Old News
Annie Crotts Died May 5
Annie grew up in Bolinas. She and Lydia Tacherra were among Lydia Smith's students in the 1930s and all three were founding members of the Whitecaps. This photograph of Annie and Phyllis Wells was taken at the 2008 St. Patrick's lunch.
Rosemary Robinson Has Died
The newspapers for today, January 9, 2014, have an
announcement that Rosemary died December 26, 2013. She had been in poor health
for a number of years. This photograph was taken at the September 2003 picnic in
Stinson Beach.
Barbara Kovach died on May 10, 2013

Barbara will be remembered for her large and forceful personality, her distinctive stylishness and her graceful line drawings. More photographs may be found at this web page.
Nell Melcher
Nell died May 20 in Walnut Place in Point Reyes Station.
A memorial was held at Walnut Place on May 23. She was a frequent
participant in our meetings when she lived in Stinson Beach. She was known for her pretty paintings of flowers.
The one printed here was made into a note card which was sold at that year's Cuisine on the Green. The picture of Nell was taken at the 2003 Whitecaps' Annual Picnic in Stinson Beach
Howard Meyer
Howard died Sunday, April 22, at age 97. A memorial was held at the Episcopalian Church in Bolinas Saturday, April 28. An obituary
from the Hearsay News,
relating his remarkable life and career, is copied below .
Interviewing
Howard N. Meyer was like stepping through an interesting garden door
and finding yourself in the rotunda of a great library. At age 96
his mind was sharp and still engaged in his life passion for
international justice and social/civil equality. Articulate and
charming, he was an author whose writing included two Pulitzer Prize nominated books,
published articles and many letters in the New York Times. He was a
legal authority, social and civil rights historian, retired attorney
and arbitrator, former Special Assistant to two U.S. Attorrneys
General and member of the American Society of International Law. Meyer’s
writings on civil rights were published beside such great Black
thinkers as James Baldwin and Roy Innis; Martin Luther King wrote
Meyer a letter of admiration. He celebrated the inauguration of our
first Black President of the United States while on a plane
traveling west toward Bolinas, to live near his two Sons.
A New Yorker, born in Brooklyn, Meyer graduated from Columbia Law
School in 1936, where he was editor of the law review. He shared an
early law partnership with Bella Abzug at a time when few women
practiced law. Three of his most notable books are still vibrantly
readable and relevant to our contemporary understanding of law and
politics. Pulitzer nominated:
The Amendment That Refused to Die:
Equality and Justice Deferred: The History of the
14th
Amendment (1973),
And as
editor of the writings of a great
activist---The Magniflcent
Activist: The Writings of Thomas Wentworth Higginson (2000).
Also his Pulitzer nominated--World
Court In Action (2002).
In Bolinas he found
intellectual stimulus in the Proust reading group, events at the
Bolinas Museum and Community Center. He lived in a cabin in the
beautiful garden of his son and daughter-in-law Jonathon and Deborah
Meyer and was regularly visited by his son Franklin Meyer of Mill
Valley. His daily companions were a devoted group of wonderful women
caregivers with whom he shared a mutual appreciation.
Ray Marcotte Has Died
We have received notice that Ray died last Saturday, March 3. He was a long time member, particularly remembered for his participation in our annual picnics.
There was a memorial, which was very heavily attended, at the
Firehouse.
Lillian Letter Died Easter Sunday, April 24
Lillian and EJ at the September 2010 picnic in Stinson Beach
Park.
This is the last picture we have of her.
Madeline Balzan Has Died
Madeline at the Sept. 2005 picnic
I did not receive any direct notice of Madeline's passing but did see a
number of search engine queries for Madeline on this website. Then I received
the minutes of the last Bolinas Rod and Boat Club meeting from Michael Rafferty
which said she had died about a week before that meeting.
Madeline goes way back with the Whitecaps - she may have been one of the
original members. In the more recent past she was a mainstay of the group,
especially by her contributions of her wonderful baking. To this day whenever
our Thanksgiving and Christmas meetings come around I think of her magnificent
pumpkin pies. - Roger Kovach
Evelyn Guba Has Died
Evelyn succumbed to one of the cancers she has
endured for a number of years a few days ago, quietly in her sleep.
She died as she had lived, uncomplaining, matter-of-fact stoical
and continuing to conduct life as usual: she attended our
exercise classes, directors' meetings and Whitecaps lunches right up
to the end.
Evelyn was a stalwart of the Whitecaps for fifteen or more years -
we are all bereft at our loss.
Donna Fischer
We have learned that Donna died on July 3, but have no other information.
Arthur Okamura
Arthur died Friday, August 7, with shocking suddenness.
There is an obituary in the Marin IJ.
Bill Braasch has some nice memories in his blog
Bill says that this Carl Nagin poem was read at Tuesday's art class, the first meeting after Arthur's death:
Who will spin the quarter and paper propeller now that you've jumped through the negative space you taught us all to see homemade shapes and forms in what we live and love entangled in high relief your vanishing act a puzzle peace in that rainbow arc over Pine Gulch Creek and the Great Horned Owl watching us watch your dancing leap a gypsy jig-saw you walking Prince Charley one fine morning home there's nowhere to go.
