Desmond Stuart Elder

September 3, 1939 - January 13, 2021

Desmond Elder passed away at age 81 from (nonCovid) lung and heart disease. He was active until his last month, and engaged, as always, with everyone he met.

Born in Kingston, Jamaica and raised between his family’s sugar estate on Serge Island and the cooler clime of Mandeville, Desmond as a child was introduced to gracious hospitality and the ways of those who made it so during family stays at the legendary Myrtle Bank Hotel in Kingston. A graduate of the University of Miami in Coral Gables, FL, his first passion was art, developing a distinctive and loose style as a watercolorist. But after a brief career in advertising, he came to the Bay Area to study hotel and restaurant management at the City College of San Francisco. Desmond considered himself as a happy introvert, but this belied a deep interest in people and led him to his long career in club management, first serving as an assistant manager at Silverado Country Club and then at Orinda Country Club. Next, he opened and managed for many years the newly built Crow Canyon Country Club in San Ramon before moving into city club management as manager of the University Club of San Francisco. There, he guided the club through historic events such as the inclusion of women to club membership, the club’s centennial celebrations, and many extraordinary special events. He also consulted in club management, and later served as manager at Serrano Country Club in El Dorado Hills and Green Hills Country Club in Millbrae before being called back to the University Club before his retirement. Desmond quietly took great pleasure in making things as nice as possible for everyone, whether in his work or in daily life. He was a consummate host and enjoyed entertaining at home with his beloved wife of 46 years, Pam. They had one son, Evan Scott Elder, who was his pride and joy. In 1982 they settled in Orinda, where Desmond took great satisfaction in cultivating an enviable hillside garden, as well as enjoying art, travel, reading and nature.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Derrick and Audrey Elder, and brothers Michael and Ian. He leaves his beloved sister Shirley of Tsawwassen, British Columbia, his dear brother Derek (Jenny) of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, sisters-in-law Heather and Roberta, and many nieces and nephews. He was a quiet observer of people, intellectually curious and affable, with a playful Caribbean-accented wit. He is greatly missed by his family and all who knew him.

A memorial gathering will be held at a future time. Donations may be made in Desmond’s memory to your local food bank or to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation.