics at a number of institutions, including San Jose State University. Later, he entered into long-term employment with the U.S. Navy as a computer programmer. He traveled frequently for work and spent extensive time in Asia and Europe.

The greatest joys of his life in Davis were, first, his beloved wife Karen, and second, the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts. Irv was a longtime supporter of the arts in the Davis area. In addition to being an active member of the Friends of Mondavi Center, he served on the Advisory Council of the American Bach Soloists and was an enthusiastic supporter of the UC Davis Symphony Orchestra and the Merola Opera Program in San Francisco.

Dinner with Irv was always a delight. He was versed in politics and the arts, especially opera, classical music and dance. Add to this his love of food (except for cooked carrots!) and fine wine, and an evening of conversation at his and Karen’s table was always memorable.

Irv was preceded in death by his parents; his older brother, Abraham; and his sister-in-law, Miriam. He is survived by his cherished wife, Karen; son David, daughter-in-law Paula, and granddaughter Anna; daughter Shereen, son-in-law Ramanan, and granddaughter Meenakshi; nieces Lynne (Gary) and Michelle (Rick); grand-nieces Leanne and Rebecca (Justin); and great-grand nephews Jacob, Eliot and Ruben.

A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 29, at Congregation Bet Haverim, 1715 Anderson Road in Davis. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Irv’s memory to Yolo Hospice, Friends of Mondavi Center School Matinee Ticket Program or the UC Davis Symphony Orchestra.

The family would like to thank the University Retirement Community staff, the Threshold Choir, and Ted Skiera and the team at Yolo Hospice for their help and support.

Janet W. McDonough, 94, of Davis, died Tuesday, June 28, 2016. She had been an area resident for 10 years. She was born Aug. 31, 1922, in New York state to John and Helen Wicht.

A memorial service will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 2, 2016, at Smith Funeral Home; 116 D St. in Davis.

Feb. 1, 1943 — June 11, 2016

On June 11, 2016, Robert Lewis Bruun died from complications of esophageal cancer. His family members were with him in person and in spirit. We are grateful he is out of pain.

Bob was born on Feb. 1, 1943, to Harriet Lewis Bruun and John King Bruun in Chicago. According to Bob, he was very young at the time. Every year on the last day of school, his mother would have the car packed and they would leave for the family cottage on Lake Michigan, returning on Labor Day.

Though his high school counselor told him not to apply to college, he graduated from the School of Business Administration, Loyola University in 1965. He rode the El into Chicago from his home in Oak Park to the Lewis Towers Campus which is named after his mother’s uncle. A transformative year in Rome at the Loyola Rome Center sparked a lifelong love of travel. His adventures there are part of our family lore, including hitchhiking to Copenhagen from Rome and back again with a sign “American college student.” An attempt to hitchhike across the Sahara ended when the vehicles or roads, but not his luck, ran out.  He went on to earn a MBA in Health Care Administration from George Washington University in 1968.

Faced with the Vietnam War draft, he joined a uniformed service, The Public Health Service, as an alternative to an armed force. He served with distinction for 22 years. As a devastatingly handsome young officer assigned to The Public Health Service Hospital in Baltimore, he met the love of his life, Joanne Howe Bruun who was then an undergraduate at American University. Upon her graduation in 1971, they married and Joanne had a 4-year career teaching in Baltimore’s inner city. A productive period ensued when Joanne and Bob had 3 sons in 3 1/2 years while Bob, by day, was the Associate Director for Administration of the P.H.S. Hospital in Baltimore and by night, was writing a dissertation. Bob earned a Doctor of Science degree from The Bloomberg School of Public Health in Health Services, Planning and Management from Johns Hopkins University in 1980.

Bob’s Public Health Service career took the family to Texas where a daughter joined the brothers. Bob served as the Deputy Director of the Public Health Service Hospital, Nassau Bay, Texas, shutting down that facility when Reagan closed the PHS hospitals. He then returned to Maryland as Associate Administrator at the Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center, The National Institutes of Health, and later as Executive Officer of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, N.I.H. Upon retirement from the P.H.S., Bob had the good sense to settle the family in Davis when he became The Medical Group Administrator at the Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento facility where he worked for 15 years.

