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People we remember
Biographies are where we share about family & friends to connect with others who remember them.
Pam Marks:
Frank was an entrepreneur and businessman. He had a good start early on in his career working for General Mills.
Note from Kathy Pinna - When my father graduated from San Jose State, he was sent a few telegrams offering him a job. I don't have the telegrams but I've seen them.
In any case, I was told that he was weighing an offer from San Jose State to be a professor (in the philosophy dept?) and also from General Mills. He went to work for General Mills in their corporate office in San Francisco, as a buyer for the west coast.
Per an article in the San Francisco Examiner, Saturday, December 22, 1956:
"Here are the results of the course, which holds its last session next week:
One man, Frank E. Kroetch, an ingredient buyer for General Mills, has his reading speed up to 988 words per minute. That means he would be able to read better than two columns of this length in less than a minute.
The average reading speed of the men when they started this course was about 250 words a minute. They have boosted the average to 360 words per minute now.
Robert Conlin, the man who suggested the course and got $25 for the idea, started the sessions and then dropped out. Reason: He got promoted to general flour salesman midway through the course and had to concentrate on his new duties."
My mother, sister, and I used to take him to the train in Sunnyvale every day - we lived in Cupertino at the time and it was the fastest and easiest way for him to commute. As I recall, he worked there for a few years and I was told that he was the fastest rising executive at the time. He rose to the grain manager for the West Coast in that short time and he was told that no one had ever been promoted so quickly. They said that he would be president of General Mills within 20 years.
Well, Dad thought that 20 years was too far away so he quit! My memory of those days were the perks - we were sent "food baskets", in those days food boxes of General Mills products and we were able to purchase General Mills products through a employee catalogue. I saved up my allowance - I was about 8 and it was 10 cents a week - to buy a Tiny Tears doll. I loved it when he worked at General Mills.
He had a very sharp mind and knew how to see possibilities and opportunities in front of him. As a result, he was involved in numerous industries and owned many businesses over the years.
In 1960 he was the President of his company, Data Services Corporation.
In 1961, he and his brother Fred were supporters of a new magazine to be called "Northwest" that would use color photos to promote Washington tourism.
Frank also started a car rental service called "Letz Rent-a Car" in the early 1960's
He had a business in Idaho, owning a lodge at Coeur 'd Alene and was involved in many California businesses:
President of Golden Bear Land Company in Salinas (incorporated in Nevada)
Western Inns, Incorporated
Travel Lodge in San Jose
Several 'fast-food' restaurants
Later in life, he owned a few restaurants in Washington State.
Frank was also an author - having written a few short stories, one of which was a science fiction take on The Night Before Christmas.
(Note from Kathy: Dad always wanted to be a writer. He would write on yellow legal pads - remember, this was the 1950s and 1960s - and started books on such things as his theory about who the "real" Shakespeare was. My theory is that he just couldn't sit still long enough to write an entire book. But there were lots of starts on books. He also wanted to be a lawyer and even applied to - and was accepted by - San Francisco University Law School. We ended up moving to Seattle, however, and he never went to law school.)
Tyrus Zavotsky:
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Maurice L. Olgers,a resident of the Ann's Choice Community in Warminster,who passed away peacefully on May 11,2025,at the age of 91. Maurice was born on January 13,1934 in Washington, D.C. to the late Johnny B. and Mary "Louise" Olgers. He was the beloved husband of the late Florence H. Olgers; loving father of Cheryl Giusti (Larry) and the late Michelle Olgers-O'Hanlon; grandfather of Lawrence Giusti (Paula),Erica Kozowski (Mike),David Giusti (Alyssa),Kirsten,Dominique,and Jorge O'Hanlon,and was preceded in death by a grandson,John Christopher. Maurice was also a beloved great-grandfather of six great-grandchildren. Maurice was raised in Sutherland,Virginia at his family tobacco's farm,and was a proud graduate of Midway High School. After graduation he answered the call to serve his country by enlisting in the United States Navy. After his time in the service,Maurice relocated to the Philadelphia area where he met the love of his life,Florence,and the two were married shortly thereafter. He found true joy in the company of his family,whether gathered around the table or cheering on his beloved Philadelphia Phillies and Eagles. He treasured time with those he held dear. He was also an avid golfer,and was proud of scoring a legendary hole-in-one. Family and friends are invited to Maurice's Life Celebration on Wednesday,May 21,2025. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. and Funeral Service at 11:00 a.m. at the Decker-Givnish Funeral Home,216 York Rd.,Warminster,PA 18974. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers,charitable donations can be made to Compassus Hospice. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Maurice,please visit our floral store.
