Obituaries

A resident of Martinez, she was loved by all. She lived, worked and volunteered in Martinez. She left behind four daughters, grandchildren, great grandchildren and friends. There will be a memorial held on January 24 at the Martinez Yacht Club from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.  In lieu of flowers an account at the US Bank in Martinez has been set up in her name for donations for various charities.

Martinez native and longtime Martinez teacher Zoe Leach passed away peacefully in her home early on Jan. 1, 2010, after a long illness.

Zoe was born in Martinez June 23, 1940, a daughter of the late Albert and Dolly Boyer. She attended St. Catherine’s Elementary School, Alhambra High School and San Francisco State University, where she earned a B.A. degree and teaching credential.

She married Robert E. Leach, a teacher in the Martinez schools, and raised a family of four. more...

Bob Harrison, formerly of Lafayette, passed away December 3 in Tucson, Arizona at the age of 81.  He was the loving husband of Janet, father of Debbie (Mike) Miller, and grandfather of Curtis (Meredith) Miller. more...

Evelyn Eugenia Holcomb Megorden passed away November 18, 2009 in Martinez, where she had lived near her family since 2004. Born in Mandan, ND, she lived her younger life in Jamestown, ND, and most of her adult life in Seattle, WA with her beloved husband Ron, who passed away in 1978.more...

Sam Li-Ron, a manager with Gibson Publishing, the Martinez News Gazette’s parent company, a company he had served since 1983, passed away peacefully at home after a brave battle with brain cancer. He was surrounded by his loving wife of 35 years, Yael, of Martinez, and his children, Shiri Gradek (Ian) of Santa Cruz, and Gordon Li-Ron of Los Angeles. He is also survived by a granddaughter, Theo Olivia Gradek; mother, Bracha Luboshitz in Israel; sister, Nechama Muskal, in Israel; brother, Michael Luboshitz, in Israel, and six nephews, all in Israel.more...

Mary Stuart Arnold died August 21 at the very young age of 98.  She was born June 7, 1911, in Cripple Creek, CO, the third child born to Ralph and Winifred Arnold and the first to survive infancy.  The family moved to Martinez when Mary was a baby.  Mary attended public schools in Martinez, graduating from Alhambra High School in 1929.  She attended the University of California and Armstrong Business College and was eventually hired as the executive secretary to the plant manager for Shell Oil in Martinez, a position she held for more than 35 years.  She was a membemore...

Steve Jespersen, 57, of Homosassa Florida, passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, July 10, 2009, after a short battle with brain cancer. He was surrounded by family.

Steve was born August 25, 1951 in San Francisco, California to Richard and Barbara Jespersen. He grew up in Pinole and graduated from Pinole Valley High more...

Carmel Taylor, devoted wife and mother, loyal friend, and extraordinary community leader, died on June 24. She had resided in the Martinez home she loved since 1946.more...

Louis O. Kuhn, 88, passed away Wednesday at his home. Born in Springfield,
 Missouri. He lived at Merrill Gardens in Vallejo in the past 2 years; previously he lived in Martinez for 41 years. Mr. Kuhn served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He worked as the Head Shift Operator for Shell Oil Refinery for 25 years, retiring in 1979. He was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Treda Kuhn, in 1993.more...