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Harry Herman Wetzel, Jr.
Early grapegrower in Alexander Valley
Aviation pioneer and philanthropist Harry Herman Wetzel Jr. died
on August 14, of complications of old age. He was 88.
Harry made important contributions to aerospace, to the wine
business, and to his community and the arts. He will be remembered
as an engineer’s engineer with an extraordinary memory and powerful
intellect, coupled with boundless curiosity, impeccable taste, and
an impish sense of humor. His perceptive and empathetic approach to
family, friends, and colleagues was matched only by his unfailing
courtesy.
Harry was born on January 27, 1920 in Howard, PA, the only son
of Maude T. and Harry H. Wetzel. His father became vice president
of the Douglas Aircraft company in 1922, which took the family to
Santa Monica, California, where his father served a key role in the
development and manufacture of the DC3. Harry graduated from
Cornell University in 1941 with a bachelors degree in engineering.
He then joined the Army Air Force, where he served as an
experimental test pilot. In 1945, he married Margaret Kirkpatrick
of Hampton, VA, whom he met at an officers’ club dance in
Middletown, PA. They moved to California, and in 1946 he joined the
Garrett Corporation, a supplier to the burgeoning aerospace
industry. Harry began as a laboratory technician, then moved on to
sales and to manufacturing. He ran the Garrett Corporation’s
manufacturing plant in Phoenix, Arizona during the early 1950s.
Harry became president of the Garrett Corporation in 1963, upon
the death of company founder Cliff Garrett. He held the position of
CEO when he retired in 1985. Under his guidance, Garrett
experienced a period of unprecedented growth in terms of revenue,
profits, new product lines, new factories, and number of
employees.
He served on several corporate boards, including Signal
Companies, Universal Oil Products, Hughes Aircraft Company, Morton
Thiokol Corporation, and National Semiconductor Corporation.
Under Harry’s leadership, Garrett became the world’s largest
producer of aircraft auxiliary power units as well as truck and car
turbochargers. Harry also initiated the development of a new and
very efficient aircraft fanjet engine, which enabled business jets
to make the coast-to-coast trip non-stop. This made Garrett the
world’s leading manufacturer of small jet engines, and Harry was
often referred to as “A man with a plan for a fan.” Harry also
guided Garrett into the development of the gas turbine engine for
large trucks and initiated the development of a small ceramic car
engine as well a line of electric motors for light rail
vehicles.
In 1962, in partnership with their friends Russ and BJ Green,
the Wetzels purchased a piece of land in Alexander Valley, on the
site of Cyrus Alexander’s original homestead. They and the Greens
were among the early grape growers in the valley. In 1975, the
Wetzels established Alexander Valley Vineyards winery. Guided by
their son Hank, the winery produces premium varietal wines. Over
the years, they restored the buildings on the property and
installed gardens and plantings, including an extensive vegetable
garden.
Harry was known for his graceful interactions with everyone
around him. In the Garrett cafeteria, he often sat with a janitor
at lunch rather than with another company officer. He liked to walk
around the shop floor and talk with the machinists, remembering
their names and asking about their families.
He did the New York Times crossword puzzle every day, usually in
about fifteen minutes, and in ink, competing with other employees
to see who would finish first. It was usually Harry.
With Harry, you always had to be on your toes. “How does your
pocket calculator evaluate the cosine of an angle?” he might ask.
“Is there a look-up table stored in the calculator for every angle
or does it evaluate a formula?” And woe to the junior executive,
son-in-law, or grandchild who wanted to beat him at gin rummy or
21. He’d clear out your pockets in a flash, and charm you in the
process.
Harry loved to travel, and up until his death he continued to
plan trips with children and grandchildren, and organize the many
photographs he took of his adventures. He was also an excellent
cabinetmaker and many members of his family have pieces of
furniture he made, which they will always treasure. An avid
fisherman and hunter, he was a crack shot with a pistol, rifle and
shotgun.
