Van Dietz

Nov. 19, 1929 - Dec. 10, 2017

Resident of Sunnyvale Van passed away Sunday morning, Dec. 10, 2017. He is survived by his sons Kevin Dietz, SO. Caldwell, KS and David Dietz, Santa Rosa, CA, his younger brother, Henry Dietz, Walnut Creek, CA, and Ann Dietz, his wife of 31 years. He is also survived by 3 stepchildren: Frank Cunnea, Long Beach, CA, Mary Warrington, Henderson, NV, and Kathleen Hornbaker, Tracy, CA. He had 12 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

Van was born in Oakland, CA and lived in Oakland until 1939. After his parents divorced, he spent 5 years at The Arbutus Ranch for Boys in the Santa Cruz Mountains on Old Summit Road. He went to Summit School, a 1-room school house with 30 students, 1 teacher and 8 grades. He returned to Oakland and graduated from Oakland High. He attended City College of San Franciso for 2 1/2 years majoring in Business. When the Korean War started, he was called to active duty in the Marines at Camp Pendleton, CA. He married his first wife, Jackie Simpson and their daughter, Karen (deceased) was born.

After discharge from the Marines, Van worked for The Wearever Aluminum Company. He returned to college, drove for Yellow cab at night in San Francisco and graduated from San Francisco State, majoring in Drama and Speech and minoring in Physical Education. He earned his teaching credential and started teaching Drama and English at Ravenswood High School. He directed many 1-act and 3-act plays.

He moved to Woodside High School, Redwood City and taught there for 29 years. He stayed involved in Drama by working in the Sequoia Music-Drama Workshop until 1973. He was involved in over 20 productions with community theater groups. He took 2 trips to Europe with 50 high school students and 6 teachers. He and Jackie divorced in 1973.

He married Ann Dietz in 1986 and retired after 35 years of teaching. He played lots of golf, traveled everywhere and saw many plays. He was active in the Sunnyvale Senior Citizens Golf Club and bowled with the SIRS bowling organization.

He is truly missed by his family, friends and former students.