Four Passings in July

July 2020 has been a rough month, as a number of friends and acquaintances have died.

On July 3, Dorothy Chubbuck passed away in Roseburg, Oregon. She was what we kids called a ‘track mother.’ Her son, David and I ran track when we were in high school and this is how I came to know her. I also worked with her daughter Ann, when she was the receptionist at KPOD radio station. Mrs Chubbuck, as I always called her, was always full of the best encouragement and never had a cross word for anyone. She was born on August 22, 1931, in Randle, Washington. She was 88.

Cheryl Chapman passed away at age 59, in Seattle, Washington, on July 18, 2020. She was born November 12, 1960 on Oberlin, Ohio. Her family moved to Crescent City at some point in 1965. Cheryl and I  attended high school together. Described by some as hard working and a perfectionist, others called her a free spirit. Cheryl was both, with an infectious smile to boot.  She also lived in Reno, Nevada for a while, where we became reacquainted. If I recall correctly, she was married at one time to another classmate of ours, Scott Chapman.

On July 10, Sandra Nuss, 82, passed away in Crescent City, California. She was born on August 11, 1937 in Richmond. California. I knew Sandra, or Sandy as she preferred to be called, because of her daughter Lora, whom I live with briefly back in the very early 80’s. Sandy was a singer, (performing professionally with country music singer’song writer Chester Smith in the 50’s,) an artist, historian and an excellent genealogist. She attended Hollywood High with actor Marty Milner, of ‘Route 66’ and ‘Adam-12’ fame.  She would never tell you this though, because she was too modest.

Steve Redmond passed away July 24. Born in King City, California on January 17, 1963, Steve is another classmate from high school, though in my brother Adam’s class. The very first time I met him, we were seated next to one another on a pep-rally bus headed to Gold Beach, Oregon. We remained friends ever since. Recently, he and I had talked about how he is listed on-line in the ‘Humboldt-Del Norte Wrestling Champions and All County Wrestlers’ site for the year 1981, in the 167 pound weight class. A few years ago he contracted pancreatic cancer and like the fighter he was, he battled it right up to the end. He was 57.