On the cultural side, he served as chairman of the board of the
Los Angeles Performing Arts Council Music Center; as a Trustee of
the Donald Douglas Museum and Library; as a board member of the
California Institute of Technology; and as a board member of the
California Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi.
Beneficiaries of his time and philanthropy also include the
Healdsburg Museum, the Santa Rosa Symphony and the Green Music
Center in Rohnert Park.
Most recently, the Wetzels were the major donors for the Wetzel
Emergency Department at Healdsburg Hospital.
He is survived by his children Sally Fallon Morell, Hank Wetzel,
Katie Wetzel Murphy, and John Wetzel, and their spouses; his 13
grandchildren and their spouses; and his three (soon to be four)
great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 26
at Alexander Valley Vineyards, 8640 Highway 128 in Healdsburg.
If desired, donations in Harry’s name may be made to the Pacific
Coast Air Museum in Santa Rosa or North County Community Services
in Healdsburg.
Patricia Anne (Nelligan) Golling
Loving grandmother of 13
Patricia Anne (Nelligan) Golling passed away August 15, 2008.
She was the beloved wife of Daniel F. Golling of Healdsburg; and
the mother of six children, Daniel Golling Jr. of Modesto, Paul
Golling of San Leandro, George Golling of San Leandro, Mary
Christie of Healdsburg, Michael Golling of Port Angeles, WA, and
Anne Beaman of Pleasanton, CA. She was the loving grandmother of
13, and great-grandmother of four. She was born in Santa Rosa, CA
in 1931. Patsy graduated from St. Rose School, Ursuline High
School, and San Francisco College for Women, and was a member of
St. John’s Catholic Church in Healdsburg. Private services and Mass
were held at St. John’s Church and burial at Oak Mound Cemetery,
Healdsburg, CA.
David Gideon Weed
Loved botany, woodworking and videography
David Gideon Weed died in the early hours of August 11th, 2008,
in Healdsburg, California. The cause of death was a rare and
aggressive brain virus (Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy)
which had a sudden onset in mid-June of this year.
David Gideon Weed was born May 31, 1951, and grew up in Dedham,
MA, just outside of Boston. From an early age, David exuded wit,
charm, and a deep-seated curiosity, qualities that drew people to
him throughout his multi-faceted life.
David graduated from Harvard College, class of ’73, where he
studied biology. After relocating to the west coast in the
mid-70’s, David worked as a gardener at the UC Berkeley Botanical
Garden and then attended the Stanford Graduate School of Business
(MBA 1982). After business school, David worked as a management
consultant with Arthur D. Little, and later with Alexander and
Baldwin. During his corporate career he lived primarily in
California, but lived for a time in Arizona, and also in Hawaii.
David’s professional career was focused primarily in the food
industry, as President of Safeway Corporation’s Northern California
Division in the late nineties, and later as Safeway’s Chief
Financial Officer. In 2004 he joined the Trust for Public Land as
CFO. David was active in a number of environmental causes,
including the Trust for Public Land, Save the Bay, Sonoma Land
Trust, and U.C. Berkeley’s Botanical Garden and Jepson Herbarium.
He was a member of the Board of Directors of Attune Foods, Farmacia
Remedios, and served as a business advisor for Pacific Community
Ventures.
David’s interests were varied and deep. His love of botany was
at the center of many pursuits including detailed study of
California Oaks and native flora, a chestnut and kiwi farm, and a
vineyard. He had artistic interests ranging from woodworking to
videography. David was recently married to Sally Jane Warner, his
partner in gardening, botanic and farming pursuits. Among his
survivors are his wife, Sally, his sons Augustus and Sam (from a
previous marriage to Jill Richards); his mother Nancy Wright and
step-father George Wright, brothers Charles Weed and Denny Wright;
sisters Jay Perera, Sylvia Leo, and Addie Wolbach, and his dog,
Jack. He was a beloved uncle and grand-uncle, brother-in-law,
co-worker, and special friend to so many. Memorial services will be
held in Berkeley, CA and Boston, MA in the early fall.
