Obituaries

Bernard Sims

Bernard Merle "Bernie" Sims of Saratoga died Jan. 12 of a heart attack at the age of 83.

Born June 5, 1916, in Friend, Neb., Sims played offense and defense on the Friend High School football team. Although it comprised just 11 players with no backups, the team won a state football championship.

After a stint in the U.S. Navy during World War II, at which time his ship landed Marines on several Pacific islands, he came to San Jose and became the manager of downtown's General Paint Store, where Eulipia stands today.

In the late 1940s, Sims met Steffi Abbott, a young widow raising two children. They later married and had one child together, Lisa. In 1998, the couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

Sims was also the founder of Rent Rite Equipment Rentals. "He knew the idiosyncrasies of every piece of equipment in the lot, and his personal touch kept each tool and machine in good working order," recalls friend Maxwell Bloom. After many years of prosperous business, Sims eventually sold the operation to Studebaker Worthington, a national chain.

An avid sports fan, Sims "adopted" Stanford University's football team and was a member of a select group--the Starting Eleven--to support recruiting activities for coach Denny Green. Sims also founded the Tailgaters, a group of season-ticket holders who were featured in the September 1971 issue of Sports Illustrated. He also supported Stanford Women's basketball as a season-ticket holder.

Sims joined the San Jose Rotary Club in 1957. His 42 years of membership included a seat on the board of directors from 1982 to 1984 and a stint as a trustee of the Rotary Club Endowment from 1978 to 1983. He particularly enjoyed Rotary programs that dealt with teaching children about science.

Another of Sims' interests was collecting and restoring vintage automobiles. His love for classic cars dates to the early 1950s, when wife Steffi gave him a 1915 Model-T Ford as a birthday present. His collection grew over the years to include a 1912 KisselKar, a 1910 Maxwell, a 1910 Wilcox, a Reo truck, a 1956 Thunderbird, two Model-A Fords and a 1951 Rolls-Royce limousine. Sims was an active participant in the San Jose Rotary Club's Motor Vehicles Enthusiasts' Committee.

"His Midwestern upbringing was part of him for the rest of his life. A straight shooter, he could be gruff at times. Even with his foot and leg pains, he would not stop," Bloom recalls of his friend. "His generosity was unique--unknown to most, he modestly and immediately reacted many times to the needs of individuals with a generous check."

Sims was preceded in death by son Burton Abbott. Survivors include wife Steffi Sims of Saratoga; daughters Lisa Sims-Hulsey of Hawaii and Stephanie Abbott of Los Angeles; nephew Lowell Sims of Los Altos and niece Lois Stack of Chicago.

Donations may be made to the San Jose Rotary Club's Endowment, the Montalvo Service Group or the San Jose Symphony.

Samuel Tyler

Samuel L. "Larry" Tyler died Jan. 20 in his Saratoga home. He was 81.

Tyler was born Sept. 25, 1918, in San Diego and grew up in Escondido. He majored in engineering and psychology at UC-Berkeley. During World War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He was later stationed at Molesworth, England, as a member of the 303rd Bombardment Group, "Hells Angels" Combat Team. Among his missions was flying a B-17 bomber over Berlin, Frankfurt and Nuremberg.

After the war, Tyler spent two years as a charter airline pilot. He then went into business for himself, operating a hardware and variety store in Concord. He later moved to Saratoga, where he purchased the Saratoga Variety Store in 1957. After closing the store in 1970, Tyler formed a real estate development partnership in the Saratoga area. He was a former president of the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce and member of the Saratoga City Council.

While serving as city mayor in 1968, he became involved in the establishment of Hakone Gardens as a city park. He also supported the beautification of Saratoga-Los Gatos Road and the formation of the City of Saratoga Parks & Recreation Commission. The protection of open space, especially in the Saratoga hills, was his primary focus during his tenure as mayor.

In the mid-1970s, Tyler joined the Santa Clara County Library Commission and advocated building a new library in his city, the Saratoga Library. Among his interests was walnut growing, golf and home craftsmanship and design. His family also called him "Duffer of Merit and Retriever of Wayward Golf Balls."

Survivors include wife of 59 years Ruthe Tyler of Saratoga; son and daughter-in-law Greg and Robin Tyler of Scotts Valley; grandchildren Mathew and Mara Tyler of Scotts Valley; sister Marian Underwood of Pear Blossom, Calif; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.

James Sells

Former Saratoga resident James Vernon "Ben" Sells died Feb. 6 in Cupertino, where he had been residing. He was 90.

Sells was born July 15, 1909, and worked as a safety engineer.

Survivors include wife Erma Eunice Hatcher Sells,72, of Cupertino; sons James Lee Sells of Bolivar, Mo., and Samuel Eugene Sells of Saratoga; daughter Mary Lou Curran of Saratoga; 11 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and sister Ruby Shoemaker of Chicago, Ill.

Memorial services have been held.

Photos: Great Race and Highway 9 closure

Editorial: Yes on Measure N

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