Angela Scott:
My baby brother - My baby brother transition at the age of 2 , it was a couple of days to a week before he was to turn 3 and have a party. I was only 8 years old but I remember my brother and his smile like it was yesterday. He was unable to talk but he would look at me with so much love in his eyes . He was born with hypoxia to the point it left him paralyzed from the neck down , dr said he was not going to live long after he was born but Eric proved them wrong, we had 2 beautiful years with him but he grew weak and tired with all the seizures that consumed his little body , he eventually found his way back into Gods hands . I miss you little brother, you were my hero and you loved me the most
Heather Grimshaw:
Robert Grimshaw was my father - Bob Grimshaw was my father. I was the youngest of his 3 children and the only girl. We lost my Mom when I was 9 years old. My dad never recovered from that loss. He didn't know how to proceed in life without her, how to raise a daughter and made a conscious decision to retreat from society. I know now that he had no resources, like we do today. I also know he did the best he could. He was kind, generous, pleasant, well mannered and spoke highly of most everyone he knew. He never swore, rarely raised his voice and had a wealth of information that I was never able to elicit from him.
He met his grandson, Tyler Lee on one occasion but was not cognizant enough to appreciate the importance of who was on his lap.
My Mom was his source of happiness, his compass and reason for getting up in the morning. He passed 2 days before his 3rd grandchild Bronson James Makana Lee was born. I miss him dearly.
Erica Walls-Davis:
Sharon Denise Walls - Sharon Walls,
Sharon D Walls, was born on May 12, 1976 to late Rosie Lee Walls-Williams (Mother) and Wille Martin Haynes (Father). Sharon leaves behind 3 beautiful daughters Ashley Walls, Kiarria Walls and MiKieshia Douglas. Sharon is one my sister six siblings , and was a very beautiful person who always brought greatness when she was around. I miss her so much, she was a great big sister and friend. I always called her my little black bird.
Fly high black bird!!! You will never be forgottened...
Love Always,
Your Sister
Erica
Charlotte Ohleyer:
Few Famliy memories - George Ohleyer was my grandfather. I don't remember him cause due to a tragic heart condition he died when my mother was 4.
From what I do know, he was a brilliant physicist who worked for China lake navel weapons center.
He played the guitar and despite having dyslexia had very elegant hand writing.
My grandmother misses him every day, so does my mom.
Bobbi Smith:
Our Friend Legatha - We were neighbors 50 years ago. For a while Legatha taught me minor techniques in finishing pots for firing. As I progressed she advanced my instruction to throwing on the kick wheel. I was ‘hooked’ but unfortunately we moved before I became more than a little proficient. After a year or two in Florida I took more classes, bought an electric wheel and kiln. I progressed to enter some art shows, my pots sold pretty well but I was never the potter Legatha was!
As far as I am concerned , someone has to be extremely good to meet her proficiency and artistic ability.
She was a wonderful neighbor and friend,
Watching out for my kids while I worked, sharing recipes, spending good times. I consider her as one of my few best friends!
I still have more than a few pieces of her pottery.
Linda Stamper:
My mom was my hero - The day was tough. I was trying to learn to ride a bike, my mom was teaching me.
Both knees and both elbows were scraped and bloody. I fell and fell again. My mom was running next to me trying to help me get my balance. I fell so many times, so many but the drive wouldn't leave me. I think I was pissed that my sister could ride and I couldn't yet.
My mom caught me a lot but didn't a lot. every hard fall mom tried to get me to take a break and wait awhile. I just couldn't stop. I knew mom was tired so I agreed to take a break.
Mom went to our front yard and sat back in a lawn chair and a neighbor came over laughing at mom and sat down in the grass next to her. I walk down the sidewalk pushing the bike I was agitated. I was short even reaching the peddles was difficult, I had to kind of climb to get on the seat. We had been doing this for hours. I walk down a neighbors driveway and got into the road and pointed back to my house there was a slight hill and the bike started rolling I started running and I got on and got my feet on the peddles. I was riding, my friends were coming out with their moms and screaming and waving their their hands. I was coming up on my house and I started screaming for my mom I couldn't stop my brain was blank. My mom yelled STOP. I yelled I couldn't.
