Earl “Coco” Junghans

Earl “Coco” Junghans passed away July 13, 2022, surrounded by his loving wife and family. He is survived by his wife, the artist Baker Moorefield; his daughters Julie Leverton and Jenner Junghans; granddaughter, Georgia; grandsons Collin, Steven, and Isaac; son-in-law, Jason Leverton; step-daughter, Newland Moorefield; step-grandsons, Cory and Sam; and best friend, David Cobb.

An award-winning watercolor artist and awardwinning athlete, Coco was a lifelong architect and artist in San Francisco, Palo Alto, and Menlo Park. Coco won multiple awards for best in show in watercolors in various categories. He also had many clients who collected his art in the Bay Area. Coco was born in Panama on August 8, 1935, where his father was an officer in the U.S. Navy. In Panama, there was a newspaper with a cartoon character named “Coco,” and when Coco was born, that became his nickname.

Coco’s father was later stationed at Pearl Harbor where he survived the attacks while flying reconnaissance Coco, his mother, and his brother, Peter, also survived the attacks on the island, escaping Oahu soon thereafter.

While his father was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia and the Washington, D.C. area, Coco attended Granby High School, Severn School, and Landon School, where he graduated. He later attended the U.S. Naval Academy, and graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in architecture.

His greatest joy was his love for his family as Baker’s husband, a father to Julie and Jenner, and grandfather to his daughters’ children and his step-grandsons. His playfulness was unparalleled where he enjoyed playing in playgrounds and soccer fields, kid-like, with his kids and grandkids. Although they lived in different towns, Coco loved to travel to see his girls and their families and spend time with them. At Christmas, he wrapped their presents in brightcolored packages with bright-colored ribbons of thick yarn.

A lifelong lacrosse player, tennis player, and runner, Coco won most of his footraces and 5Ks in his age group, winning more than 100 medals. He and Baker played tennis once a week.

He met his lifelong best friend, David Cobb, at Severn in 1953 when they played lacrosse where David said he was the “better player” who was “funny, with a skeptical, but passionate personality. I will miss his sense of humor, honesty, and loyalty as a friend.”

A gardener, he grew vegetables, including corn in pots, green beans, zucchini, Lima beans, tomatoes, chard, and lettuce. He somehow devised a way to keep critters from eating his bounty, so he and Baker always had fresh, organic vegetables.

Before he moved to San Francisco in the 60s, he met Baker Moorefield in 1960 in Alexandria, Virginia, introduced by their mothers. The two of them dated and fell in love, but didn’t marry at that time. In the 1990s, Baker moved to Menlo Park with her husband, not realizing Coco was in Palo Alto. After her divorce, she read an article in the Menlo Park Almanac about an architect Earl “Coco” Junghans and decided there couldn’t be another Earl “Coco” Junghans than the one she knew 35 years earlier. She looked him up and called him and sure enough, it was her boyfriend from 1960. They planned to meet for breakfast and when he arrived at her front door, he admitted to her he’d held a torch for her for the last 35 years. They married soon after and had been together for the last 27 years. He died quietly in her arms.

There will be no special service at this time, so please honor him in your own ways.

Dr. Judith Marilyn (Druhan) Kell was born on January 3, 1941 in San Francisco to Louis and Florence Druhan. Judy attended Polytechnic High School, and went on to graduate from Cal Berkeley and SFSU and begin her long career in education with S.F.U.S.D. She taught at Frederic Burk, E.R. Taylor, and eventually became Director of the G.A.T.E. Program. She was promoted to principal at Hawthorne Elementary and then at Potrero Hill Middle School, and lastly the Associate Superintendent of Middle Schools. Judy worked in the S.F.U.S.D. for 29 years. Education was her life!

Judy’s love of teaching and training eventually led her to St. Mary’s College and the Administrative Institute Program, where she taught Educational Leadership and Administration. Though Judy retired from S.F.U.S.D. she never retired from learning and inspiring others. She continued to teach at San Francisco State University, teaching classes in: Adolescent Development/Equity in Schools and Supervising Student Teachers. As always, she used humor as a tool to make her classes more enjoyable and meaningful.

Judy was a bright light in so many people’s lives and she worked tirelessly in jobs that she loved. In the end, what mattered most was her legacy in education, family, friendships, church, and love.

Judy is survived by her children Cynthia Peyton (Lance Davidson), Elizabeth Peyton-Baptista (Michael Baptista), Carolyn Kell, Joseph Kell (Julie Cotter) and her grandchildren Anthoney Baptista, Matthew Baptista, Charlotte Kell, Catherine Kell, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews. Outside of work Judy loved hosting big dinner parties brought to us by Betty Crocker, which many of us learned to love. She saw the food as secondary. The important part was that we could all be together, connect, share in community, and laugh! Sure, some of us were sharing loveseats or sitting on the antique high chair, but anyone who couldn’t make it home for the holidays was welcome at her table.

She was generous, she was kind, and she was funny. Additionally she had a love for fashion, specifically ST. JOHN, a love for travel, and almost rivaling her love of family was her love for ice cream (any flavor was pleasing but she especially enjoyed strawberry).

In her final days, she was surrounded by her family and she died peacefully. Judy shines on in the hearts of all who knew her.

A Celebration of Life Service will take place on Saturday, September 17, 2022 at 11:00am at Broadmoor Presbyterian Church (377 87th St. Daly City). In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation or the charity of your choice.