Bob’s professional skill set included a thorough and thoughtful management style and a methodical but innovative approach to problem solving. He was compassionate and articulate and was unfailingly served by his good humor and wit. He brought these same skills to his family, solving problems when his children traveled to far-flung corners of the world and when they returned home to begin their adult lives. He was generous, fair minded, funny and smart. He was our problem solver and our moral compass and he did it all while making us laugh.

Bob is survived by his wife of 45 years, Joanne, now of Alameda; children Andrew of Davis, Matthew, wife Katie and baby Nathaniel of Alameda, Dan and Kerrie Schultz of Alameda and Chico, and Suzanne of San Francisco.

His memorial Mass will begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 9, at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, 2005 Berryman St. in Berkeley. Memorial contributions may be made to The Loyola Rome Center at Loyola University Chicago, Office of Advancement, Attn: Julia McGannon, 820 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Illinois 60611.

Paul Edward Makley Jr., a Davis resident since 1971, died in his sleep while traveling in Italy with his wife, Diane. Paul was a partner in Tandem Properties since his arrival in Davis. A funeral Mass will begin at 10 a.m. Friday, July 8, at St. James Catholic Church, 1275 B St. in Davis, followed by a reception.

Dec. 3, 1946 — June 28, 2016

After suffering with heart failure for almost a year, Richard Eugene Hersh passed away from this world on June 28, 2016. Anyone who knew Rich could not possibly think of him without smiling. His kindness and generosity was never-ending. He always put others ahead of himself, expecting nothing in return. He gave unconditional love to everyone he knew, leaving a lasting imprint on their lives.

His life was his home, family and friends. He was an artist, author, professor, environmentalist, printmaker, scholar, dreamer, giver and lover. His accomplishments were many, his failures few.

He is survived by his wife, Lynn Sokol Hersh; daughters Loni Saxon Hersh of Lake Worth, Fla., and Raelynn Gabriella Hersh of Olympia, Wash.; his granddaughter, Laeloni Saxon; his mother, Betty Hersh; brothers Mark, Jim and Robert; and sisters Judy and Linda. He was predeceased by his father, Wayne Hersh.

Memorial donations may be made to EarthJustice.org/Savethehoneybees. Please share memories at FuneralAlternatives.org. HE HAS MOVED ON BUT WILL REMAIN IN OUR HEARTS FOREVER.

Aug. 25, 1939 — June 30, 2016

Paul Edward Makley Jr., a pillar of the Davis community for 45 years, passed away unexpectedly overnight of an apparent heart attack on June 30, 2016, at the age of 76. Paul was in Italy on a trip with his wife.

Paul was a devoted son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, friend, colleague, college and community member. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

He and his wife, Diane (O’Loughlin), met in New York City on Leap Year Night in 1968 and married in October of 1969. They moved to Davis in early 1971 when Paul became a partner in Whitcombe Construction, which became Tandem Properties.

Though Tandem became integral to Davis, and the University of California, Davis, by providing housing and employment for so many and by supporting the community in innumerable ways, including philanthropic, Paul never sought recognition.

He was the devoted and loving father of two children, Michelle Makley Buzbee of Davis and Brett Makley of San Diego, and father-in-law of their spouses Doug and Kelly. He took great pleasure and pride in being the grandfather of five — Maddie (13), Owen (11) and Ryan (7) Buzbee and Clare (6) and Carter (2) Makley.

Born in Dayton, Ohio, on Aug. 25, 1939, Paul was the son of Paul Makley Sr. and Margaret (Thiemann) Makley. He was the eldest of four siblings — the late Nancy Subler (married to the late Sam Subler) of the Los Angeles area, Jim Makley (Donna) of St. Louis, and Mary Jane Mittag (Carlos) of Winterhaven, Fla. He was the son-in-law of the late Edwin O’Loughlin and Rose O’Loughlin and brother-in-law to Diane’s sister, Carol Holzhauer (Adam) — all of San Antonio.

