We thought it would be nice to remember those who passed away in 2006. There is also room here to remember personas, places and things, including the politically dead. We have open minds, so use this space as you see fit, but with respect. The censor is watching!
Leonard McKay (born 1921, died October 17)
A beloved friend to all of us at San Jose Inside, he was a true peoples’ historian and a wonderful human being. His stories will live on and we will never forget him.
Ira Brilliant (born 1922, died September 10)
His large and important collection of material related to Ludwig van Beethoven is at the heart of the Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies at the Martin Luther King Jr. Library.
Alan Shugart (born 1930, died December 12)
The tech pioneer and inventor of computer disk drives changed the world and our city.
County Music Hall
Died and came back to life more times than Freddy Krueger.
Let’s raise a glass to Leonard McKay, and remember his lifelong contributions to the betterment of San Jose! Our vibrant past was always brought into crystal clarity by his wit and candor. There will be no replacing him, but he has acted as a catalyst to so many of us who will try to keep that spirit alive. Thank you my friend!
On December 10th of this year we lost Bob Bronzan. Bill Walsh, Al Saunders and Dick Vermeil cite him for their coaching success.
Teammates of San Jose State’s greatest football team ever (1937-1939) considered Bob a lifelong friend. San Jose State calls him one of its greatest Spartans. San Jose is a better place because of Bob.
Santa Clara lost, as did the entire South Bay,
John Mahan, a former city council member, and good civic leader to the Lions Clubs of Santa Clara and San Jose.
I will miss Leonard’s wisdom! May he rest in peace!
On the media front we should remember the loss of Knight Ridder and the resulting Media News takeover of the Mercury News. We are already seeing the results.
We also lost an important community resource as KTEH was gobbled up by KQED.
San Jose was not well served by either of these events.
We also lost a valuable historic resource, the Fox-Markovitz building. Some may argue that the build was not worth saving, but I’m sure all will agree that the council never should have lost sight of their responsibility to follow the law (CEQA). It was a costly lesson, but what price can we put on respecting the process?
Gonzo may he disappear from our city forever.
Cindy Chavez, the South Bay Labor Council & Augusto Pinochet.
The word for 2007 is “Vigilant”.
With a New Year comes renewed sprits.
The past is the past,
the future
is but a dream.
The moment is Now.
DISCOVER THE PAST, CREATE THE FUTURE
Health, Family, Community, Hope.
Welcome 2007
to
Our Village in Celebration!
The Village Black Smith
Gil Hernandez
As I walked down the Alameda today, I thought of the fine article in the “Mercury” by Scott Herold on that ‘grand avenue’ and of the person who lived nearby and loved each and every home and the stories that they held – his name was Leonard McKay. His death leaves a mighty void in the preservation of our past and the love of its lessons. There is no successor in sight. TMcE
May I ad Carol Chapman to this list. Scott Herhold devoted his Dec. 20th column to her. Carol perished while trying to save fostered cats in her home near Piedmont Hills High School. It is believed that she was responsible for thousands of cat adoptions in the 20 years that she was involved in rescue work. She recently retired from the County’s Social Services Dept. Carol served on SCC’s Animal Advisory Commission and helped organize San Jose’s Spay/Neuter Voucher Program.