I was headed for the end of my street where the was a stop sign and a cross street. Not heavy traffic but constant traffic.
My house was third from the end. I saw my mom pop up like she had a spring on her back. She ran like the wind across the yard and out into the street and she catches up to me and grabbed the back if my seat and slowed me down. She said to push the peddles backward. I did, I knew that but I just went blank when I started to ride. Mom held me up on the bike, she grabbed me off the bike and it fell away to the road. She hugged me so tight I could hardly breathe. She said in an almost angry voice "Don't you ever do that to me again" She didn't really cry but her eyes were full, and she seemed mad and I was so full of myself and so happy that I finally did it. My arms were around her neck and my legs around her waist. It was like she couldn't let me go.
I scared her. I felt horrible about that but the thrill of what just happened overshadow everything.
She set me down and told ne to never never do that to her again. I was a child maybe or 6 or 7. I didn't understand what I put her through, not completely until I had my own kids and then I knew.
Kelley Rainey:
My Grandmother, Grace Kelley - Ma Ma, as we all called her, was a wonderful, loving and well-respected lady. She and my grandfather, Monroe C. Kelley, had two daughters, Vivian K. Riddle and Barbara K. Bracken.
Ma Ma was killed in a car accident in January 1997. She was one of my closest friends and I'll always miss her.
Nayshawn Lewis:
I’ll remember you ALWAYS - The most masculine,coolest ,calmest and generous man I’ve ever known!
Wasn’t too big in words BUT focused more on doing,production,honest-hardwork understanding & endless words of wisdom!
A time when MEN were MEN - 💪🏾
I’m 52 now and I can still smell your cologne !
Thank you Grandpa 👴🏽
Thank you
Thank you
Thank you …
💗
Peg Hartwig:
Vila Kading was a teacher in a 1 room school house. Among many things she taught her students, one was how to draw a bird without lifting your pencil.
She married Martin Kading. They had a farm in Cadot Wisconsin.
Upon retiring, Martin and Vila moved to Helen st. In Kimberly WI, across the street from John Dale Kelly, his wife Theresa, and their 7 children.
After Martin passed, Vila became wven closer to the Kelly family and became the Honorary grandmother to the Kelly children. She celebrated every birthday making angelfood cakes. She celebrated every holiday with the Kelly family. Vila was also known for her creation of Christmas Stollen that was truly the best.
Vila attended mass often with the Kelly family, dressed with her mink wrap and white gloves.
Vila was a very loving grandmother to the Kelly children ❤️.
Bruce Higgins:
close friend and partner - I am remembering Joy today, February 12, 2025, on what would have been her 73rd birthday. I met her 45 years ago this month while I was a student in the School of Architecture at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY, and she was an administrator on that School's staff. She had just turned 28 and we shared an interest in graphic design in which we both had professional experience outside our roles at Pratt, with Joy co-authoring and illustrating books with architecture faculty professor and alumnus Albert Lorenz (December 9, 1941 - June 30, 2023), and my working my way through the Bachelor of Architecture degree program as a graphic and interior designer for corporate entities. We were close for a decade but separated as we had too much in common. What I remember most fondly about Joy during our time together at Pratt in the 1980s was how she cracked jokes with Albert Lorenz and his fellow professors architect Warren W. Gran, FAIA (1933 - 2019), and architect/industrial designer William Katavalos (1924 - 2020), thereby bringing levity to our days and reminding faculty and students alike not to take ourselves too seriously. I was two and a half years older than Joy and included Warren and William as my friends outside the School. Joy and I also shared a common ethnicity of Irish and German American ancestry. I lost touch with her when she moved to Indiana, where she died on April 18, 2008, exactly three years to the day before my first partner Claire M. Harnan died in 2011, also at an age way too young. I will forever miss both women, and in particular Joy's frequent reminder to me to lighten up whenever my day is particularly difficult. She was a gentle woman and her spirit lives on in my heart with Claire's. -- Bruce Christopher Higgins, New York, NY, February 12, 2025