He attended Catholic elementary and high school in Dayton and then earned a civil engineering degree from Purdue University in 1961. He served in the U.S. Army and worked in civil engineering before getting an MBA at Stanford University in 1967.

An avid tennis player in the early years in Davis, Paul took up golf in recent years and received much enjoyment from playing and the camaraderie. He was also a member of a number of local groups, served on community boards, and coached and refereed youth sports, among many other activities.

Paul was an amazingly kind, generous, humble and conscientious person. Above all, he was a man of integrity, respected by all, and gave pleasure with his ready smile.

A funeral Mass will begin at 10 a.m. Friday, July 8, at St. James Catholic Church in Davis, 1275 B St., and a reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be considered in Paul’s memory to Citizens Who Care, Yolo Hospice, Elderly Nutrition (Meals on Wheels) or another organization of the donor’s choice.

Dec. 12, 1950 — June 23, 2016

William Steven Roche died of Alzheimer’s disease on June 23, 2016, in Elk Grove. Born Dec. 12, 1950, in Iowa, he was 65 years old.

He had a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Pacific Lutheran University, and enjoyed membership in Rotary International, woodworking and spending time with family and friends.

He is survived by his wife of seven years, Linda Roche; two children, Joelle Faught (Stacy) and Jacob Roche; two stepchildren, Anthony DaOro (Lynneé) and Alicia Skeen (Rob); sister, Anne Kristine Roche; and numerous family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Joyce Roche.

A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 9, at Lutheran Church of the Incarnation, 1701 Russell Blvd. in Davis. A private family inurnment will be held at the LCI columbarium.

Contributions in his memory may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association of Northern California.

Aug. 8, 1941— July 4, 2016

Gary James Colberg died July 4, 2016 at his home in Davis after a heroic yet always hopeful five-year battle with MDS. 

Gary was born in White Bear Lake, Minn., in 1941. In high school he was an excellent, hard-working student, student body leader and the outstanding athlete of his class. He earned a football scholarship to the University of Minnesota and played in two Rose Bowls for the Gophers vs. Washington and UCLA in 1961 and 1962. In 1966, after finishing his Master’s Degree at Minnesota, he accepted a job at UC Davis to teach part time in the PE Department with the major assignment as Supervisor of the Intramural Program. 

With his outside-the-box thinking and deep well of enthusiasm, Gary developed what was frequently described as the finest intramural program in the country. Interested students were always able to find an activity for competition and companionship from softball to volleyball to horseshoes to coed football. The activities were available year round and seemingly filled every green space and gym space on campus. Students were known to delay graduation to get in one more IM season. Gary soon took on supervision of the club team program, and, of course, those programs developed quickly giving even more students opportunities for higher-level competition.

As if the immensely popular and successful IM program was not enough of a challenge, Gary had a second career largely volunteer and motivated by his endless enthusiasm and desire to promote the sport of volleyball. Gary was known in the volleyball community as the Father of Northern California Volleyball. He was a major factor in the growth of the USVBA (now USA Volleyball) in Northern California. 

His hard work led to an explosion of volleyball leagues and tournaments for both adults and juniors. Gary was the founder of the USA VB Junior National Tournament for boys and girls. He led the push for boys volleyball competition in high schools first at a club level that led to the inclusion of boys volleyball as a regular CIF sport. Gary also was heavily involved in officiating and supervising officials of volleyball especially at the collegiate level, and he was the founder of the Northern California Collegiate VB Officials Association. His officiating skills earned him the opportunity to officiate at the highest level of the game: international competition all over the world including the Olympics. 

Gary had the assignment as head supervisor for officials at the Olympics in Atlanta in 1996. For years Gary organized national level tournaments especially for club level play. As always, his organizational skills and forward thinking improved the experience for the participants. He was recognized many times for his accomplishments and dedication to the game. The two most prestigious were the Wilbur H Peck Referee Award and the Harold Frier Award, the highest honor bestowed by USA Volleyball.

