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PETALUMA, Calif. – The Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit is saddened to announce the passing of Fire Apparatus Engineer Alex Stevenson.
Alex passed away on Friday, May 24, 2013. He was a valiant and courageous man whose optimism and hope never wavered as he fought a nine-year battle with brain cancer. He was 39 years old.
Alex began his career with then CDF in 1995 in Sonoma County at the Healdsburg station as a seasonal firefighter.
In 2002, Alex accepted a permanent position as a Firefighter II in south Lake County and in 2004 he promoted to fire apparatus engineer at St. Helena station in Napa County.
Alex’s other assignments included working in the Unit’s Service Center and in 2007 he became a Fire Prevention Specialist II in the Napa County Fire Marshal’s Office.
He was a true friend and brother to all of those in the Cal Fire family.
Alex passed away peacefully at home with his mother, stepfather, brother and sister-in-law by his side.
A memorial to honor Alex and his service to the citizens of the state of California will be held on Friday, May 31, 2013 at 11 a.m. at the Wells Fargo Center for the Performing Arts in Santa Rosa. The public is welcome to attend.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Brain Tumor Association, 8550 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Suite 550, Chicago, IL 60631; or Hospice of Petaluma, 416 Pavran St., Petaluma, CA 94952.
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Ryland Robert Joseph passed away in San Francisco on May 16, 2013, in the presence of his loving family. He was 7 months and 12 days old.
Ryland's big heart and happy spirit was known all throughout Lake County, Calif., and beyond.
In February of this year, Ryland was diagnosed with Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome and it was determined that only a bone marrow transplant would help.
The county rallied around his family; mother, Kellie, a detective with the Lake County Sheriff's Department and father, Rodd, a sergeant with the Clearlake Police Department.
Be The Match events were held to inform the community about the need for bone marrow donors and to find a match for Ryland. Ryland's 22-month-old sister, Brooklynn, was determined to be a match and a bone marrow transplant was done earlier this month. Although the transplant was successful, Ryland's immune system was compromised and he passed from an infection.
The Josephs' story has touched many lives and Ryland will forever be remembered. He leaves behind his parents, Rodd and Kellie; sister, Brooklynn; grandparents, Norris and Karen Joseph, Louise and Joe Harris and Robert "Boomer" Fisher; aunt, Andrea "Andi" Joseph and great-aunt Carol Vasas; many extended family and friends too numerous to mention.
His family would like to thank those that have assisted them at this difficult time and supported them through Ryland's illness.
Services for Ryland will be held at Jones & Lewis Clear Lake Memorial Chapel, 16140 Main St. in Lower Lake, on Saturday, June 1, at 1 p.m.
A procession will then travel from the funeral home to Middletown Cemetery.
If you choose to make a donation in memory of Ryland, the family has these suggestions:
– The Family House, a residence for people with very ill children, primarily bone marrow transplant related, who reside more than 50 miles from UCSF; www.familyhouseinc.org .
– The Wiskott-Aldrich Foundation uses funds to research this disease and is also a great resource for families with affected children; http://www.wiskott.org/ .
– The National Bone Marrow Registry, where funds are used to help type and store DNA samples of possible donors and where you can register as a potential donor; www.marrow.org .
– Ryland’s Memorial Fund, which is located at Mendo Lake Credit Union under the title “Ryland Joseph Be The Match Fund.” Funds donated will go to Ryland’s medical bills, burial expenses and towards other Wiskott-Aldrich families.
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Jannette Deanne Hughes of Daly City, Calif., beloved daughter of Woody and Sandy Hughes, suddenly and unexpectedly passed from this life at the age of 52 at the home of her sister, Lynda Hughes on May 20 in Redding, Calif.
Jannette loved life and lived it to the fullest including motorcycle riding, white water rafting, panning for gold and camping out for months on her property in the wilds of Northern California where she had more than one bear encounter.
Her motto for living was: Life is short; break the rules; forgive quickly; love truly; laugh uncontrollably; and never regret anything that made you smile.
Jannette was a Navy veteran and will be buried in Veterans Circle in Lakeport, Calif., on Saturday, June 8. The Military Funeral Honors Team, the Patriot Guard Riders, and representatives of the US Navy will provide full military honors at the graveside service beginning at 11 a.m.
The family has requested that donations to the Military Funeral Honors Team be made in lieu of flowers.
