Robert Lumbre




Obituaries

Robert Lumbre

Robert Charles Lumbre of Los Gatos died Jan. 5 in an automobile accident. He was 24.

Born April 27, 1977, in San Jose, Lumbre was a student at Westmont and Los Gatos High schools. "He was a gifted musician, one of those people who could pick up just about any instrument and make it sing," his family remembers of Lumbre. "There was nothing but good things said about him and his work on the metal [music] scene."

A memorial benefit concert will be held in Lumbre's honor at the Cactus Club, 417 S. First St. in San Jose on Feb. 2, beginning at 6 p.m.

Survivors include parents Gwen Lumbre of San Jose and Rudy Lumbre of Concord; sisters Carolyn Burt of Fortuna, Dawn Marshall of Kansas City, Mo., and Farrah and Fazi Alijohar of San Jose; grandmothers Marian Cosgrove of Los Gatos and Toribia P. Lumbre of Concord; also numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Memorial services have been held, with interment at Los Gatos Memorial Park.


Raoul Lynn




Raoul Lynn

Raoul Benjamin Lynn of Monte Sereno died of pneumonia at Kaiser Hospital in Santa Clara on Jan. 7. He was 83.

Lynn was born Oct. 7, 1918, in Elmira, N.Y. During World War II, he served as a pilot with the U.S. Army Air Corps. In 1950, he graduated from Lehigh University in Pennsylvania and took a job for the Philco Corporation. He then moved to Tucson, Ariz., where he worked for Hughes Aircraft Company.

In 1961, Lynn began a job with Lockheed Missiles and Space Corporation, where he would remain for 24 years. He retired in 1984, having served as a staff engineer, design specialist and reliability engineering specialist in aerospace and ocean systems.

Lynn enjoyed music--especially Dixieland jazz--reading, driving, computers, shooting, fishing and the outdoors.

Survivors include wife Nancy Lynn of Monte Sereno; sons Roger Lynn of San Jose, Bruce Lynn of N. San Juan and Gary Lynn of Hollister; daughter Barbara Lynn of San Jose; grandchildren Jenny McKee, Bryce Lynn, Brenda Lynn, Claudio Sanchez, Lucy Lynn and Sofie Lynn; great-grandson Blayze Lynn; sister Nancy Lynn of Florida; and brother Russell Lynn of Pennsylvania.


Grace Moore




Grace Moore

Grace Smethers Moore died Jan. 14 at the age of 87.

Moore was born March 12, 1914, in Stockton, grew up in Antioch and graduated from Modesto Junior College and UC-Berkeley. She and her husband, the late Edward Yardley Moore, lived in Stockton, Antioch, Carmel and Los Gatos. The couple founded the Moore Buick Pontiac GMC automobile dealership in Los Gatos in 1953 and operated it for many years.

Among the organizations to which Moore belonged were the Montalvo Service Group and La Rinconada Country Club, where she reigned as Women's Club Champion for several years. She was also a volunteer at Good Samaritan Hospital.

Moore's family remembers her as being "an unconditionally loving, gentle, gracious and tenacious person who dealt with life's adversities resolutely and positively."

Survivors include sons Thomas and John Moore; grandchildren Michael Moore, Teresa Moore Wik, Bretson Moore and Macey Moore; step-grandchildren Barbara McCullough, Patrick Bitter Jr., Susan Rindermann, Sarah Johnson, Tom Bitter, Mark Bitter, Ann Dorsey, Nancy Weling and Genevieve Bitter; and five great-grandchildren and 19 step-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Marilyn Salmi of Richmond and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial services have been held. Donations can be made to the American Breast Cancer Foundation or to New Camoldoli Hermitage, 62475 Highway 1, Big Sur, 93920.


Jane Newton




Jane Newton

Longtime Los Gatan Jane Newton died Jan. 10 of complications from Alzheimer's disease. She was 79.

Newton was born on Mare Island on Nov. 19, 1922, and was raised in nearby Alameda. After graduating from high school, she attended what is now the University of the Pacific, then transferred to Armstrong Business College in Berkeley, where she earned a secretarial degree.

After a few years of work during World War II, Newton became involved in her daughters' many activities as a stay-at-home mother. Spending time at her daughters' schools inspired her to become a teacher herself, so she attended San Jose State University and obtained a teaching credential in 1956.

Newton then began a 25-year career of teaching first- and second-graders at Daves Avenue School in Los Gatos. "She truly loved her students and claimed that over the years, there were only a handful of them that she wouldn't consider adopting for her very own," her family recalls.

She was known for having constant requests from parents who wanted their children in her class. She was also known for keeping in touch with many former students by way of sending them cards for their 16th, 21st, 30th and 40th birthdays.

After retiring, Newton enjoyed traveling the world, playing bridge, being a member of the American Association of University Women, keeping scrapbooks of the cards, letters and photographs she received from former students, and teaching her grandchildren how to read. Her retirement years were cut short by the onset of Alzheimer's disease. During its early stages, however, she was happily surprised to find that her neurologist happened to be one of her former students.

