Joan Ann McCarthy

Resident of San Francisco, Age 83.

Joan was born in San Francisco to Thomas and Catherine McCarthy. She was raised in Oakland, and attended Bishop O’Dowd High School, Holy Names University, and San Francisco State University.

Joan started her teaching career in San Lorenzo, followed by four years in Rome at the Notre Dame International School, and then the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD). Joan taught language arts, ESL, and Reading Recovery. She adored her students and used her unique style of adornment as a way to connect with them and inform them about the world. She was a teacher for the SFUSD for 35+ years; however, Italy was her cherished place to teach, eat, and fall in love.

Joan, affectionately known as Juana in many parts of the world, traveled and shopped LARGE. She even wore extremely large glasses so she wouldn’t miss a thing! She also worked as a travel agent, and never tired of giving her clients unusual places to explore, dine, drink, and find hideaways to hear wonderful music. Juana was an extreme explorer, always seeking out indigenous tribes with outrageous jewelry. From Papua New Guinea to the San Blas Islands, it was quite a site to see the tribes and Juana appreciating each others jewelry in the early days before tourists had arrived. Juana mega shopped, and when traveling, always took a pillowcase filled with jewelry. She would hire a man to carry the pillowcase on top of his head while trekking through mud and water on her adventures. She was game for any shop, medina and market any time of the day or night. Often Juana would leave her cane wherever, telling her pals to find it.

Later she successfully ran two new businesses: Mola Madness and Sterling Silver Reproductions from Taxco, Mexico. To get the molas, she had to take two jet planes, one small prop plane, and then a canoe to get to the San Blas Islands of Panama. Since there weren’t any banks on the islands, Juana just put $1 bills into a large plastic green garbage sack and shopped until the bag was empty. She would show the Kuna Indians the empty bag which meant shopping was over. Everyone, even Juana, would go back to their huts and take a nap in their hammocks. Back in the U.S.A. Joan worked shows in Northern and Southern California. Never tired of the best quality, Joan’s collections grew and grew along with her fame. Joan never met a museum, symphony, dance, concert, or play she didn’t love. She could easily see five films in one day. Joan had a passion for films, and was a decades-long volunteer at local and international film festivals.

Joan always dressed like a Diva, whether in the Darien Jungle or Paris, France. She wore long black skirts, black tops with broaches, huge shawls, gloves, a fan, and layers of jewelry on each arm and ear. The best compliment she loved was “Oh my, are you a movie star?” Joan will always be a star shining for all who knew and loved her. But best of all for Juana, all the shops, medinas and markets in heaven await her. They will always be open, the price will be right, nothing to carry, and no more lost canes!

Joan is survived by her brother Tom McCarthy (Barbara), of Los Altos, and cousin Tom McCarthy (Margaret), and family of San Francisco.

A private interment was held at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma, and a celebration of her life will be held in the new year. Contact: pastel@pacbell.net

On-line condolences: http s://www.duggans-serra.com /obituaries/Joan-Ann-McCa rthy?obId=23124348#/obit uaryInfo

Joan was a member of the Alpha Psi Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa, an international sorority of women educators that donates to provide scholarships to future teachers at San Francisco State University. Donations can be sent to: Alpha Psi, c/o Betty Murrary, 340 Green Hills Dr., Millbrae, CA 94030, or to a charity of your choice.

Elaine Lancelotti Markovich was born July 1, 1939, in San Francisco and died suddenly November 15, 2021, in Napa. Elaine was the only child of the marriage of Rose Serrato and Fred Lancelotti. Each of her parents went on to other marriages, so Elaine has several step siblings. Elaine was raised in the North Beach district of San Francisco in an Italian household with her grandparents, aunts, and uncles nearby. She was a graduate of St Monica’s Elementary School, Presentation High School, and earned her BA degree and teaching credential at USF, a master’s degree from SF State and another masters from Seattle University. During her membership with Rotary Club International, Elaine was named a Paul Harris Fellow.

She joined the Sisters of the Presentation order of Catholic Nuns in 1956 so that she could use her gift of spirituality and teach. She taught or was the principal at St John Vianney’s San Jose, St Mary’s Gilroy, St Elizabeth’s San Francisco, and St Agnes’s San Francisco. She worked at St Patrick’s Sonora for a year before joining the St Patrick’s Larkspur Parish in 1985 as a Pastoral Associate. In Larkspur she managed the day-to-day jobs plus property management of the commercial buildings owned by the Parish.