There was a memorial celebration Sunday, August 30 at
Commonweal, 451 Mesa Road, Bolinas
New and Improved Marin Transit District Website
Go to our Transportation Issues page
Robert Shaw, M. D.
Bob Shaw, a long-time enthusiastic participant in our Stretch Classes, much beloved by the other members, died Wednesday night, March 26, . The awful irony in this is that he and Judith finally made it to a regular Whitecaps meeting for the first time just a week before. Fortunately, they both appear in the handful of snapshots taken then.
Record Attendances
The February 19th and the March 19th (" St
Pat's") meetings were our largest ever - more than 50 in attendance
on each occasion
(it is difficult to get an accurate count because our people move
around too fast).
New Group Concerned with West Marin Health Care
There is a new group concerned with all aspects of West Marin's health care facilities and services called the West Marin Health Coalition. Read the handouts for the first public meeting held Jan. 29, 2009 in the Dance Palace.
Now you can hear the recording of the entire meeting.
Free Food at the Bolinas Community Center
Every Friday food from Trader Joe's is given away at the Bolinas Community Center. Seniors are allowed to enter at 11 a.m. before all others. There are many appealing items offered making it well worth the time and effort.
The School Parcel Tax
By now you should know that the parcel tax to supplement the budget of the Bolinas -Stinson Beach schools was passed by a substantial number of votes above and beyond the two-thirds required. This parcel tax is a renewal of the one in force until June with an increase of $52 per year, bringing the total to $250 per year. There is an exemption available for seniors upon filing a request. All of the particulars are spelled out at the school's webpage about the tax. Of course, you are under no obligation to claim the exemption and the school would welcome any help you may provide. So, if you can manage an average of five dollars a week and would like to give our schools a little extra boost, simply do not claim your exemption.Program Notes of the Meeting of Oct. 16, 2008.
Jane Silvia of the Bolinas branch of the county library told of the new facilities to make access for seniors and people with disabilities
much easier. She also mentioned all the services that make it easier for
those with impaired vision. Jane introduced Bonny White, the new supervising librarian
for West Marin branches who replaces retired Ann Taylor.
As promised, Lisa Bell, Chairwoman of the Coastal Health Alliance, came and
explained the improved arrangements with REACH and CALSTAR for providing
helicopter ambulance services without charge for a modest annual membership
fee, further reduced by an arrangement made by CHA, to
both agencies. The explanation of the arrangements can be seen in the
Forum. This is a major
improvement our healthcare safeguards and should be enthusiastically
embraced by all Whitecaps. Application forms were provided by Lisa and more
may be had at the Bolinas and Stinson Beach clinics.
Dr. Mike Witte also spoke to the group about the various services the CHA
provides to all members of the communities involved. He was very emphatic
about the importance of getting as many as possible immunized against
influenza, especially the very young and the elderly. It is easy to get a
flu shot at the CHA clinics, just show up (although calling ahead and
setting a time may insure against waiting).
Jody Angel said that a 501(c)3 group called BAHA (Bolinas Alternative
Housing Association) is looking into ways of providing a local
transportation service for in-town travel. It is just in the talking and
dreaming stage at this time - more news when it occurs.
Visit to the de Young for the Chihuly
Show - Sept. 9
Eight members went on this junket. All went smoothly
(except for Diana McQuaid's lunch service) and the exhibition was enjoyed by
all.
*******
We received a nice thank you card for the
picnic from Joan Haley of the Point Reyes Seniors
Stagecoach demonstration:
At the request of Lynda Beigel, at the meeting of Thursday, May 15, Marin Transit District
sent two of their operations staff, Stagecoach
Operations Manager, Krystalyn O'Leary and Road Supervisor, Curtis
Schelth, to demonstrate using the lift for getting on and off the
bus. Evelyn Guba using her walker, Bill Lyons using his wheel chair
and Eileen Johnston standing with her cane all boarded and
disembarked with ease and comfort. The Stagecoach people were
cordial and helpful and were appreciated by all.
BUT that doesn't overcome all the difficulties with
using the Stagecoach. See the
Forum for a full discussion of the shortcomings.
The Nancy Sullivan Memorial Fund
Janet Herben, one of Nancy's Berkeley friends, sent the
first donation to the Nancy Sullivan Memorial Fund. Thanks to Janet.
*******
Madeline Balzan, who broke her shoulder some weeks ago, is in residence at
a rehab facility in Terra Linda.
She attended the Ed Letter memorial April 27.
*******
The Memorial Gathering for Ed Letter was
held at the Bolinas Rod and Boat Club from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on
Sunday April 27 - Ed's birthday. Photos shown there can be
seen in the Gallery.
There was a Memorial
Gathering for Nancy Sullivan at the Stinson Beach Community Center
Sunday, May 4, 2008. Photos from Nancy's life are
posted in the
Gallery.