In Our Care
Peter Franc Strauss
(1933-2024)
Peter Franc Strauss passed away peacefully at home in Oakland, CA on March 13, 2024. He was 90 years old. In his final days, he was surrounded with love and cared for by his children and stepchildren.
Peter was born in Boston, MA on December 3, 1933 to Ruth Franc Strauss (1900-1984) and Dr. Maurice Benjamin Strauss (1904- 1974). He spent most of his childhood in Newtonville, MA, where he lived with his father, mother, sister, and grandmother. His father, Maurice Strauss, was a renowned physician, medical administrator, teacher, and writer of medical journal articles and books. His mother was civic-minded and devoted herself to volunteer work for organi- zations including a Jewish settlement house for immigrants, the Red Cross, and the League of Women Voters for which she volunteered until the end of her life. Peter’s beloved younger sister Barbara was his closest companion until her untimely death from a rare kidney disease at age 14. Peter’s maternal grandmother, Lena Franc, fondly called Nanny by the children, moved into his childhood home when his father went to war in 1943.
Peter was a senior in high school when his sister Barbara died, and as soon as he graduated at the age of 17, he joined the army. With a strong proficiency in language, he was sent to the Army Language School (now known as the Defense Language Institute) in Monterey, CA, where he learned and became fluent in modern Greek. He spent the last 16 months of his enlistment in Salzburg, Austria. After Peter was discharged from the Army, he came back to Massachusetts where he attended Amherst College, his father’s alma mater.
Peter moved to San Francisco in the summer of 1962 and made California his lifelong home. He famously had many jobs during his first decade in California, including going door-to-door selling insurance policies, serving as janitor at an Episcopal church in exchange for room and board, driving Muni streetcars, and teaching high school English, along with being a traveling salesman pitching aluminum siding, candy machines, and corre- spondence courses.
In 1971, while still a counselor at San Ramon High School, Peter founded Discovery Center in Danville and spent 18 years there as director. What started as casual meetings with troubled students in the parking lot of the Fosters Freeze became a community institution that celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2021. After Discovery and until re- tirement, Peter had a private practice, and also worked as an employee assistance counselor.
Peter and his first wife, Margaret Nura Clegg, were married in San Francisco in 1964 and had their first child, Jenny in 1965, followed by Joshua in 1966.
In addition to his work, Peter was an avid amateur (ham) radio operator with a penchant for being able to send very fast morse code. This lifelong hobby began shortly after World War II, when a neighbor loaned Peter an army aircraft radio that tuned to one ham band. He tried many hobbies over the years, including golf, but came back to amateur radio after many years. He was also one of the organizers of the local emergency response network, which also served to bring neighbors together in friendship and community.
Peter was well known as a community builder who co-created the Top of Broadway Terrace group. He knew his neighbors by name, and always made a point to welcome and include everyone - and say hello on his daily walks around “the island.”
He was also a dedicated member of the Netivot Shalom community, having served as the head of the chevra kaddisha tahara team for many years, the editor of Paths of Torah (an anthology of drashot by congregants), treasurer of the board, a weekly volunteer in the front office, and head of a rabbi search committee. He also volunteered as a regular “friend” to congregants who had recently lost a loved one; this meant getting together with a mourner monthly for support, sometimes with this relationship lasting for years. This, after becoming bar mitzvah at the age of 61, a profoundly proud moment for him, his family, and his Jewish community.
The love of Peter’s life was Nan Strauss, who preceded him in death by four years. Nan and Peter met in 1984, and were married in 1985. Meeting each other not only totally changed and enriched their lives, but the lives of their children as well. Nan’s children, Amy Gurowitz and Eric Gurna, lived with them in their home on Pine Needle Drive in the Oakland hills as teens/young adults. Nan and Peter filled their life with rich experiences
- they loved going to the symphony and theater and traveled the world together. Both were incredibly loving grandparents who gave generously of their attention and time to their nine grandchildren, all of whom miss them greatly. Peter and Nan remained utterly devoted to one another for over 35 years.
Peter is survived by his daughter, Jenny Strauss, her spouse, Em Howard, and their children Emmett and Marina Howard; his son, Joshua Strauss, his spouse, Shoshannah Strauss, and their children Connor, Brody, and Audrey Strauss; his stepdaughter, Amy Gurowitz and her spouse Andreas Lorenz, and their children Anja and Anika; and his stepson Eric Gurna and his spouse Elia Gurna, and their children Rosalie and Rafael.
If you wish to donate in Peter’s memory, please consider the following organizations: Women’s Cancer Resource Center:
https://www.wcrc.org/
Discovery Counseling Center of the San Ramon Valley https://www.discoveryctr.net/donate/
Natividad DeAnda
January 14, 1935 - January 26, 2024
Sonora - Nat was the brightest light in the DeAnda family. His intelligence, creativity, talent, and caring will always be remembered.
