The Willow Glen Resident 1998: The Year in Review They Will Be Missed In 1998, Willow Glen mourned the loss of great people January Clyde Arbuckle, Author of 'Clyde Arbuckle's History of San Jose' As San Jose historian Clyde Arbuckle lay dying in his son's arms, his last words were devoted to what had been his life's passion--the history of San Jose. "Just a few minutes before he passed, he was giving one of his lectures on San Jose history," Jim Arbuckle said. "He was saying something about the Ryland building and the old courthouse. Maybe his life was going before his eyes." He died in the hallway, with Jim helping him from the bathroom back to bed. The entire city mourned the loss of San Jose's leading historian. The 94-year-old left an enormous legacy behind, including the definitive book on San Jose history, Clyde Arbuckle's History of San Jose. Arbuckle was born in Santa Clara in 1903. His family had arrived in the valley by covered wagon, two years before gold was struck. Arbuckle attended Santa Clara High School until the age of 15, when he quit school and drove horses to help support the family. At age 29, Arbuckle married his wife, Helen, and had two children, Jim and Susan. When Jim was nearly 3 years old, Arbuckle began laying the foundation for their Willow Glen home on Franquette Avenue, the home he died in. "At night we could hear him at the typewriter," Jim said, "working away at articles, developing his craft." In 1949 he worked as the curator of the San Jose Historical Museum and was commissioned by the city in 1970 to write the city's history. "He never graduated from high school but he was a teacher," said the book's publisher, Leonard McKay. A memorial was held on Jan. 14 at the Masonic Temple. February Thomas O. Stevens, Former Owner of Stevens Music Stores Thomas O. Stevens--musician, longtime resident, music teacher and former owner of the Stevens Music stores--died at the age of 80 on Feb. 28. Stevens opened the first of the five Bay Area Stevens Music stores on Lincoln Avenue in 1951 and ran the chain for 34 years, aided by Gordon Stevens, his son. Stevens delighted in putting on crosscultural holiday music shows at Willow Glen Elementary with his students from Willow Glen and Lincoln high schools at a time when "multicultural" wasn't a political buzzword. March Cici Barone, Woman in Search of an Organ Donor Cecilia "Cici" Barone, 35, died Mar. 18 at Stanford Hospital after a long fight with interstitial pneumonitis. Barone, who had been on the lung-donor recipient list at Stanford since June, had been relying on intravenous liquid oxygen to breathe. "I'd like to live through March," Barone told The Resident when her sister, Ann Giluso, launched a flier campaign telling people how easy and worthwhile it is to become an organ donor. May Richard Stegeman, Local Business Owner Since World War II Richard John Stegeman, 79, a plumber and early member of Saint Christopher Church in the days when the congregation met in a prune-packing shed, died in his home on Saturday, May 30. A big sports fan, Stegeman died doing what he loved. "He died watching a Giants game," said his daughter, Wendy Stegeman. "He died in his chair with a smile. And the Giants won." A resident of Willow Glen since the early 1940s, Stegeman opened a plumbing business on Willow Street after World War II. His love of plumbing was passed on to his son, Richard, and grandson Matthew, 23. Matthew had recently become a plumber's apprentice. August Lil Severin, Former Willow Glen High School Teacher Lil Severin died Aug. 19 in a Los Altos nursing home. She was 92. Severin was affectionately known as the "Orchid Lady." Her passion for the unique flowers took her and her husband to 47 different countries to collect specimens. The two ran Severin Orchid Farm on their property in Cupertino; Henry Severin estimated there are 2,000 varieties of orchids among the 10,000 plants in the three climate-controlled greenhouses built on their hillside property. "We managed to keep PG&E very happy," he said. September Hooked on Friendship: Willow Glen Little League coach Joe Rivas, who died Sept. 22 at age 49, was known for taking his players on weekend fishing trips. Joe Rivas, Little League Legend While visiting his family in Los Angeles on Sept. 22, Joe Gustavo Rivas, 49, fell ill and was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died of cirrhosis of the liver. He had spent the last 10 years of his life working to help children and drug-addicted adults steer clear of the path he had walked for most of his life. He was also a much loved Little League coach. Joey Hernandez, a 16-year-old who once played for Rivas, said Rivas mentored him and treated him with respect. "He told me to take the time to know everyone in my life," Hernandez said. "He said, 'Take strides in life and don't be afraid to go with your heart.' " December Helen Arbuckle, Leading Lady in Willow Glen Four months shy of her 91st birthday, Helen Arbuckle died after suffering a stroke in front of her Willow Glen home. Her death came 11 months after the passing of her husband, famed San Jose historian Clyde Arbuckle, who authored Clyde Arbuckle's History of San Jose. At the time of her death, Helen Arbuckle was working on an addendum of sorts to her late husband's book. Her history focused on the important women of San Jose. [ Back to Contents Page | Willow Glen Resident Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Willow Glen Resident, December 30, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.