Catherie Balacci Carson
Founding member of Forestville Youth Park
Catherie Balacci Carson died Aug. 11, 2008 in Forestville at the
age of 92. She was born in San Francisco and has been a Sonoma
County resident since 1952. 
Carson was involved in many organizations which included The
Son’s Of Italy, I.C.F., Moose Lodge of Santa Rosa, Redwood Rovers,
Catechism Teacher at St. Sebastian’s, Board Member of the
Forestville School District for 16 years and a Charter Member of
Forestville Youth Park. 
She loved motorhoming, fishing, cooking and most of all spending
time with her family. Catherine was preceded in death by her first
husband, Vasco George Balacci, second husband, Larry Carson,
mother, father and two sisters. She is survived by her three
daughters, Thomasine (Lloyd) Franceschi, Linda (Doug) Perkins and
Janice (Bob) Cross; brother, Frank Cavoto; sister, Claudia
McDermott; caregivers, Al and Seni; seven grandchildren and 16
great-grandchildren. 
A Memorial Service was held Saturday, Aug. 16, 2008 at  Pleasant
Hills Memorial Park. Donations may be made to Sutter VNA
Hospice.
John Smithwick
Korean War Veteran, PG&E worker
John Michael Smithwick, 76, a longtime Sebastopol resident, died
Aug. 2 at his home after having suffered for years from a weakened
heart.
Born in Alameda, Smithwick was raised in Capitola. He “loved
Ireland,” and married a girl with family there. He and his wife,
Hannah-Anne, took their family back many times to visit.
Smithwick served in the Army during the Korean War as a military
police sergeant. After the war, he moved to Tomales and worked at a
farm before moving to Sebastopol.
John and his wife were married in 1962 and the couple had 46
years together.
Smithwick had a 36-year career with PG&E, starting in Santa
Rosa but mostly commuting to a San Francisco office to work as a
land surveyor.
Smithwick retired 27 years ago and the couple embraced their
freedom, going on many trips and spending time with friends.
In Sebastopol, Smithwick was active in the local Catholic
community as a member of St. Sebastian’s parish. He also served as
past president of the Young Men’s Institute and the St. Vincent de
Paul Society.
Surviving Smithwick are his daughter Sioban Smithwick of
Sebastopol and his wife, his son, Patrick Smithwick of Petaluma,
and three grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Sebastian’s St.
Vincent de Paul Society or Heartland Hospice.
Edna Hammond
Loved travel, jigsaw puzzles
Edna Gertrude Hammond (Garloff) died on Aug. 17, 2008 at the age
of 93.
Edna was born in Sebastopol, CA and lived in San Rafael, Rohnert
Park, Sacramento and most recently in Santa Rosa. Her working life
was mostly in retail, working for Montgomery Ward in accounting and
ending her career with the Emporium in Personnel.
After retiring from the world of work, Edna became a “guide” for
bus tours out of Santa Rosa, CA, guiding tours in California and
the Eastern United States for many years. She then continued her
work with the community as a volunteer at Sutter VNA Hospice and
Council on Aging, both in Santa Rosa.
Hammond played Bocci Ball with her great-nephews in
Sacramento. She traveled to Alaska and Hawaii and loved the
California desert. She loved crossword puzzles and jigsaw puzzles,
giving them to young family members to put on their walls.
She is proceeded in death by her husband Victor, her parents and
nine siblings and survived by her niece Eva Solak, great-nephews
Clark Woy, Martin Woy, Victor Adams, great-nieces Nancy Lee Meyers,
Janice Di Piero, and many great-great nieces and nephews and
great-great-great nieces and nephews.
Donations in her memory can be given to Hospice on Dutton
Avenue, Santa Rosa or Council of Aging on Santa Rosa.