Britt Wilcken Williams

Britt Wilcken Williams, beloved husband, father, stepfather, brother, friend, and former Aragon High School head football coach died on August 2, 2021 from congestive heart failure exacerbated by dementia.

Britt was born in San Francisco on August 9, 1940 and raised in Walnut Creek by his parents, Rolfe and Mona Williams who predeceased him. He is the brother of Buz Williams (Lucy) of Foster City and the late Cherie Williams of Scottsdale, Arizona.

Britt was awarded a full athletic scholarship to the University of Southern California, where he lettered in football all four years. During his senior year, Britt was elected team captain for the entire season. In 1961 he was an Honorable Mention All-American. At the team’s awards banquet, Britt received a special recognition from his head coach John McKay. Coach McKayacknowledged that Britt had made it his easiest year of coaching,”All I had to say was ‘Play like your captain.’” Britt was elected to the Skull and Dagger Honor Society and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. Following graduation, he served in the Marines. He earned his teaching credential at the University of California, Berkeley and earned a Master’s Degree in Special Education at Santa Clara University.

In 1968, Britt began teaching at Aragon High School in San Mateo, where as the head football coach, he made significantcontributions to the high school experience. He served in the role for 21 seasons before his retirement in 2002. His coaching successes included a record of 156-65-5 and 5 PAL championships. Britt was elected to the San Mateo County Sports Hall of Fame in 2004 and to the Aragon High School Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009. Mentoring his players extended beyond the field with his genuine concern for the adults they would become. He took great pride in the success of his former players such as Steve Sell. Coach Sell was one of Britt’s assistant coaches before succeeding him as head coach. One of the most significant tributes to Britt’s coaching success is the sentiment of former player/assistant coach, Marlin Brown, who thinks of him as “a great man, mentor, father figure and friend.”

Britt is survived by his wife Virginia Williams of San Mateo, daughter Johanna Williams of Redondo Beach (Fiancé, Gene Williams), grandchildren Halo, Juliette, and Britt, stepdaughter Jessica Redding of Macon, Georgia (Partner, Brian Kleinmeulman), and many extended family and friends. He was predeceased by his former wife, Johanna’s mother, Mary Pedersen Williams and by his son Shay Williams. Although Britt has passed, the memories he left and the impact on all he knew will live on.

Interment will be a private graveside observance at Cypress Lawn Cemetery in Colma. The family will host a Celebration of Life on Sunday, August 29th at the San Mateo Elks Lodge (229 W. 20th Ave, San Mateo) at 11:00AM. As per San Mateo County local health orders, masks are required indoors. Please RSVP to BrittWilliamsCelebrationOfLife@gmail. com.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to a charity of your choice or to Mission Hospice & Home Care, 66 Bovet Road, Suite 100, San Mateo CA 94402, www. MissionHospice.org.

On August 7, 2021 Arthur gracefully set sail on his voyage to heaven where he was welcomed by his beautiful wife Roberta, his sisters Frances, Mary and Charlotte, and parents Peggy and George Thanash of Thessaloniki Greece. Arthur was born in Buffalo NY and at an early age he and his family moved to wonderful San Francisco.

Arthur attended grade, middle and high school in San Francisco graduating from Polytechnic High School in 1950. He joined the Navy upon graduation and proudly served in the Korean War for two years. Upon discharge from the Navy in 1952 Art joined the Sailors Union of the Pacific beginning a career lasting over 60 years in the United States Merchant Marine. He traveled the world many times over and was awarded the Merchant Mariner of the Year award in 2010. Arthur took a break from shipping in the late 60’s where he became an icon in the North Beach nightclub scene and helped pioneer the topless revolution, literally becoming an integral part of San Francisco history. Art also volunteered for many years on the historic SS Jeremiah O’Brien, one of two remaining WWII liberty ships that delivered goods and supplies to troops storming Normandy Beach on D-Day.

In the midst of it all, Arthur loved and took such pride in being the best father and family man. He is survived by his loving children Anastasia and George Thanash. He is also survived by nephews George Faulknor and Philip Derdevanis, and niece Connie Claypool. Art had the kindest, warmest heart and spread joy with that million dollar smile wherever he went. He will be sorely missed by so very many.

Funeral Services will be held at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 999 Brotherhood Way in San Francisco on Wednesday August 18, 2021 at 11am. best to spend time with his family. On his days off he and Luanne would bundle the kids into the station wagon to go sight-seeing, to museums and parks, the cider mill, and the beach. He loved talking sports with his sons, Matt & Zack, and grandson, Paul. He taught the youngest kids to play tennis, tried to teach everyone how to play chess, and once gave the two oldest a memorable lecture on the workings of the aorta. He tolerated Luanne’s love of cats but they eventually grew on him and he came to adore his last two, Circe and Sophie. Once his children finally got around to making him and Luanne grandparents, he relished the role of “Nonno” to each of his exceptionally talented, intelligent, and adorable grandchildren, Emma, Paul, Sean, and Zoe.

