United States High School Yearbooks by County
Robert ‘Bobby’ L. Sanchez
Services will be Friday for Robert "Bobby" L. Sanchez, who died Sunday following a lengthy illness. He was 41.
Born in Phoenix, Sanchez was a resident of Santa Cruz from 1964 until moving to Reno, Nev., five years ago.
He attended Santa Cruz High School. He worked as a security guard at Capitola Mall for many years and at one time owned and operated a janitorial service.
Sanchez was a loving father who will be missed by family and friends.
Sanchez is survived by sons, Robert Sanchez and Anthony Sanchez, both of Santa Cruz; daughter, Renee Sanchez of Santa Cruz; stepsons, Sean Wilkes of Santa Cruz and Maurice Wilkes of Auburn; father, Santos Sanchez Sr. of Mesa, Ariz.; brothers, Santos Sanchez Jr. of Santa Cruz, Mike Sanchez of Mesa, Ariz., Mike Sanchez of Colorado; numerous nieces and nephews.
An evening prayer service and celebration of life will be 7 p.m. Friday at Benito and Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel. Visitation will be noon-5 p.m. Wednesday, noon-5 p.m. Thursday and Friday through service time at Pacific Gardens Chapel.
Remembrances may be made to the National Kidney Foundation of Northern California Inc., 553 Pilgrim Drive, Suite C, Foster City CA 94404.
August 26, 2003
Gerald F. Kraft
Services were Saturday for Gerald F. Kraft who died Aug. 16 in Yachats, Ore. He was 75.
Kraft was raised in Salinas, Oakland and Santa Cruz. He attended Santa Cruz High School for a period of time and was once a busboy at Shadowbrook Restaurant.
Kraft was a descendent of Elihu Anthony, a pioneer who settled in Santa Cruz in 1848.
He earned his bachelor’s degree at San Jose State University, a master’s degree at Washington State University and a doctoral degree at Oregon State University.
He was a professor of biology at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash. He was also a U.S. Navy veteran.
His hobbies included aquatic biology, entomology and sailing. He served on the City Council of Yachats and served on the MidCoast Watersheds Council and was a naturalist at the Cape Perpetua Scenic area.
He is survived by his wife, Cheryl Kraft; daughter, Connie Hudson of Siguatepeque, Honduras; sons, Larry Kraft of Kent, Wash., Tim Kraft of Bellingham, Wash; brother, Keith Kraft of Florence, Ore.; four grandchildren, two nephews.
His son, Jeff Kraft, died before him in 1978.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, 1609 Garden St., Santa Barbara CA 93101.
August 26, 2003
Masao ‘Mas’ Hamamura
Services will be Saturday for Masao Hamamura who died in Santa Cruz Friday after a lengthy illness. He was 79.
Mr. Hamamura was born in Salinas and attended schools in Chualar. A longtime resident of the San Jose area, he was an owner of Gardenland Center Inc. in Campbell for many years and later as owned Almaden East Lawnmower Shop Inc. in San Jose.
He loved fishing, but upon his retirement was unable to enjoy the sport because of his having to cope with Alzheimer’s. Early in his career as a landscape maintenance gardener, he was active in the San Jose Gardener’s Association, serving as president. He decided to go into business servicing the landscape gardener’s equipment and new sales. His career in landscape gardening and sales and service spanned more than 30 years before retiring to Santa Cruz County.
He mostly will be remembered by his family and friends for his loyalty to those he worked with and for his work ethic.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Hajime "Katie" Hamamura of Watsonville; two daughters, Mary Ann Hamamura-Clark of Fullerton and Christine Duarte of Aptos; three grandchildren; brother, Kanji Hamamura.
His sisters, Shizue Yanari and Taeko Eto, died before him.
A memorial service will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin, 640 N. Fifth St. in San Jose.
Arrangements are by Benito and Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel.
August 26, 2003
Rita Joan Musich
Services will be today for Rita Joan Musich, who died of malignant melanoma Friday at home in Santa Cruz. She was 43.
Born in Alamogordo, N.M., Ms. Musich lived most of her life in Santa Cruz, where she attended Harbor High School. Rita lived a full life, and although she never had any of her own, her love of children prompted her to work with kids of all ages, in schools, child care and at Monte Toyon Camp and Conference Grounds.
She will be remembered for her strong individuality, her infectious laugh, for her creativity, her love of the mountains and as a huge San Jose Sharks and Oakland Raiders fan who would proudly wear her teams’ colors whenever they were playing, her family said.
Rita was also someone who could always be relied upon to offer a helping hand to anyone who asked, no matter what it took. Her independent and gregarious spirit will be greatly missed, her family said.
