Sidney H. Cantwell

Oct. 19, 1922 - Sept. 6, 2015

Resident of Palo Alto, CA. Born in San Francisco to Sidney (Sr.) and Helen (Behrens) Cantwell, Sid graduated from Burlingame High School in 1940. He attended San Francisco Junior College and worked at W.A. Bechtel Company before completing Flight Preparatory School in San Luis Obispo, Ca. He served in the Navy as an aviator during World War II, flying with squadron VPB 114 in specially modified B-24 bombers, patrolling for submarines. He remained active in the Naval Reserves, retiring after 25 years, earning the rank of Captain.

After the War, he completed his civil engineering studies at San Jose State and joined the San Mateo County Engineering Department in 1948. Sid became Chief Deputy in 1963 and was elected to the office of Director in 1970. He was the last elected to this position as it later became an appointed office. Sid retired as Director of Public Works in March of 1982.

In March, 1981, he successfully challenged a provision in San Mateo County’s retirement plan that prohibited including his war service time towards his county retirement pay. The Supreme Court later affirmed the lower court’s decision, ruling in his favor.

Sid married Carol Walker of Burlingame in 1943. In 1947, they moved to Menlo Park where they raised their nine children. They later divorced and in 1991, Sid married Pauline Gunderson. Sid and Pauline traveled extensively abroad and in the U.S., including yearly visits to Pauline’s hometown of Waddington, New York. Sid was an avid golfer and was a member of the Shoreline Seniors at Shoreline Golf Links in Mountain View.

Sid is survived by his wife of 24 years, Pauline of Palo Alto, his nine children, Ginny Stevenson of Roseville, Gail McCann (Bill) of Redwood City, Chuck (Linda) of Mountain View, Fran of Redwood City, Mary Shaw of Lincoln, Cathy Pearce of La Mesa, John (Charlene) of El Cerrito, Anne Solomon (Larry) of Windsor, and Diane Corso (Michael) of San Francisco, sister Jean Azevedo of Petaluma, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his former wife, Carol.

He was our hero and always our “Go To Guy”. He was the epitome of honesty, humility, humor and unconditional love and we will miss him dearly.

A private family memorial will be held later in October.