Survivors include husband of 58 years Glenn Newton of Los Gatos; two daughters--both teachers, Nancey Crowley of San Jose and Leslie Kennedy of Sebastopol; and five grandchildren.

Memorial services have been held. Donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Research Foundation, Attn: Grants & Contributions, 1236 Ginger Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va. 23456.

Ruth Nicholson

Former Los Gatos resident Ruth Russell Nicholson died Dec. 28 in Carmel Valley, where she had been residing. She was 86.

A descendent of pioneers who arrived in California in 1828, Nicholson was born in Santa Cruz, grew up in Capitola and Stockton and graduated from what was then called San Jose State College with a degree in education. She worked as a schoolteacher for two years before marrying William "Bill" Nicholson in 1937.

The couple lived in Santa Clara for 20 years, where Bill served as mayor and was the CEO of the Nicholson-Brown Construction Company. The couple moved to Los Gatos in the 1950s, where they remained until 1988. They then settled in Capitola, Aptos and finally Carmel Valley.

Nicholson was an active member of the Episcopal Church, Philanthropic Educational Organization, ToKalon women's organization and a potluck supper group that met monthly for more than 50 years. She also earned an uncommon award from the California State Parent-Teacher Association for simultaneously having a child in pre-school, elementary school, junior high, high school and college.

Her family remembers her as being unconditionally loving, loyal, gentle and gracious. "She was like having an angel of love on earth," one of her daughters-in-law said.

Nicholson was predeceased by sons Mark and George Nicholson. Survivors include husband of 64 years William Nicholson; sons Bruce and John Nicholson; daughters Kathleen Gisvold and Martha McAllister; 14 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Memorial services were held at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Los Gatos. Donations can be made to The George Mark Children's House, 2201 Broadway, Suite 308, Oakland, 94612. This charity is the first free-standing pediatric hospice in the United States and is named in memory of Nicholson's sons.

Arthur Rebello

Arthur R. "Art" Rebello died Jan. 15 at Good Samaritan Hospital at the age of 88.

Born Aug. 13, 1913, in Milpitas, Rebello moved with his family to Los Gatos in 1919. A graduate of Los Gatos High School, he owned the old Los Gatos Telephone Market before going to work for Standard Oil Inc. as a station and district trainer--a job he held for 40 years. During World War II, Rebello served as a first sergeant with the 6th Field Artillery Battalion in the South Pacific Theater.

Rebello was a member of St. Francis Cabrini Church in San Jose for 46 years, where he served as a eucharistic minister and a member of the Holy Names Men's Club. He was also an active member of the Knights of Columbus, a Grand Knight of the Bishop O'Dowd Council No. 3474, Faithful Navigator of the Portola Assembly and a Color Corps Commander. He also enjoyed RV trips with his wife and family and belonged to several RV travel groups.

Survivors include wife of 51 years Thelma Rebello of Los Gatos; daughters Catherine Hansen and Louise Rebello; grandchildren Aaron and David Fettgather, Jared, Veronica and Mitchell Hansen and Bowen and Rachelle Brindley; also three great-grandchildren.

Memorial services have been held, with interment at Los Gatos Memorial Park. Donations can be made to Hope Rehabilitation Services, Attn: Eileen, 4351 Lafayette St., Santa Clara, 95054.

Mark Skrmetta

Longtime Los Gatan Mark "Mike" Skrmetta died Nov. 12 at the age of 90.

A native of Biloxi, Miss., Skrmetta moved to Los Gatos in 1933. He got his start picking cherries and apricots in the fruit orchards. Later, he worked in a grocery store delicatessen, where he learned to cut meat.

Eventually, he bought the store and named it Mike's Food Market, which he ran under that name until 1951. He then changed the name to Mike's Liquors, being the first establishment of that type to hold a liquor license in the area. He sold his business in 1964 and the property in 1974. The location is now the site of Los Gatos Honda.

Skrmetta was a member of the Los Gatos Athletic Club and enjoyed traveling and fishing.

Skrmetta was preceded in death by his wife, Marge Skrmetta. Survivors include sister Margaret Halat; nieces and nephews Barbara, Joyce, Paul Michael and Sandra Halat; and great-nieces and nephew Rachael Halat, Tasha Franklin and Ronald Franklin.

Memorial services have been held.


Marguerite Vanderlaan




Marguerite Vanderlaan

Los Gatos resident Marguerite Vanderlaan died Jan. 2 at Good Samaritan Hospital at the age of 79.

Born Aug. 3, 1922, in San Jose, Vanderlaan was a graduate of Heald College. She was a former secretary with the Los Gatos Union School District. Her favorite position was helping students in the library at Fisher Middle School. Her hobbies included swimming and snorkeling.

Survivors include husband of 60 years Justin "J.D." Vanderlaan of Los Gatos; sons and daughters-in-law Martin and Patti Vanderlaan of San Francisco and Gregory and Victoria Vanderlaan of Chico; and grandchildren Nicole and Vanessa Vanderlaan.

At Vanderlaan's request, her ashes were scattered at sea. Donations can be made to the Los Gatos Union School District, Attn: Fisher Middle School Library, 15766 Poppy Lane, Los Gatos, 95030.

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