Laurence Wakefield
July 26, 1927 – March 22, 2018
“Laurie” passed away peacefully at Community Hospital of Monterey Peninsula following a fall at home. He was a true native son of Pacific Grove and a descendant of Wakefields who came from England to Maine in 1636 and Castros who came to California from Spain by way of Mexico in 1775. He was related to some of the earliest California families including Littlejohn, Lodge, Peck, and Fallon.
He attended local schools and also lived for a few years and attended school in St. Helena. Following graduation from Pacific Grove High School he enlisted in the Navy and served briefly at the end of WWII. He then studied at San Jose State College and obtained a degree in hotel and restaurant management from City College of San Francisco. He was employed for some years at the Del Monte Lodge in Pebble Beach.
In the mid-1950s when Silicon Valley was in its infancy, he embarked upon a sales career with the Haloid Photographic Company, later to become Xerox. His professional success was intertwined with that of the Xerox 914, the world’s first plain paper photocopier.
In the mid-1960s he founded his own copy supply company, Xerographic Products, which he ran through the mid-1970s. Following the sale of that company he started a furniture restoration company before embarking on his final career as a private investigator for Krout and Schneider.
He retired to Pacific Grove and renovated the Edward B. Gross home at the corner of Central and Dewey, converting it into 5 apartments. He and his wife, Eliane, lived in one unit and enjoyed the company of their tenants, many of whom were students at the Naval Postgraduate Institute. They subsequently sold that property and retired to an apartment in Pacific Grove within walking distance of Asilomar Beach, one of his favorite places in the world, where they enjoyed many walks and beautiful sunsets together.
He is survived by his wife, Eliane Brent Wakefield, and his sister, Charin Wakefield Garcia of Pacifica as well as his children from previous marriages; Laurence Wakefield Vermeulen of St. Helena, Anne Wakefield Atkinson of El Cerrito, and Gregory Sylvester of San Luis Obispo, grandchildren Jawn Leland Wakefield of Walla Walla, Washington and Laura Grace Tamucci (Christopher) of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and great-grandchildren Anthony Christopher Tamucci and Dylan Grace Tamucci.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Gary Grant and his staff for the excellent care and compassion provided to both Laurence and Eliane for many years.
A celebration of his life will be held at Asilomar at 3:00 on April 28th. Please visit https://www.dignitymemorial.com/support-friends-and-family for details or to leave memories and condolences.