Local
THE DAVIS ENTERPRISE
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2022 B5
Obituaries Carolyn Adele Waggoner d. Aug. 28, 2022
Carolyn Waggoner, 70, passed on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022. Carolyn moved to Davis when she entered the Ph.D. program in English at UC Davis, after graduating from Mills College. Carolyn’s many passions included her rescue work with the Yolo SPCA and Persian Cat Rescue, her teaching of writing and literature at the UC Davis campus of Los Rios Community College, as well as her own writing as a published author of short stories and most recently, a novel, Rhino Dreams, co-authored with Kathy Williams.
WAGGONER
A gifted storyteller, Carolyn regaled friends with hysterically funny accounts of experiences, punctuated by her droll humor, keen observations, and infused with her kindness and
whimsy. Carolyn loved music, whether playing piano or singing in Davis Comic Opera Company productions of Gilbert and Sullivan. She also loved Russian literature and spoke the language fluently. Carolyn’s generosity and kindness is evident in the care she took in all of
Chester O. McCorkle
Jan. 18, 1925 — April 20, 2022 Chester O. McCorkle, UC Davis Professor, dean of agriculture, vice chancellor and UC vice president, passed away peacefully in St. Helena, on April 20, 2022 at age 97. Chet was one of the “greatest generation” who returned from service following World War II to complete his education at Cal, then guide the rapid expansion of both the Davis Campus and the University of California system during the 1950s through the 1970s, serving under Chancellors Emil Mrak and James Meyer and President Charles Hitch. Despite a distinguished career within the University’s administration, his primary passions were teaching and agriculture. These passions extended from 1951 as an assistant professor of agricultural economics at the University Farm at Davis, through 2019, the year he authored his final of dozens of case studies for the California Agribusiness Executive Seminar which he cofounded and directed for 30 years. One of his most popular classes at Davis was conducted annually during spring break and included tours of some of California’s most successful agribusinesses, many of which were owned or managed by his former students. Chester O. McCorkle Jr., a third generation Californian, was born to Avis and Chester “Mac” McCorkle in Gilroy on Jan. 18, 1925. While the family’s roots were in farming, his father chose teaching as a profession, a prescient decision given the economic turmoil the country would experience beginning in 1929. Young Chester proved to be an exceptional student,
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graduating San Luis Obispo High School in 1941 at age 16. Too young to join the military, he enrolled at Cal Poly that fall, an enrollment that included military officer training. On Dec. 7, 1941, America was at war. The Marine Corps cadets at Cal Poly were transferred to the University of Redlands to hasten their specialized officer training. But, before graduation, he and his fellow cadets were transported by train to Perris Island, SC for Marine basic training. From boot camp on Perris Island, Chet was commissioned at Quantico, Va., where he was assigned to amphibious landing vehicles. This branch of the Marines was to be trained at Camp Pendleton for the eventual invasion of Japan. Captain McCorkle served at Camp Pendleton for the duration of his active duty and Reserve commitment. Like many World War II veterans, Chet took advantage of the newly instituted Veteran’s Administration Bill to return to school, earning his bachelor’s, master’d and Ph.D. degrees at Berkeley in Agricultural Economics. Between classes and writing his thesis, Chet played in the Cal Band, to which he remained loyal for the rest of his life. A favorite family fall weekend activity was attending a Cal Football game and enjoying the Band’s half time show. Chet’s first full-time job out of college was at Bank of America where he told stories of President and Bank-founder, AP Giannini, a passionate supporter of California agriculture, frequently visiting his desk to discuss agricultural markets and conditions.
her friendships, as well as her care of her animals and many causes near and dear to her. She met her veterinarian husband Rolf while working in rescue and together they have helped countless cats, dogs, chickens, tortoises, and others find happy homes and stay healthy. Carolyn is survived by her husband, Rolf Fecht, mother Marilyn, sister Laura and brother-in-law Murry Baria, niece Annie Cavalero (Baria), nephew Billy, stepson Paul, and stepdaughter Karen. She will be dearly missed by her family and her extended family of loving friends, grateful students and happy, healthy pets.