Elaine left the community of sisters in 1989 but continued her work at St Patrick’s until 2005. In October of that year, she sold her condominium in Corte Madera and moved to Napa. January 6, 2006, she married Tom Markovich, retired, and joined the Napa Valley Country Club. At the Club, she attained the rank of Captain of the Ladies Golf Group, was on the Board of Directors and made a hole-in-one. When she and Tom had to quit golf in 2016, she was able to get a volunteer job at her beloved St Apollinaris Church. There, working nearly full time, she assisted the Pastor, Father Fergal, the priests Father Thomas and Father Pat, Nini, and Valentina.

She also collaborated with the groundskeepers Chris and David, school principal Oliva, teachers, and school staff. She completed numerous tasks including editing the parish bulletin, assisted in counting the collection, streaming Mass during the pandemic shutdown and assisted as an usher, all with immense joy. Additionally, she managed and partially funded the church earthquake repairs, interior painting, replacement of the altar carpet, tile, kneelers, and sound system. Other work included managing the painting of the school and convent, sponsoring the CYO basketball team jerseys, and founding the Elaine Markovich Memorial Scholarship Fund for graduating eight grade students who served their Parish.

Elaine did find time for recreation such as swimming, playing golf, tennis, bocce ball and traveling. Elaine was able to take cruises through the Greek Islands, Scandinavian capitals, and St Petersburg Russia (plus golf in Copenhagen), the Caribbean and Alaska. She also was a pianist and a terrific singer. While basically a shy person, she was driven to serve others with her talents and skills, making a difference in the lives of many people.

Elaine is survived by her husband Tom, siblings Michael Cronan and wife Tenley, Sherri Sacks DiBasilio and husband Scott, Fred Pheiffer and wife Lynn, Angelo Lancelotti and wife Sonia, Joe Peery and wife Kay and numerous nieces, nephew and cousins. Elaine will be missed by us all.

Elaine’s funeral Mass will be at Noon, Saturday, December 4th at St Apollinaris, 3700 Lassen Street Napa, with lunch to follow with a private interment the following week. Should you care to donate in honor of Elaine, we suggest making it to the Elaine Markovich Memorial Scholarship Fund at St Apollinaris. Memories and notes of sympathy may be shared at claffeyandrota.com.

Samuel P. Oliner passed away on November 17th, 2021. He was born in Zyndranowa, Poland, in 1930. Zyndranowa was a farming village in southern Poland near the Czech border in the Carpathian Mountains. He lived on the small farm belonging to his grandparents Isak and Reisel Polster, together with his parents and siblings. Sam was left orphaned by the barbarity of Nazi-occupation during World War II, aided in his survival by a Polish family who risked their lives to rescue him.

After the war, Sam immigrated to England where he began his formal education at Bunce Court School in Kent in 1946. In 1950, he made his way to New York City with the help of relatives. Shortly after his arrival in America, Sam was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in the Korean War (Bronze Service Star, National Defense Medal, Presidential Unit Citation). While attending Brooklyn College on the G.I. Bill upon his return from Korea, Sam met Pearl Merkur on a blind date arranged by his best pal Fred Knauer. Sam and Pearl were married in 1956 and for 65 years before she passed earlier this year. In 1957, Pearl and Sam packed their U-Haul truck and headed for California. They each received a PhD from the University of California at Berkeley, and together they became professors at Humboldt State University. Sam was chair of the Sociology Department, and by all accounts much beloved by students, staff, and colleagues during his 30 years as a professor. In 1973, he founded the Humboldt Journal of Social Relations, which remains in publication to this day. Sam and Pearl founded the Altruistic Personality and Prosocial Behavior Institute at HSU. Together, they were awarded HSU’s

Scholar of the Year prize in 1990. Sam has authored nine books and numerous other publications focusing on the subject of altruism and why some people risk their lives to help others. He published his most recent literary work this year, at age 91. A central theme that runs throughout his scholarship is the importance of kindness and courageousness, even in the darkest times. He was, at his core, an optimist. Sam was humble, caring, generous and always inquisitive.

Sam is survived by his three sons and their families: Ron and Kristen, and their sons Evan and Daniel; David and Liz, their daughter Lauren and sons William and Harrison; and Ian and Valerie, and their sons Adam and Jason.

He is survived also by his cousin Martin, whose parents were instrumental in making Sam’s arrival in the United States possible. Most recently, he had the unrelenting support of his sons following the heartbreaking loss of his beloved wife Pearl only nine months ago. He leaves behind close friends and colleagues too numerous to mention, among them Arthur Rose, his childhood friend from Bunce Court.

He will be in our hearts for eternity. May his memory be a blessing.

There will be a small private ceremony. The family intends to hold a celebration of life in early 2022.