In Memoriam

Perry Walker Cole ’58: 1939-2022

Perry Walker Cole was a man of many passions, from sailing and swimming to science and the great outdoors. He was born in San Francisco in 1939 and led a life full of adventure and curiosity.

Cole graduated from Drake High School in 1957, where he was a competitive swimmer. He first attended Menlo College and then moved to Montreal, where he graduated from McGill University with a degree in Zoology. Cole’s scientific curiosity led him to pursue further education: He obtained a Master’s degree in Biochemistry and Organic Chemistry from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Immunology from Louisiana State University in Shreveport, LA. After completing post-doctoral work in immunology at the University of Arizona, Perry worked at San Francisco General Hospital until his retirement in 2001.

Cole’s love for nature was contagious. He was an avid sailor - learning from his uncle in his early years - and sailed in the British Virgin Islands. He spent time hunting and fishing with his brother and son, and enjoyed backpacking, camping, hiking, and skiing with his wife and daughters.

Cole and his wife enjoyed having backpacking adventures together. They went to numerous places across the country, including a number of national parks and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He also volunteered with the Sierra Club and Tamalpais Conservation Club.

Cole was a creative, fun-loving, and selfless person who deeply loved his family. He spoke his mind and lived with no regrets. Cole passed away on November 23, 2022, at his home in San Rafael, surrounded by his family. He is survived by his beloved wife Rosel Mulkey, his dear children Stephan, Jessica, and Jamie, his sister Cathy Kirk, his nieces and nephews, and his former wife and mother of Stephan Cole, Sallie Weaver.

John Howard ’59: 1937-2023

John Palmer Howard, born in 1937, was a lifelong resident of the Bay Area. He passed away peacefully at his home in Watsonville on January 29, 2023. Howard was a beloved father, friend, and community member. He is survived by his daughter Anne, her fiancé Erik Simpson, his beloved cat Fiona, and cousins in the Chicago area.

Howard graduated from Bellarmine in 1955 and pursued higher education at Menlo College and Stanford University. Throughout his life he had a passion for sports and competition. Howard was actively involved in the 8-man crew and even competed in the 1960 Olympic Rowing Trials under the guidance of coach Duvall “Dewey” Hecht. He was also an auto racing enthusiast who competed in his Lotus and Spitfire II at various tracks throughout the United States. Howard continued as a track steward and later on developed a love for golf; he particularly enjoyed playing at his favorite course, Poppy Hills.

After years of being a salesman for Johnson & Johnson, Howard founded International Motoring, a foreign car parts store in San Carlos. It was a local institution for many years. Later in life, Howard’s love for travel motivated him to become a tour guide. He served as the president of the San Francisco Tour Guild. Howard led city and wine country tours, and organized several international tours to his beloved Ireland.

Howard’s life was occupied by different kinds of adventures and challenges; one was a deadly form of melanoma that he survived more than 20 years ago. Despite the treatment effects that limited his athleticism, Howard held a positive attitude and never lost his ability to find joy and the little pleasures in life. He enjoyed spending time with his friends and listening to live music in front of the Walnut Creek Peet’s.

Howard will be deeply missed by all who knew him. His kindness, generosity, and adventurous spirit will be remembered and cherished by his family, friends, and the communities of which he was a part.