In Memoriam
44
Virginia Lee Pearson Anderson, May 3, in Oakland. Born shortly after the end of the last great pandemic, Virginia graduated from Oakland Technical High School as war clouds gathered in Europe. By the time she left Berkeley, the student body had changed radically, many of the young men having enlisted or been drafted, and all Japanese students taken to internment. Always proud of her association with Cal, she went on to get a teaching credential and taught for 32 years at Alameda High School, after her marriage to J. Herbert Anderson. She prepared students for the dreaded Subject A exam and, after retirement, helped interview students for Alumni scholarships. She became one of the secretaries for the Class of ’44, and was always happy to go back to campus for reunions and student interviews. She lives in the memory of her loving daughter, Kathryn Anderson ’70, and many students, friends, and colleagues.
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Carol (Coates) Copeland, June 15, in Albany. Carol graduated from Berkeley High School and UC Berkeley before marrying S. Bruce Copeland at the First Congregational Church of Berkeley. Bruce’s work took the family to Connecticut, Illinois, and Virginia, among other places. They returned to the Bay Area in 2004, eventually moving to Oakland’s Lake Park retirement community. With a quiet grace and a winning smile, Carol had a knack for engaging people young and old. Her mother’s mastery of art influenced Carol’s painting, weaving, and pottery. She loved reading, gardening, and walking in nature. Carol had a strong sense of social justice; in every new town, she and Bruce would seek out the Protestant church that best matched their progressive values. Carol’s memory will be cherished by her children, Sue, Tom, Janet, and Margaret; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
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John Wallis “Wally” Madocks, Jan. 5. A month or so prior to his passing, Wally was enjoying life with Ruth on their farm in Arroyo Grande. Wally grew up in the Sunset District. From the beginning, Christian Science was central to him, and at Cal, the Christian Science Organization became the center of his social life. There, he met lifelong friends and his future wife, Laurel Gunnerson. In 1942, Wally entered the Army Air Corps and remained stateside, working as a maintenance engineer until 1946. After his discharge, he returned to Cal and graduated with degrees in mechanical engineering and business. Laurel and Wally were married in 1952 and settled in Tacoma, WA. Wally started working for Tidewater Oil Company (the old Flying A) and stayed until his retirement in 1986, continuing as a consultant until 2008. In 1973, two years after the passing of Laurel, Wally married Clare Wisecarver. Clare, a wonderful wife and loving stepmother, passed in 2008. As
to the secret of his marital success, Wally said it was two words: “Yes, Dear.” A giving, honest, and capable person, Wally maintained the local buildings of the Christian Science church and the Berkeley Christian Science Organization. He loved making jams and preserves, and his marmalade, applesauce, and plum jam were worldclass. His family will gratefully remember him and keep his gifts alive.
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James K. Luce, Jan. 21. Born in Le Mars, IA, Jim moved west with his family after the Dust Bowl years. He started college at San Diego State, but transferred to Berkeley, where he completed a geology degree with pre-med classes. His passion for medicine and helping others continued throughout his life, from treating polio patients at an Army base in Hawaii to treating cancer patients in Texas. An active man, Jim enjoyed bird watching and challenges: he was still hiking the Colorado Fourteeners into his 80s. He is survived by his second wife, Candace; children, Holly, Laura, Douglas, and Gregory; and stepdaughter, Deidre, among others.
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Dorothy “Dottie” Anderson Tregea, June 12. After earning a degree in anthropology in 1949, Dorothy went to work for the University and met the love of her life, Forrest Tregea. The couple married in 1952 and had five children. After Forrest retired from Berkeley, they moved to Walnut Creek. Dorothy volunteered for many years at the Lincoln Child Center Thrift store, “The Bee Hive.” She enjoyed her water aerobics group, and was a very competitive bridge player. After Forrest’s death in 1993, Dorothy continued to attend Bears games and only missed a few in over 70 seasons—a streak that ended with the pandemic (although her cardboard cutout was present during the 2020 season). She celebrated her 90th birthday at Memorial Stadium with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was very proud of having attended the Olympics in 1984 and getting her picture taken with the Giants’ three World Series trophies. Family was most important to Dorothy, and favorite family gathering spots include Fentons Creamery, Spenger’s Fish Grotto, and Disneyland. Dorothy is survived by her sons, Jim and Sam; daughter, Martha; stepson, William; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
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Florence “Flossie” (Cooper) Myer, April 24, in Walnut Creek. Born in Fort Benton, MT, Flo left the family farm to study business administration and foreign trade. While at Cal, she used her typing skills to establish a business taking dictation for professors’ research papers and textbooks. She raised two sons in El Cerrito and moved to Walnut Creek in 1994. She was an active member of the United Methodist
Church and the Rossmoor Computer Club. She is preceded in death by her husband; two sisters; and son, Chuck, and is survived by her brother, Jere; son, Dale; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
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S. Walter Kran, Feb. 4. After attending medical school at the University of Chicago, Walter served in the Air Force as an officer in the Medical Corps. He eventually returned to San Leandro, where he lived for 40 years, practicing medicine at two area hospitals until 1994. His proudest achievements included being elected chief of staff in 1973, instituting the first mammography program in the region and setting up the first CT scans and MRI services in the area. He is survived by his wife, Lisa Casey Kran.
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Joan Bernardi Breece, Nov. 26, 2020, in Mill Valley. Born in Oakland to Theodore Bernardi ’24 and Regina Parent, M.A. ’28, Joan grew up in Berkeley, ultimately graduating from Cal with a degree in decorative arts. She married Howell Breece, M.A. ’39, and raised a family in Sausalito while volunteering at Audubon Canyon Ranch and the Point Reyes Bird Observatory. Joan and Howell spent summers camping in British Columbia, traveled extensively through Europe, and attended every Dixieland jazz concert and festival they could. Joan is survived by three sons, Conrad, Ted ’79, and Tim ’82; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Hon. Anthony DeCristoforo Jr., May 1, in Sacramento. The son of Italian immigrant parents, Tony enjoyed a long and distinguished legal career, including serving as a Sacramento County Superior Court judge from 1985–99. A die-hard Golden Bears fan, his fall Saturdays were spent attending games and tailgating with lifelong friends from Cal. He loved to cook, grow tomatoes, and travel, especially to Italy. He is survived by his wife, Elinor; children, Lora, Cara, Tony ’89, and Joe; and five grandchildren. Ronald J. Ostrow, June 14, in Chevy Chase, MD. A soft-spoken but tenacious reporter who won respect from colleagues and leading Democrats and Republicans alike, Ronald served 33 years in the Los Angeles Times’ Washington bureau. During his years at Cal, he was active in all four Class councils and was a permanent Class officer. He is survived by his wife, Alyce; two stepdaughters; and four grandchildren. Hans Reifer, May 4, in Pinehurst, ID. At Cal, Hans was a member of Alpha Epsilon Pi and the varsity soccer team, and graduated with a B.S. in agricultural chemistry. He served in the Army from 1953–55, graduated from Harvard Business School with an MBA in 1957, and spent his career in new product development and
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