She is survived by her parents, Ben and Clarice Musich of Santa Cruz; sisters Diane Young of Santa Cruz, Kathy Windt of Scotts Valley, Carol Musich of Ben Lomond, Janice Musich of Santa Cruz, Dorothy MacQueen of Anaheim, Anita Musich of Santa Cruz and Jacqueline Musich of Oakland; brothers Jim Musich of Santa Cruz and Larry Musich of Santa Cruz; and 13 nieces and nephews.
Services will be 7 p.m. today at Benito and Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel.
August 28, 2003
Joseph Verch
Services will be today and Friday for Joseph Verch, who died Monday in Santa Cruz. He was 91.
Born in Austria, Mr. Verch came to the United States in 1928 on a ship, which docked in Washington state. He worked various jobs, moving southward down the coast and settled in Santa Cruz in 1933. He worked many years at the Davenport cement plant, later becoming a butcher, working for Walti- Schilling Meat Co. for 15 years. He retired with the Santa Cruz City Water Department after 15 years of service.
He was a longtime member of Holy Cross Catholic Church, a lifetime member of the Santa Cruz Druids, the butcher’s union and Santa Cruz City Retired Employees Association. A talented gardener, he loved working in his wonderfully maintained garden, where he grew many vegetables and cared for his fruit trees. He loved to go fishing on the Klamath River and also enjoyed traveling and camping.
He is survived by his daughter, Barbara Foster of Scotts Valley; son, Don Verch of Aptos; grandchildren, Carrie Rose, Lisa Tamayo, Denise Harris, and Mark Verch; six great-grandchildren; and four nieces and a nephew.
His eight siblings, and his wife, Rose Verch, died before him.
A vigil service will be 7 p.m. Thursday, at Holy Cross Church, 126 High St., Santa Cruz. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Friday at the church. Burial will be at Holy Cross Mausoleum in Santa Cruz, after the Mass.
Arrangements are by Benito and Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel.
The family prefers donations be made to Holy Cross Church or Hospice Caring Project of Santa Cruz County.
August 28, 2003
Angelo Rocchi
Services will be Friday for Angelo Rocchi, who died Tuesday at his Watsonville home. He was 86.
Born in Rocca Cerro, Italy, he had lived in Watsonville since 1940.
Rocchi farmed artichokes and brussels sprouts until retiring in 1989.
He is survived by wife, Nellie Rocchi of Watsonville; son Roy Rocchi of Shelton, Wash.; stepson Omero Casini of Watsonville; stepdaughter Diana Keith of Watsonville; sister Maria Donati of Rome; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews in Italy.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Friday at Our Lady Help of Christians Church, 2401 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville.
Entombment will follow at Holy Cross Mausoleum in Santa Cruz.
Friends are welcome from 5-9 p.m. today at Mehl’s Colonial Chapel, 222 E. Lake Ave.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers contributions to the Salesian Sisters Elementary and Junior High School, 605 Enos Lane, Watsonville CA 95076.
August 28, 2003
Alice J.L. Roswall
Services will be Saturday for Alice J.L. Roswall, who died Monday at Dominican Hospital. She was 74.
Born in Berkeley, she was raised in Oakland, attending school there. Mrs. Roswall was a professional clothing model for 15 years, and modeled for various designers. She and her husband retired to Aptos five years ago. Her love for fine clothing continued after her modeling career, and her family will forever remember the many beautiful outfits that made up her wardrobe.
She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Cliff Roswall of Aptos; sons David Arnold Roswall of San Jose and Ken Clifford Roswall of Madera; brother Arnold Lees of Santa Cruz; and three grandchildren.
A memorial service will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Benito and Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel with Pastors Rene Schlaepfer and Gary Williams of Twin Lakes Church officiating.
Burial services will be private.
August 28, 2003
James Dal Porto
Services will be Saturday for James "Jimmy" Dal Porto, who died Tuesday at his Santa Cruz home. He was 88.
Born in Santa Maria, he moved to Santa Cruz and attended Santa Cruz High School. Mr. Dal Porto was a well-known musician in the area and played the accordion on many occasions, both publicly and privately.
He owned and operated Pacific Accordion Studio and his career in the music industry spanned more than 60 years. He was also the former owner of the Anchor Club in Santa Cruz. He was a member of the Marconi Club of Santa Cruz and the Santa Cruz Elks Lodge No. 824.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Norma Dal Porto of Santa Cruz, and one nephew.
Brothers Albert Dal Porto, Leo Dal Porto, and sister Florence Toso preceded him in death.
Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel, 1050 Cayuga St., Santa Cruz.
Friends are invited to call at the chapel from 1 to 5 p.m. Friday. interment will be in Holy Cross Mausoleum Seventh Avenue, Santa Cruz.
Remembrances may be made to the Elks Foundation, 150 Jewell St. Santa Cruz, CA 95060.
August 28, 2003
