Obituaries

J. Frank Acosta

Former Los Gatos Chief of Police J. Frank Acosta died on Sept. 11 in Pleasanton, where he had lived for the past nine years. He was 59.

Acosta was born on June 7, 1940, in Durango, Mexico. His mother, wanting her son to have more opportunities, moved the family to San Jose. After graduating from San Jose High School and St. Mary's College, Acosta began a career as an auto mechanic.

After some friends serving in the Marine Corps Reserve got Acosta thinking about the law enforcement field, he attended a police academy and was hired first by the city of Palo Alto. After 15 years there, during which time he rose to the rank of assistant chief, Acosta became chief of the Los Gatos Police Department. After six years in that capacity, he became Milpitas' police chief for seven years.

Acosta was also an active member of St. Augustine's Catholic Church in Pleasanton. After his second marriage and the birth of his third daughter, Jessica, he retired from law enforcement and enjoyed playing the role of "Mr. Mom."

Survivors include wife Deborah Acosta of Pleasanton; daughters Deborah Acosta of Los Gatos, Elizabeth Acosta of San Jose and Jessica Acosta of Pleasanton; and many other relatives and close friends.

Memorial services have been held. In lieu of donations, the family requests that anyone who knew Acosta in any way write a letter to 5-year-old Jessica, so that when she is older, she will know what her father meant to those whose lives he touched. She may be reached in care of Deborah Acosta, P.O. Box 520, Pleasanton, 94566.

Those who prefer to make donations may send them to Hope Hospice, 6500 Dublin Blvd., Suite 100, Dublin, 94568.

Garth Ritchie

Garth Orman Ritchie, a Los Gatos resident since 1959, died on Sept. 7 after a long illness. He was 83.

Ritchie was born Jan. 22, 1916, in Lubbock, Texas, the middle of three sons. After the stock market crash of 1929 ruined his father's insurance business, Ritchie went to live in the back room of his uncle's radio shop, as the family could no longer support all three children. Ritchie earned his keep by working in the store after school and on Sundays.

By the age of 15, Ritchie and his best friend taught themselves how to fly using the biplane crop-duster owned by the friend's father. The pair went on to work as crop-dusters and flying circus performers during their high school years and beyond.

Ritchie earned his way through college by teaching flying at Hill Junior College in Hillsboro, Texas. One of his students, Christine Davis, later became his wife. Throughout World War II, Ritchie also served as a flight instructor for the U.S. Army Air Corps.

Following the war, Ritchie was hired by Pan American World Airways and began a 33-year career that took him on international as well as domestic routes. He also participated in the Berlin airlift, the Korean airlift and military air charter flights to and from Vietnam. Ritchie was a Past Master of the Shrine in the Masons and also belonged to the Los Gatos Elks Lodge.

Ritchie's wife predeceased him in 1987. Survivors include son Randall G. Ritchie of San Jose and daughter Sue A. Ritchie of San Diego.

Interment was at Los Gatos Memorial Park. Donations may be made to charities benefiting research on Alzheimer's disease or cancer.

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