Look to This Day
Look to this day, for it is life It is the very life of life.
For in its brief course, lie all the varieties and realities of your existence:
The bliss of growth, The glory of action, The splendor of beauty.
Yesterday is but a dream, and tomorrow only a vision...
But this day, well lived, will make your yesterday a dream of happiness; and your tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well, therefore, to this day
for it is yours to keep.
-Sanskrit Prayer circa 4,000 BCE
Jean Ann Taylor
July 19th, 1936-January 26th, 2024
JEAN ANN TAYLOR, of Mill Valley, passed away January 26th following a long accomplished, fulfilled and joyous life. Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio Jean’s intellectual prowess and leadership aptitude were recognized at a young age getting her assigned to Cincinnati’s elite college preparatory high school Walnut Hills, where she excelled academically and was elected class president.
Jean went on to the University of Cincinnati, joined the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in American History and a B.S. in Education.This is also where she met and began a six decade love story with husband Ray.
The two arrived in Marin County in 1963 settling in San Rafael where they would raise their son Jeffrey and daughter Stephanie. Jean and Ray enthusiastically embraced the bay area and the California lifestyle, becoming lifelong members of the Marin Tennis Club, spending countless weekends on the ski slopes of Tahoe, supporting the Marin Arts Council and Alter Theater, getting involved with the Marin Shakespeare Company and San Francisco Symphony, and, hosting foreign exchange students to share the dream.
Jean began teaching elementary grades and picked up another degree, a Master’s in Psychology at Dominican University. But she would soon be on a new trajectory to becoming an invaluable public servant and agent of change on social issues in the North Bay.
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In 1993 Jean Co-Founded the New Beginnings Center, a transitional housing and job training facility for the homeless, chairing Capitol Campaigns that funded an on-site culinary institute and an additional 80-bed residential development. In the years that followed Jean raised more than $17 million for these and other projects, and served on the Marin Commission on Homelessness. Her efforts earned her a George H.W. Bush Presidential Points of Light Award and changed the blueprint for Marin County’s response to homelessness.
Jean’s next fight prompted change within the family court system. Learning of repeated legal rulings that left children vulnerable to violence, Jean sensed systemic injustice. Together with Kathleen Russell she established The Center for Judicial Excellence, serving as Board President for a decade. The Center’s mission is to protect children exposed to domestic abuse and foster accountability throughout the judicial branch. What started as a local non-profit in San Rafael is now a national research and policy organization.
Recognition and awards for her contributions include: Marin Women’s Hall of Fame, Marin’s Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian of the Year, Heart of Marin’s Volunteer of the Year and many more.
As Ray retired his 33-year career with Herman Miller he and Jean ramped up their globetrotting, traveling to more than 30-countries. They sailed around Tahiti, went to Turkey, across Western Europe, South America and into the ports of China, Japan and South Korea by cruise ship; took the Orient Express from London to Venice and safaried through Kenya and Tanzania, and were frequent flyers to Paris and parts of Italy.
Jean’s life was adventurous, productive and rich with friendship. To her community she was a soldier for those in need. To her family she was our center; organizer of all, and the axis from which we all thrived. Her special touches and added sparkle brought magic to every occasion. She made sure each of us was recognized and celebrated for every accomplishment and step forward. Her passing leaves a massive void in our lives, but her presence will remain with us forever.
In January of 2017 Jean suffered a severe brain hemorrhage and subsequent stroke that ravaged both muscle and memory. Not surprisingly she beat the odds recovering well beyond expectation. Her condition was in steep decline during the past several months however, and in the early hours of January 26 she passed in her sleep.
Jean Ann (Lea) Taylor is survived by her husband Raymond, son Jeffrey, daughter in law Amy and their children, grandsons Cameron, Scott and Joshua; daughter Stephanie, son in law Bill Boland, their son, grandson Dominic; and sister Ida (Lea) Scherer.
Remembering Ron Cooper
Ronald Arthur Cooper was born on October 18th, 1941 in Stockton, California. In 1964, he married his high school sweetheart, Kathleen Frances Baucom and they remained happily married for over 59 years. He lived a wonderful life of 82 years, surrounded by his devoted wife Kathleen, two children, Christian and Chelsea, and two cherished grandchildren, Kylie and Keenan. Those who knew him personally recognized his authenticity, the depth of his character, and his gentle humanity. He was passionate and dedicated to his family and his work as an lifelong educator. Ron loved music, baseball, and making people laugh with his clever wordplay and unique sense of humor.
