Rolland Eugene Sears
February 28, 1922 - January 4, 2017
Rolland Eugene Sears was a patriot, a husband, a father, a grandfather, a successful executive, an adventurer and a wonderful human being. He passed away peacefully at the age of 94 on January 4, 2017 surrounded by the love of his wife, children and niece.
Rolland Eugene Sears was born in Bakersfield California. He was the son of Lowell and Hazel Sears of Topeka, Kansas. After a brief relocation to Davenport, Iowa Rolland and his parents moved to Richmond, California where spent his youth. He attended Richmond High, then California Polytechnic State University where he graduated with a degree in aeronautical engineering. During WW II, he served as captain in the Army Air Corp, 388th Division where at great risk he commanded a B-17 for 35 bombing missions over Germany.
After the war Rolland went to work for Standard Oil Company of California (later Chevron). Over his 37 years with Chevron in multiple management positions of increasing responsibility he gave his family the opportunity to live in Washington, Utah, New Mexico and England. Rolland built a life together with his first wife Doris for 25 years, until losing her to cancer in 1973. He then met his beloved second wife, Isabel while working together at Chevron in San Francisco. They shared 40 years of fabulous adventures while living in Orinda, California. Rolland flew for more than 62 years, skied well into his 80’s, loved tennis, fishing, backpacking, bicycling and travel. Rolland was full of life and wanted to share his enjoyment with others. Rolland was a member of Bay Cities Lodge 337 of the Grand Lodge of California Masons. He was a member of the American Association of Individual Investors (AAII) SF chapter, past President and 25 year member of the AAII Board. He was a mentor, role model, selfless, giving, caring, loving soul that changed the lives of so many. This world is a better place because of Rolland.
He is survived by his second wife Isabel IriarteSears, who shared a beautiful life with him, including caring for him with love and devotion these last few years as he battled cancer. He is also survived by his son Lowell Sears, daughter Helen Sears Chaknova, his three grandchildren, Dan Chaknova (Mandy), Sam Chaknova and Ian Sears, his daughter-in-law Merijane Lee, son-in-law Jeff Chaknova, former daughter-in-law Cindi Sears, his special niece and nephew, Carolina Tanner and Marcos Iriarte, as well as an extended family of nieces, nephews and cousins who beloved him. He will be missed, but will live on in all of us.
In lieu of flowers, please tell others you love them. Donations in his honor can be made to the Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church (http://www.lopc.org/giveback/foundation), Hospice of the East Bay (https://www.hospiceeastbay.org/donation), or Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation (https://www.arflife.org/donate) or to a charity of your choice.