After retiring in 1996, he volunteered with Samaritan House, Doctors without Borders, and Mission Hospice. He studied writing and wrote poems, short stories, and a memoir, “In Pursuit of Dreams”, about his early days of medical training as a young husband and father. He also studied Italian and opera (listening, not singing). It was in an opera class in 2017 that he met his 2nd wife, Marjorie Robinson, 5 years after the death of his beloved Luanne after 61 wonderful years of marriage. Their budding romance got a boost when, as fellow parishioners of the Unitarian Universalist Church of San Mateo, he impulsively asked for a hug instead of a

Roldan F. Vigil, a resident of Redwood City, California, passed away on August 11, 2021. Roldan was born on March 18, 1932, to Louis and Adela Vigil in Durango, Colorado and grew up in Durango, and Price, Utah and San Francisco, California. His love for Durango, Price and San Francisco was a constant throughout his life.

Roldan served in the U.S. Navy from 1951-1955 and was assigned as a Storekeeper on the aircraft carrier USS Philippine Sea. While serving aboard ship he organized the ship’s band and played at various functions on and off the ship at the request of the Commanding Officer. He formed strong bonds with his shipmates that he maintained through his 80s. He was very proud of his military service.

Settling down in San Francisco after his time in the Navy, Roldan joined the San Francisco Police Department. It was during this time he met his future wife Thelma Andreini. Roldan and Thelma married and had three children - Lori, David and Kevin. He eventually became a firefighter with the San Francisco Fire Department in 1964. Roldan loved his career as a firefighter, and was a beloved prankster at 32 Engine for decades.

Roldan was a gifted musician and lived a full and vibrant life through his music; making lifelong friends along the way and bringing happiness to so many people with his sax and clarinet. He and his band were regulars at parties, weddings and events throughout the San Francisco Bay Area for 65 years. For anyone who knew Roldan, they knew his joy and passion for music.

After the devastating loss of his first wife Thelma, Roldan was blessed to find love a second time with Frances Benedetto. Roldan was fortunate to meet Frances at the Redwood City Senior Center. While getting to know each other Roldan and Fran realized they had many friends and acquaintances in common and enjoyed many of the same activities and clubs. After a handshake from Marjorie as she greeted members of the congregation one Sunday. The rest is history.

He often said that he was a very lucky man to have had not one, but two, great loves in his life. He was fortunate to have met two exceptional women but it was his warmth, intelligence, humor, vitality, and kindness that attracted them and earned their love and devotion. He was an exceptionally attentive and perceptive listener. He made lifelong friendships and corresponded with a dizzying number of people. He loved dinner parties and a good laugh. He was generous, gracious, courteous, even gallant. But despite all his gifts and the respect and admiration of many, he was a modest and unpretentious man. He led an exemplary life and left an indelible mark on all who knew him. He will be greatly missed.

We are very grateful to his wonderful and caring year of dating, they married and have enjoyed entertaining, music and dancing, club picnics and dinners together for 6 years.

Roldan will forever be remembered by his wife Frances, his devoted daughter and son-in-law, Lori and Ken Bates, his treasured grandchildren Jon and Tony Powell, Katie, Amanda, Christopher and Anthony Bates and his great grandchildren, Max, Owen, Lyanna and Gwendoline. Roldan joins Thelma and their sons Kevin Vigil and David Vigil, and grandson Brendan Vigil in heaven.

Family and friends may attend a memorial service for Roldan at Crippen & Flynn Woodside Chapel, 400 Woodside Road, Redwood City, CA 94061 on Friday, August 20, 2021. Welcoming from 9:30am; service begins at 10:00am. The family is requesting only those vaccinated for COVID attend in person. In accordance with Crippen & Flynn guidelines, all who attend must wear a mask. A simulcast link on the Crippen & Flynn website will be available for those who would like to attend virtually. A private interment ceremony for family only will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, 1500 Mission Road, Colma, CA 94014.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Musicians’ Relief Fund https://www.afm. org/emergency-assistance/. The Musicians’ Relief Fund helps freelance union musicians who are confronting extraordinary financial challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Your contribution will provide direct support to American Federation of Musicians (AFM) members and their families. doctors, the staff at the Stratford and especially those in the Laurel Wing, and the excellent nurses and staff of Mission Hospice, all of whom helped to make him feel loved and comfortable in his last days.

John is survived by his wife, Marjorie Robinson, his children Kathy, Kristy (Neil), Mark (Claire), Matt (Jen), Claudia (David), and Zack, his beloved grandchildren Emma (Nate), Paul (Haley), Sean Blackfield (Julia), and Zoe Chien and her father, Daniel Chien, his sister, Carole Murray, and brother, Tony (Gerry), and their daughters, Melissa, Rae An, and Brenda, Marjorie’s two daughters, Katie and Kimi, and numerous cousins, 2nd cousins, and cousins twice removed.

A Celebration of Life will be held when the pandemic is under control. Donations may be made to the Peninsula Humane Society, Mission Hospice, Samaritan House, or the non-profit of your choice.