Ron was a 1959 graduate of Amos Alonzo Stagg High School, and a 1962 graduate of Stockton Junior College. In 1967 he earned his Master of Fine Arts degree from San Francisco State University. Art education was Ron's true passion. After receiving his teaching credential from SF State, he taught Fine Art, Sculpture and Ceramics at many Bay Area college campuses which included Foothill College, the College of Marin, the College of San Mateo, the California Summer School of the Arts and finally Gunn High School in Palo Alto, where he taught art for 39 years. In addition to art instruction, he became the Student Activities Director and head coach of the Varsity Men’s Soccer Team. His coaching prowess and experience earned him a position as an NCAA Soccer referee.He was a member of the Palo Alto Public Arts Commission for many years, being a liaison between contributing artists and the city.
As lifelong Jazz enthusiasts, Ron and Kathie attended 50 Monterey Jazz Festivals together. Jazz would often be the musical backdrop during his art classes.
Ron will be forever loved for his kind spirit and limitless acceptance for everyone he encountered. A dedicated man of infinite patience with his students, colleagues and his family.
A gentle man with a heart filled with generosity and kindness.
Life and Legacy of Jerome L. James -Stallworth
12/27/1983-12/16/2023
Jerome fulfilled the roles of son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, advocate, and true friend.
An engaged humanitarian who was always thoughtful and aware of others. A beautiful soul who helped others in need. Loving, kind, understanding, free spirited, and philosophical. Naturally introspective and introverted, highly intellectual, helpful, funny, inquisitive, and generous. He wasn’t afraid to take risks to grow and unfold. Jerome loved listening to, creating and recording music. He found joy in nature, animals and watching and creating anime. He was a deep thinker and always pondering the experience of being human. An IT genius, poet and spoken word artist, avid gamer, prolific writer who lived by his own terms and always remained true to himself.
Jerome loved to learn, obtaining an A+ certification, and CDL license. He attended the College of Marin where he studied Cyber Security and Philadelphia Community College where he studied Liberal Arts and was a dedicated student of quantum physics.
He leaves no one behind because he knew unequivocally, we are all interconnected and One with all that Is and we know he is with us in all ways. In the warmth and light from the sun, in the caress of the wind, in the beauty of the trees, in the illuminous night sky, and in the vastness of the ocean; his pure spirit is omnipresent.
One Power
One Presence
God is all there is
God is Love
Jerome is Love
Jerome is One with God
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Revelation 21:4
Light to Light, rest easy and well Jerome. You are Loved.
“I have everything I need”
MARYON DAVIES LEWIS
1930-2023
Maryon Davies Lewis, whose childhood nickname was “Brownie,” and later “Black Cloud,” or simply “Stormy,” died on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, at Davies Campus formerly named for Ralph K. Davies, her father. She was 93.
Maryon Davies Lewis (MDL) was passionate about the art of giving and will be remembered with her chin up, ready to take on the world’s problems as well as her own. Although raised in Woodside, California, Maryon traversed the world stage: going to war-torn Bosnia as a board member of nonprofit Global Impact, travelling to Africa with World Wildlife and to Ireland with the Irish American Foundation.
Maryon commanded any room she entered with her acerbic wit and inimitable five-inch heels. As a child, Maryon hid underneath a desk and listened to discussions between then President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and her father, Ralph K. Davies who was Deputy Petroleum Administrator for War, about the matter at hand, supplying American oil through a pipeline to Europe during WWII. Maryon’s love for politics grew over the years, from campaigning for Eisenhower in 1952 to supporting many Democratic candidates afterwards.
Maryon received her hazel green eyes from her mother, Louise, who had the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall named after her. Maryon financially supported the concerts at Davies Hall to the Santa Fe Opera in New Mexico to the Music in the Schools program for SF public schools.
Maryon’s heyday was the DiFi era in San Francisco, when Dianne Feinstein was mayor, between 1978 and 1988, the Willie Brown years (1996- 2004) into the Gavin Newsom years (2004- 2011.) Besides the politicians, Maryon’s friends included many writers of the 60’s and 70’s: Barnaby Conrad, Peter Matthiessen, Herb Gold, Blair Fuller, Alastair Cooke… ending with the Three Wise Men of San Francisco: Herb Caen, Wilkes Bashford and the Nonesuch, Willie Brown.
Maryon Davies Lewis is succeeded by her daughter, Lucy Louise Lewis, and her son, Ralph Davies Lewis and four grandchildren: Ian Dreyer, Elena Dreyer, Milo Lewis and Atherton Lewis. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the San Francisco Symphony. The date for Maryon Davies Lewis’ Celebration of Life will be announced soon.