In the 1950s, plans were underway to grow the University Farm at McCORKLE Davis into an independent branch of the UC System (consummated in 1959). Many college professors were transferred to and hired at Davis. After his brief stint at B of A, Chet was hired by University icons, Harry Wellman and Ed Voorhies, who were tasked with assembling and leading the expanded Ag Econ Department at Davis. Chet, among the cadre of enthusiastic, talented, patriotic academics, comprised the new faculty staffing the Davis campus. In 1961, Chet accepted an invitation from former classmate and future Greek prime minister, Andreas Papandreou, to bring his family to Athens to study and evaluate changes the Greek agricultural sector would need to implement to join the Common Market. In 1970, Chet was appointed vice president of the University of California. One of the roles Chet played during his eight years as vice president was to entertain dignitaries and guests at dinner parties in an elegant Berkeley home, where he was ably assisted by his gracious first wife of 45 years, Nina Mathews McCorkle, who also served as a great partner during their year in Greece — and in bringing up their three children. Chet was not only highly accomplished, intelligent
and articulate, but also had an upstanding, authentic and folksy down-home character that contributed to making him a popular professor as well as an effective vice chancellor and dean at UC Davis for many years during the rapid growth of the campus. In 1991, he was appointed by President H.W. Bush to the president’s commission to review the food sector of the former Soviet Union to provide guidance toward modernizing the new Russian Republic’s agricultural economy. Chet was an avid musician, proficient on the trumpet, piano, and vibes. For years, he played trumpet in Davis Art Center musical performances, in the local Davis Jazz band, in various campus musical groups, and in the local Fourth of July band in Central Davis Park. He was still performing on the vibes at the Bohemian Grove well into his 90s. A connoisseur of California’s fine wines, he and his wife, Sandy Archibald, chose to retire in St. Helena and counted among their many friends, some of the state’s most distinguished winemakers and owners. Chet McCorkle is survived by his wife, Sandy, of St. Helena; daughter Sandy of San Jose; sons Ken (Connie) of Aiken, S.C., and Tim (Sally) of Franklin, Tenn.; five grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; a step-daughter and step-son and their families; and a multitude of grateful former students.
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Marvin Russel Tripp d. Aug. 30, 2022
Marvin Russel Tripp passed away on Aug. 30, 2022, at the age of 96. A lifelong Californian, he attended Oakland Technical High School (inducted to their inaugural Hall of Fame in 2015). Marv received a Third Assistant Engineer license from the California Maritime Academy and a bachelor’s degree in music from the University of the Pacific. He also earned a master’s degree in education from San Francisco State University. A military veteran, he served in the Merchant Marine at the close of World War II. Marv hoped to make a career as a singer. During the early 1950s, he performed on television in Hollywood and San Francisco, and was a production singer in Las Vegas, going by the stage name Jay Reynolds. When he and his wife Jeanette began a family, he turned to education as his primary career, serving as a teacher then as an elementary school principal, primarily in Orinda and in the Oakland Public Schools. Because of his love of music, Marv continued to sing for various Bay Area dance bands and combos on holidays and weekends. Along the way, he produced a recording, “A Guy Who’s Gotta Sing.” He also used his singing talents as a member of the Bohemian Club. His music career spanned over 50 years. Marv met the love of his life Jeanette when they were both fifteen. They married when they were twenty and spent the next 68 years together. They enjoyed fixing up their Oakland home, gardening, entertaining friends and family, and
travel. Marv was also an avid tennis player and golfer, participating in both TRIPP sports into his 90s. He shot under his age many times and recorded four hole-in-ones, his last at the age of 93. In retirement, Marv participated in many local organizations, including the aforementioned Bohemian Club, the Bay Area Council of the National Association of Investment Clubs, and the Citizens of Oakland Respond to Emergencies (CORE) program. After Jeanette’s death, Marv moved to Davis to be closer to family. He continued to lead a vibrant and active life of service and entertainment until his death. Marv is preceded in death by his parents John and Mae Tripp, his sister Joan Hough, his wife Jeanette, and his greatgrandson Joshua. He is survived by his sister Beverly Montgomery (Bill); children Cynthia Tripp, Tom Tripp (Debra) and Steven Tripp (Elise); grandchildren Melanie, Andrew, Paul, Laura, Gregory, Peter, Nathan and Hannah; and 10 greatgrandchildren. A Memorial Service will begin at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 21, at First Presbyterian Church in Oakland (Broadway and 27th), followed by a reception. A gift in Marv’s memory may be given to the music program at Oakland Technical High School or to the music program at the University of the Pacific or to Hannah Boys Center in Sonoma.