In Memory of
Judge Richard Eldred
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October 21, 2004 Administration (1972-1991) Richard "Dick" Eldred (87) Monterey County Herald, CA Oct. 28, 2004. Judge Richard "Dick" Eldred passed away peacefully Oct. 21, 2004 at Canterbury Woods in Pacific Grove. He was born Oct. 28, 1918 to Myrtle and Ross "Brick" Eldred of Sacramento. Dick is survived by his beloved wife and loving companion of 62 years, Lilyan, and children, Margaret Graf (Allen Taylor) of Fair Oaks, Barbara (Marty Roberts) of Santa Cruz and Rick of Pacific Grove and grandson, John Roberts of Santa Barbara. He attended Sacramento schools and graduated from UC Berkeley in 1940. Lil and Dick were married at Camp Lee, VA on June 23, 1942. He spent five years in the US Army during WWII receiving 12 citations including two Battle Stars and the Army Commendation Medal. Dick served as Dispatch Control Chief for the largest mail shipper in the world at the end of the war. He moved to Pacific Grove in '46 to join Lil and her cousin, Dr. Margaret Swigart, and he worked as a police officer, part-time tax assessor, assistant to the City Manager of PG and Department Director for Civil Defense. In '49, he was appointed Justice of the Peace. The PG Judicial District was created in '50 and he was elected as Judge of the District 5 times. In '77, Dick became a Commissioner in the Monterey Municipal Court, retiring in '81. Dick loved his community and worked to better the judicial system and the public school system and to enhance culture in his community. His many accomplishments and affiliations include: Appointed member of the State Judicial Council by the Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court; served as President and Legislative Representative for the State Judges, Marshals and Constables Assoc.; member of the Board of Directors for the National Judges Assoc.; Gubernatorial Commendation for his work helping develop standards for the state judicial system; served 20 years on the Board of Trusties for the PG Unified School District; has been a Director and Past President of the CA State School Boards Assoc.; Director for the National School Boards Assoc.; longtime member and Past President of the PG Rotary Club; member of the Pacheco Club; SIRS; Sheriff's Advisory Council and Director of the Community Chest and the United Way. He served on the Board of Directors from '68 thru '03 and is a Past President of the Monterey Jazz Festival, a proud member of the Pacific Biological Laboratory, Doc Ed Rickett's Lab on Cannery Row, a former Director of Carmel Valley Golf and Country Club for 32 years and a former board member for the California Episcopal Homes Assoc. Dick cherished his happy times with family and friends on picnics at Big Sur and summers at Lake Tahoe, Sundays with funny pancakes, milkshakes and hamburgers, camping in the Sierras, jazz in Monterey, parties at Doc's Lab, weekly Rotary lunches, travels with Lil, 49ers and Giants games, cooking meatloaves and cakes, eating Red's doughnuts, the latest gadget, a premium cigar, a dry martini, a thick steak and a good joke! H e performed well over 1000 weddings as both an active and retired judge. Dick brightened and enriched the lives of all who knew him. He will be sadly missed and fondly recalled. In lieu of flowers, you may make a donation in his name for community projects c/o PG Rotary Club Legacy Fund, PO Box 51, Pacific Grove, 93950. Memorial services will be held Sunday, Oct. 31 at 1 PM in the Canterbury Woods, 651 Sinex, PG with a reception following. Arrangements by The Paul Mortuary, (831) 375-4191.
Pacific Grove Hometown Bulletin, CA November 23, 2004, Vol 2(20), page 1, 26 Judge Richard "Dick" Eldred passed away peacefully Oct. 21, 2004 at Canterbury Woods in Pacific Grove. He was born Oct 28, 1918 to Myrtle and Ross "Brick" Eldred of Sacramento. Dick is survived by his beloved wife and loving companion of 62 years, Lilyan, and children, Margaret Graf (Allen Taylor) of Fair oaks, Barbara (Marty Roberts) of Santa Cruz and Rick of Pacific Grove and a grandson John Roberts of Santa Barbara. He attended Sacrameto schools and graduated from UC Berkeley in '40. Lil and Dick were married at Camp Lee, VA on June 23, 1942. He spent five years in the US Army during WWII receiving 12 citations including two Battle Stars and the Army Commendation Medal. Dick served as Dispatch Control Chief for the largest mail shipper in the world at the end of the war. He moved to Pacific Grove in '46 to join Lil and her cousin, Dr. Margaret Swigart, and he worked as a police officer, part-time tax assessor, assistant tot he City Manager of Pacific Grove and Department Director for Civil Defense. In '49, he was appointed Justice of the Peace. The Pacific Grove Judicial District was created in '50 and he was elected as Judge of the District 5 times. In '7, Dick became a Commissioner in the Monterey Municipal Court, retiring in '81. Dick loved his community and worked to better the judicial system and the public school system and to enhance culture in his community. His many accomlishments and affiliations include: Appointed member of the State Judicial Council by the Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court; served as President and Legislative Representative for the State Judges, Marshals and Constables Assoc.; member of the Board of Directors for the National Judges Assoc., Gubernatorial Commendatation for his work helping develop standards for the state judicial system; served 20 years on the Board of Trustees fro the Pacific Grove Unified School Disrict; has been a Director and Past President of the CA Sate School Boards Assoc.; Director for the National School Boards Assoc.; longtime member and Past President of the Pacific Grove Rotary Club; member of the Pacheco Club; SIRS, Sheriff's Advisory Council and Director of the Community Chest and the United Way. He served on the Board of Directors from 't8 thru '03 and is a Past president of the Motnerey Jazz Festival, a pround member of the Pacific Biological Laboratory, Doc Ed Rckett's Lab on Cannery Row; a former Director