The triangle, the strongest building unit, needs three sides. Gary had UC Davis and volleyball. The third leg, the key leg, was his family. He married Debby in 1974. They met, of course, through volleyball and their marriage was beautiful, an amazing and near perfect integration of love, friendship and intertwined support. Casey joined the family in 1984 and brought even greater joy, excitement and juggling of schedules to the household.

Gary is survived by Debby and Casey. They provided unending love and support to Gary during his battle with MDS. His death leaves hundreds of people across the country with a deep sense of loss. His goodness, kindness and dedication to UC Davis, the world of volleyball and especially to his family and his hundreds of friends will be a lasting legacy. He made life better for everyone who knew him.

A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 23, in the ARC Ballroom on the UCD Campus. In lieu of flowers any donations should be sent to the Gary J. Colberg Endowment for UC Davis Men’s Volleyball Club. Checks payable to UC Regents, and mailed to: UC Davis Men’s Volleyball, c/o Andy Ramirez, UC Davis Campus Recreation, 232 ARC, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616.

Jan. 28, 1975 — June 24, 2016

Brian Robert Rucker died in Plainsboro, N.J., on June 24, 2016. Brian left this world too soon, at the age of 41, as a result of a pulmonary embolism. 

Brian grew up in Davis, attended Davis High School and graduated with the Class of 1993. Brian attended UC Davis, earning a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences in 1998.

Brian Rucker

Throughout his life, Brian was beloved for his kindness, loyalty, and empathy. Learning to read at an early age, he was an avid book lover, an enthusiast of science fiction novels and literary thrillers. He also had a fondness for gaming, stemming from weekends with his brother at the Library video arcade.

Having a love of music, Brian played the trombone and performed in school bands throughout high school and college, both as a Blue Devil and as a member of the California Aggie Marching and Concert Bands. He also enjoyed “power walking” with his mother, whether it was around the track or around the block.  

After college, Brian pursued a career in utility trading with the Bay Area energy startup company APX. He followed this professional path throughout the rest of his life moving from a scheduler to an hourly trader, and ultimately to a system operator with the company NRG.

One of the benefits of energy trading is that long working shifts are rewarded with ample compensatory time. Brian used these extended breaks to travel the world, which resulted in countless international adventures. He had a special fondness for world festivals, trips that ranged from drinking beer with his brother at Oktoberfest in Munich to practicing the samba in a Brazilian favela with his friend, Alberto Feliciano, in preparation for Carnival. Brian loved to explore the great outdoors and usually found the local hiking club every time he was relocated to a new state for work.

Although Brian was unassuming, his thirst for experiencing life and aptitude for making real human connections resulted in amassing a network of friends across the globe. He was a great listener, was always accommodating, and those that took the time to know him always professed feeling rewarded by the effort.

Brian was a loving son, brother, uncle, and friend. The family has been comforted by the messages of love and condolences from around the world, as well as sharing memories of numerous special moments people had with Brian during his lifetime.

Brian is survived by his parents Margaret and Robert Rucker of Davis, as well as his brother Michael Rucker, niece Sloane Rucker and nephew Archer Rucker, of Alameda. 

A memorial service and reception are planned for 11:15 a.m. Saturday, July 30, at the Davis Veterans Memorial Center. Memorial donations may be made to the American Thoracic Society or to the Give UC Davis — Cal Aggie Marching Band Alumni Association.

May 9, 1948 — June 30, 2016

On June 30, 2016, Jennifer Arlene Risley Moon left us, left life. 

Jennifer Risley

The wife of Jack Moon of Kingston, Wash., Jennifer was born to E.B. and Jean Risley on May 9, 1948, and grew up in Durham and Dover, N.H., and in Davis. She graduated from the Northfields (Mass.) Schools and then attended UC Davis.

Her interests and her work were in research, and she made a career of researching for others. She made friends wherever she went. The sparkle and wit of her personality will be missed by all who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her father, E.B. Risley. She leaves, besides her husband, Jack Moon; mother Jean Risley; brother and sister-in-law Bruce and Marie Risley; relatives in Connecticut and Massachusetts; and many friends.