Beverly Dobbas

April 14, 1922 - December 22, 2022

Beverly Biggs Dobbas was born in 1922 in Santa Ana, CA, to Martin and Mary (née Quinn) Biggs. Following the Long Beach Earthquake of 1933, they returned to the family home in Oakland, where Beverly attended Sacred Heart Grammar School and Holy Names High School. She was awarded a scholarship to Stanford, but feeling the family’s financial pressures, dutifully took a position at the Berkeley Farm Bureau while attending classes at U.C. Berkeley.

In 1941, she felt the pull of patriotism and enlisted in the Marines. With her outgoing personality and movie star looks, she was regularly assigned to represent the Marines in civic parades. In 2021, at age 99, she participated in the Petaluma Veteran’s Day parade, and much to her surprise, received boisterous applause as she rode down Petaluma Blvd., escorted by her son Gary and her grandchildren.

After her military service in Santa Barbara, she resumed her studies at U.C. Berkeley and returned to her job at the Farm Bureau. There she met “the most handsome man she had ever seen”, Arthur Bernard Dobbas, who came from a pioneering California ranch family.

They married in 1948 and had two children, but the union did not last long. She raised her children in Oakland with family nearby, and they became active members of Saint Leo’s Parish.

After passing the City of Oakland’s employment test in first place, she began her professional career as a stenographer and bookkeeper, assigned to the Urban Renewal Department before becoming an administrative assistant for the fire chief. She retired in 1982, and moved to Marin County to be closer to her devoted family.

She had a variety of interests that reflected her love of life. Her granddaughters vividly recall her body surfing in Laguna Beach, and she also enjoyed horseback riding, gardening, cooking Julia Childs-inspired recipes, beating all comers at backgammon, walking tours throughout Europe, and couture sewing. She was a carefree China Painter - enjoying the camaraderie as much as the painting leaving a treasure trove of her works. She loved her sweets and drank copious amounts of coffee, which amazingly never affected her sleep. Her home looked like a stylish Parisian apartment, reflecting her love of art, antiques, and all things French. She was always up for an adventure, and had a lifelong love of learning. Her research on California remains a reference material at the Oakland Museum.

Beverly was also very involved in her community, with civic activities that included serving on the Alumni Board of Holy Names High School and as docent at the Oakland Museum and President of the Sausalito Woman’s Club.

Beverly was a wonderful mother, loyal friend, gracious woman, and devout Catholic. She left us peacefully on December 22, 2022, at the venerable age of 100, with her daughter holding her hand. As the life was leaving her, she gave a smile, waved her hand and said, “Too-da-loo darling. Give the children my love”. Oh, how we will miss her and her wonderful sense of humor!

She was regal, artistic, and glamorous by nature. She is survived by her daughter Linda Dobbas Haake and son Gerard “Gary” Dobbas, her five grandchildren - O’Meara Haake Cover, Marina Haake Butler, Corinne Dobbas, Alexandra Dobbas Petropolis, and Jacqueline Dobbas - and her eight greatgrandchildren - Carolina Cover, Gabriella Cover, Marina Cover, Hudson Butler, Penelope Butler, Madelynn Wolk, Ethan Wolk, and Athena Petropolis.

Not to be forgotten, Raoul Martinez and Bernard Moreau brought great joy to Beverly with their frequent visits and gourmet meals. Alice Gillibert was her good friend and painting instructor. Our sincere thanks to Mili Biligi who, for four years, lovingly cared for Beverly, and to Continuum Hospice for their support.

Donations can be made in Beverly’s name to: Sisters of the Holy Names P.O. Box 970

Los Gatos, CA 96032