of Carmel Valley Golf and Country Club for 32 yars and a former board member for the California Episcopal Homes Assoc. Dick cherished his happy times with family and friends on picnics at Big Sur and summers at lake Tahoe, Sundays with funny pancakes, milkshakes and hamburgers, camping in the Sierras, jazz in Monterey, parties at Doc's Lab, weekly Rotary lunches, travels with Lil, 49ers and Giants fames, cooking meatloavesand cakes, eating Red's doughnuts, the latest gadget, a premium cigar, a dry martini, a thick steak and a good joke! He performed well over 1000 weddings as both an active and retired judge. Dick brightened and enriched the lives of all who knew him. He will be sadly missed and fondly recalled. You may make a donation in his name for community projects c/o Pacific Grove Rotary Club Legacy Fund, PO Box 51, Pacific Grove 93950. Memorial services were held Sunday, Oct 31 at 1 PM in the Canterbury Woods, 651 Sinex, Pacific Grove with a reception following. Arrangements were by The Paul Mortuary. Moe Ammar, Pacific Grove Camber of Commerce President recalled that Dick had been a loyal member of the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce for thirty-eight years contributing a great service to Pacific Grove residents and beyond. "I remember one Sunday evening," reported Moe, 'When a young couple that wanted to get married right away came to town. When asked to perform their wedding ceremony, the judge left his home practically in his pajama's to make sure the happy couple tied the knot that same evening. He was unbelievably good," said Moe. "Sometimes when a couple didn't have money the judge would say 'don't worry.' He was very gracious," said Moe. Nadine Annand recalled him as a long time civic servant and well respected person in Pacific Grove and the region. "Every time we contacted him for weddings he would just drop everything and perform the ceremony she confirmed. One time he got a marriage license for a couple in just a half hour. He will be missed," said Nadine. Don Gasperson remembered when Dick was a new Police Officer and when he rode along with Dick on Patrol. Don started with the Pacific Grove Fire Department in 1948 and Dick became a Police Officer in 1949. In those days both the Police and Fire Department employees and officers were housed in City Hall. "One evening when I rode along with Dick on Patrol after my own shift we got into a high speed chase with Dick at the wheel. Luckily the fleeing pursured hit the curb and the chase came to a sudden halt. I was worried that Dick might convince me to shoot out the guys tires with Dick's gun while he drove." When Dick became a Judge he married Jayne and I in 1949. He was a very fine man commented Don and we kept out relationship over all these years." Don recalled that Dick's office was next to Chautauqua Hall and the Elmarie Dyke open space. Dick often performed marriages in the open space he remembered. Former Mayor Robert Quinn rememinsced about Dick being a Justice Court Judge when he moved to Pacific Grove in 1956 recalling that Dick served on the School Board. "He was a really different guy," said Quinn. "He never went to law school, but just brought honor and integrity to the bech as a justice court judge and later as a Court Commissioner. He was a great guy and will surely be missed. He had the bearing and demeanor that people would follow. He was an icon in the local corners. He loved to perform weddings more than anything else I think," said Quinn. Dick Eldred was a good citizen and a good friend declared Jim Calandra. "I met Dick Eldred in Rotary about twenty-one years ago when I was transitioning from Fresno to Pacific Grove. He had a way about him, instantly likable, and he made a new kid on the block feel very welcome. Dick not only spoke the Rotary values, but lived them daily. Speaking them is easy, living the 4-way test is much harder. Dick shared his many associations with fellow Rotarians. One special one was sharing his membership in "The Original Doc Rickets lab" on Cannery Row. Once a year Dick hosted a dinner at the Lab with Rotary Past Presidents and new members. This csual atmosphere allowed new members to meet with former and current leaders of the club on a one one one basis. Pacific Grove Rotarians will miss Dick. It is no surprise that Dick's family has requested that contributions in his memory be sent in his name to the community performing arts project to the herein identified address. The Pacific Grove Hoemtown Bulletin salutes Richard "Dick" Eldred for a lfetime of community service and acknowledges that there is not enough space in the newspaper to include th praise and admiration of all the thousands of people whose lives he touched.
Sacramento Bee, CA Oct 29, 2004 Judge Eldred passed away in Pacific Grove on October 21, 2004, at Canterbury Woods in Pacific Grove. Born in Sacramento on Oct. 28, 1918, to Myrtle and Ross "Brick" Eldred. Attended Sac schools and graduated from UC Berkeley in '40. Survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Lilyan, children Margaret Graf (Allen Taylor) of Fair Oaks, Barbara Roberts (Marty) of Santa Cruz and Rick of PG and grandson John Roberts. After 6 years in the Army they moved to PG in '46, and he served as Judge until '77 when he became Commissioner in the Monterey Muni Court, retiring in '81. He held many state positions including: Pres. and Legislative Rep for the State Judges, Marshals and Constables Assoc.; State Judicial Council; Pres., Calif. State School Bds Assoc; and Dir., National Judges Assoc. Lifetime Rotarian, Board Pres. for the Monterey Peninsula United Way, and past pres. and 46-year board member for the Monterey Jazz Festival. Cherished his family times at Lake Tahoe, camping in the Sierras, 49ers and Giants games, a dry martini, a thick steak and a good joke! Dick brightened and enriched the lives of all who knew him. Donations may be made c/o PG Rotary Club Legacy Fund, PO Box 51, Pacific Grove, 93950. Memorial Service on Oct. 31 at 1:00 PM in PG. Arrangements by The Paul Mortuary (831) 375-4191. |
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