Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Monday, December 19, 2011

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Saturday, December 17, 2011

2003 Christmas dinner with family

Christmas at Greathouse's in the BBB school room 2003

Monday, December 12, 2011

Pat passes and is remembered fondly

Patricia Durkee (1921 - 2011) Resident of Aptos, California

Patricia S. Durkee passed away peacefully at her Aptos home last Sunday on November 20th after a long battle with Alzheimer. She was 90 years old.

Patricia Marie Siener, fondly called Pat by everyone was born on March 17th, 1921 in Los Angeles, California. She was the only child of John A. and Frances M. Siener. She spent her childhood in Southern California. Pat later attended Stanford University studying Liberal Arts.

1942 was a significant year for Pat when she met the love of her life Travers "Ted" Durkee at Stanford. The two were later married on July 13th, 1943 at the Stanford Chapel. They were married for 67 years before Ted's passing this past January.

Pat raised 4 children and spent most of her life giving and caring for others.

She traveled extensively throughout the country and aboard. Pat enjoyed music attending the symphony in San Francisco as well as performances at Kuumbwa Jazz Center. In 1980 Pat and Ted opened the now legendary Seafood Mama's restaurant in Capitola. Where she would be seen nightly greeting customers. Later in life she volunteered for organizations such as Hospice. Pat's passion was gardening and she would love nothing more than a quiet afternoon in her garden.

Pat is survived by her three loving children: Toby Durkee of Forestville, Tim Durkee of South San Francisco and Leslie Greathouse of Santa Cruz. Pat's daughter Kathryn Durkee preceded her in death in 1994. Pat also has eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren who she loved dearly.

Donations in her memory can be made to Heartland Hospice Services. 824 Bay Avenue Suite 40 Capitola, Ca 95010.

Pat's memorial service will be held Saturday, December 3rd at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Church in Capitola.

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Pat Ted Leslie 1993 Our Wedding

John and Leslie's Wedding
May 29th 1993 Long Beach, Ca
(plan to post many more :)

Pat and Ted - 50th Wedding Anniverary

Remember this? Stanford for their 50th :)

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Ted Durkee Santa Cruz Sentinel article - 1/18/2011

Ted Durkee, former top county administrator, dies at 88

By J.M. BROWN Posted: 01/18/2011 01:30:00 AM PST

SANTA CRUZ -- Ted Durkee, a forthright former county administrative officer who opened a seafood restaurant in retirement and championed the environment as a planning commissioner, died Saturday at Dominican Hospital after a heart attack.

He was 88.
Durkee, who lived in Aptos, served just four years as the county's administrative officer, from 1973 to 1977, but it was a period of great tension in local politics as supporters of development butted heads against a burgeoning environmental movement. Durkee had left a top post in growth-driven Los Angeles County to help Santa Cruz County measure the effects of its own development and professionalize its governance.

"That's the real challenge here," Durkee told the Sentinel in October 1973, a month after he was hired. "Santa Cruz County and the people in it still have a chance to control their future and destiny."

Denise Holbert, who served on the county Planning Commission with Durkee, said he questioned development projects that had perilous potential for the environment, and stood up for establishing social services even if they were unpopular.

"He was just willing to confront any controversial situation," Holbert said. "He was never reluctant to speak out for what he thought were right and just solutions."

Born Travers Edgar Durkee in Chico, he fashioned a new first name for himself using his initials. After growing up in Sacramento, Durkee earned a bachelor's degree in social sciences
from Stanford University, where he met his wife of 67 years, Patricia, who survives him.
He joined the U.S. Navy during World War II, and as a linguist, helped repatriate Japanese soldiers and investigate war crimes. After the war, Durkee returned to Stanford to earn a master's degree in international relations and a Ph.D. before taking a job in Sacramento as a legislative analyst.

Durkee went to Los Angeles in 1955 and left 18 years later after rising to the position of assistant chief county administrative officer. After the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors hired him for the top job here, he oversaw 1,400 employees and earned $37,315 a year, which was a $3,000 pay cut.

California Secretary of Natural Resources John Laird, a former Santa Cruz mayor and state lawmaker, served as a county analyst for health and social services under Durkee, who hired young people who came to be known as "Durkee's Kids" and went on to top posts in state and county government. Laird said Durkee professionalized county government by recruiting sharp department heads and making budgets more accessible to the public.

"He hired strong people and gave direction, and he was the person out front and presenting everything," he said. "That led to tremendous loyalty."

Durkee retired in August 1977 at the age of 54 after quelling a strike by county employees over salary negotiations. He said he didn't retire because of the strike threat, but his resignation letter said he was leaving behind 25 years of public service "while I still have my sanity."
Three years later, with the help of his wife, Durkee opened Seafood Mama on Bay Avenue in Capitola, a 1940s-themed restaurant that featured mesquite-grilled fish and a Wurlitzer jukebox. The couple, who learned the restaurant business from a Cabrillo College food service course, ran the restaurant for nine years until selling it to afford them more time to travel.
In May 1980, he talked to the Sentinel about the similarities of running county government and operating a restaurant.

"People are people. In the restaurant business, they run the gamut from outstanding to pretty good to some real plunkers," he said. "It's the same in government -- there are a lot of very talented, outstanding people all the way down to some real sad sacks."
Durkee was named Capitola Chamber of Commerce's Man of the Year in 1988, a year in which he also served as a chamber director. Among many community interests, Durkee served several stints on the county Planning Commission, and supported Planned Parenthood, Alcoholics Anonymous, Janus of Santa Cruz and the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County.