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Don M. Koblick
Don M. Koblick did not live on the Coastside, but he was a firmly entrenched presence in the community of local fishermen.
On weekends, Mr. Koblick would arrive at the Pillar Point Harbor parking lot with his truck piled full of bits and pieces of electronic fishing equipment and gear, from his own warehouse, which he would sell to the local fishermen.
Though the pieces of equipment might be regarded as trash by some, to others it would definitely be "someone else's treasure," said San Mateo County Harbor Commissioner Pietro Parravano.
Parravano added that, regularly bringing needed equipment to the fishing community at the harbor, Mr. Koblick "always brought a fatherly image to the fishermen."
That was hardly all. Mr. Koblick was also highly instrumental in helping local fishermen secure the right to sell their catch directly from their boats.
Mr. Koblick, a resident of Woodside, died April 12 at the VA Hospice Care Center in Palo Alto, at age 78 due to cancer.
Memorial services scheduled for this Saturday, at the harbor and also through the American Legion, will reflect the level of respect given to Mr. Koblick by both the local harbor's fishing community and his fellow veterans (Mr. Koblick was a proud World War II veteran).
Mr. Koblick "was always hoping to fight the battle that was good for everybody," said Michael Duffy of the Coastside, a fellow World War II vet and also a commercial fisherman. "If something needed to be done, Don would take (it) on and address the issue for the whole group. He would try to fight the evils of the world."
Mr. Koblick was born in San Francisco on July 19, 1925, and came to San Mateo County as a boy with his parents, Malve and Nathan Koblick, in 1932.
He graduated from Los Lomitas and Sequoia High School, where he was on the water polo team. Directly after high school he signed up with the U.S. Marines with whom he served for three years during World War II on the USS Massachusetts. During his time of service, he saw action in the South Pacific.
After the war, Mr. Koblick entered San Jose State University, from which he graduated with a bachelor's degree in business management. He went into dealing with surplus diesel engines and parts, and new engines. Fifty years ago, he started a business, Tri Anchor Marine, which was based in San Carlos and Menlo Park.
Mr. Koblick also was a volunteer adviser for the Sea Scouts and the fishing community of Pillar Point Harbor. As such, he served as a general adviser, and did what he could for the fishing community.
"Whatever was needed, he would try his best to supply it to the fishing community," said his wife, Jeanne Durrell Koblick of Woodside. "He thought very highly of the people there."
Stepping forth as an advocate for fishing rights, Mr. Koblick worked to secure the means by which fishermen could sell fish direct from their boats. He did this by frequently going before the San Mateo County Harbor Commission to promote the cause, and by following up by providing media contacts and names to spread awareness of the issues.
"He always believed in things just working," said Parravano.
And, for some 20 years, said Duffy, he would bring mechanical parts to the fishermen who needed them.
"He was very generous and giving, very thoughtful," said Duffy. "He found joy in other people's successes."
Memorial services for Mr. Koblick will begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday with a parade of boats. Boat owners in the fleet of commercial vessels will hold such a parade of boats, in which the vessels will be taken out to form a ring around the buoy, as a gesture of respect when someone well esteemed among them dies, said Duffy.
Mr. Koblick was also a boat owner as well. He owned the Southern Cross sailing vessel, berthed at Pillar Point.
The parade of boats will be followed at 1 p.m. by a military ceremony to be held near the American Legion Post 474 building near the harbor. (Though Mr. Koblick was not a member of the Legion, the veterans there, many of whom were his friends, chose to hold the ceremony out of respect, said Duffy.)
In it, a military honor guard will play Taps, fold the American flag and present it to Mr. Koblick's wife, and give a rifle salute, firing blanks. A prayer will be said by Val Salet, chaplain of American Legion Post 474. This ceremony will be attended by fellow veterans, family and friends of Mr. Koblick.
Mr. Koblick is survived by his wife, Jeanne Durrell Koblick of Woodside, his three children John Leo Koblick of Manteca, Robert Nathan Koblick of Woodside and Donna Jeanne O'Brien of Healdsburg, and four grandchildren.
At his request, no funeral will be held.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mr. Koblick's name to the VA Hospice Care Center, 3801 Miranda Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94304.
Robert C. Abbott
Robert C. Abbott of San Jose, whose son, Al Abbott, and his family, live on the Coastside, died April 13 at age 75 at his home in San Jose.
"Bob brought a smile to the face of everyone he met," said Al Abbott's wife Wendy Abbott. The couple, along with their children Janet and Jared, live in Montara.
Mr. Abbott was born in Denair, Calif., as one of nine children of Goldie and Otto Abbott.
In the early 1940s, he came to San Francisco. He met his future wife, Gloriette Mello, at Roosevelt (junior high) School there, and they married in 1948, after both had graduated from Polytechnic High School, also in San Francisco.
Their marriage thrived over more than 54 years, during which they raised three sons and made their home in Yosemite National Park, San Francisco, Daly City and eventually San Jose.
A heavy equipment operator, mechanic and heavy equipment superintendent, Mr. Abbott was a dedicated member of the Operating Engineers Union Local No. 3 for more than 50 years. He worked on many major Bay Area projects, including the construction of Highway 280 and Candlestick Park.
His work also brought him to the Coastside, where he served as the manager of operations at the Pilar-citos Quarry on Highway 92 from 1984 until his retirement from Piombo Construction Company in 1992.
Mr. Abbott is preceded in death by his wife, Gloriette Mello Abbott, who died in May 2002, and by a grandson, Nathan Abbott, who died in a car accident in the mid-1990s while a student at California State University Chico.
He is survived by his sons and their wives, Bob Jr. and Connie Abbott of Windsor, Calif., Al and Wendy Abbott of Montara and Joel and Tiffany Abbott of San Jose, and seven grandchildren, Bob III, Jamil, Janet, Jared, Brandon, Cayden Abbott and Zoe Sutton, and by three great-granddaughters, Shelby, Payton and Taylor.
He is also survived by his sisters Bonnie Valdivia of South San Francisco, Betty DeMorea of Mexico and Sue Mannina of Daly City, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
The family will hold a private celebration of Mr. Abbott's life.
In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to the Nathan Abbott Memorial Scholarship Fund at California State University Chico.
Barbara Ann Lusk
Barbara Ann Lusk of Pacifica, who was the mother of Julie Hallgren of El Granada, died April 21 at Mills-Peninsula Hospital in Burlingame at age 66 due to illness.
Mrs. Lusk was a native of Oregon who came to California as a child, grew up in San Bruno and lived for 40 years in Pacifica. She married her husband, Keith A. Lusk, about 38 years ago, and the couple had four children and four grandchildren.
Mrs. Lusk was a businesswoman, working with an insurance company.
Family was vital to Mrs. Lusk, who greatly enjoyed her children and grandchildren. "She was always there for them," said her son-in-law Steve Hallgren of Half Moon Bay. "Everything surrounding her was her family."
Mrs. Lusk is preceded in death by her husband, Keith A. Lusk, who died 10 years ago. She is the loving mother of her children and their spouses, Keith and Deanna Lusk of Petaluma, Cindy and Chuck Plate of Fairfield, Joseph Lusk of Pacifica and Julie and Steve Hallgren of Half Moon Bay, and the adored grandmother of Corey, Greg, Briana and KateLyn.
"She will be missed by all," said her family.
A Rosary service was held Monday and funeral services were held Tuesday at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Pacifica, followed by private committal at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Cancer Society.
