James McDonald, 62, of Lucerne died May 9, 2009, in Lucerne, reportedly from complications of diabetes.

Formerly a cook at Lucerne Alpine Senior Center, and more recently at Yvonne Cox's Dignity Diner soup kitchen held weekly at Kapitan's Café in Lucerne, he was known to his many friends as Max.

Born in Germany in 1947, he served in the United States Navy and for many years worked as a professional chef.

A burial service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 14, at Upper Lake Cemetery.

Ms. Cox said his “family” at the soup kitchen held a memorial service for him Tuesday night.

“Many of his friends gave thanks then for his bringing them into the 12-step program, where they got clean and sober,” she said.

Steven Martin Gerstmann was born Feb. 28, 1960, and passed away in Lake County on Feb. 28, 2009, due to heart failure.

Steve was born in San Francisco and raised in Marin County. He graduated from Sir Francis Drake High School, and served in the Army during the Vietnam era, stationed in Germany.

A fine musician and song writer, Steve spent time in Hawaii working as a jazz and rock musician, and married his wife, Charlotte. They later moved home to the Bay Area and then up to Lake County, scene of many happy childhood summers spent with his brother and sister, many cousins, and aunts and uncles.

Later in life Steve was a big fan of karaoke, and enjoyed watching the abundant wildlife in Lake County.

Steve is survived by a brother, Tom, his wife, Diane, and their son, Jeff, all of Petaluma; his brother, Frank (Lee) of Oakland; and his sister, Ingrid, her husband John and their two daughters, Farallon and Eleanor, of Manhattan, along with many Cassidy and Oberg cousins.

A dedicated criminal defense lawyer, Steve compassionately advocated for his clients, gaining recognition as a fierce defender of personal liberties. He successfully defended Lake County’s first “Three Strikes” case. He was a well-known resource to other attorneys.

Steve was a gentleman, and always had a smile and good word for any friend who came his way, including those he met as strangers put parted from as friends. He loved the law, but he loved much more: he had a passion for Corvettes, guitars, billiards, poker, jokes, photography, language, the blues, laughing, his beloved dogs and cats. He also enjoyed sharing good food and a drink with friends.

Stephen did not play poker to win. He played to have his friends with him. While most would see Steve as a brilliant, intense, sometimes irascible trial lawyer, he was a man with a great sense of humor to his friends and family. He could repeat nearly verbatim any scene from any Three Stooges film, and he concocted many of the world’s worst puns.

Stephen loved his home as his retreat from the world. His home is nestled in the hills south of Lower Lake, which he shared with his partner of many years, Lois Jean, known to all as LJ.

Stephen is survived by his mother, Lucy V. Tulanian of Walnut Creek; sister, Laura Tulanian of Fresno; brother, Michael Tulanian, also of Walnut Creek; and dear friend, Mary Benson of Lower Lake.

There will be visitation at Jones & Lewis Clear Lake Memorial Chapel, Main Street in Lower Lake, Monday, May 11, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with a memorial service at 12:30 p.m. at the Jones & Lewis chapel.

Stephen’s practice and clients will be served by J. David Markham at 707-263-7080.

Stephen’s family prefers that any donations be made to the Family Literacy Program, Lakeport Library 1425 N, High St., Lakeport 95453. Checks may be made to Ginny DeVries, coordinator of the program.

Condolences may be written to the family at www.jonesandlewis.com. For additional information, please contact the funeral home at 707-994-6417.

CLEARLAKE OAKS – Family and friends will gather this Sunday, April 26, to remember James Heeszel.

A memorial service will take place at the Clearlake Oaks Moose Lodge, at the junction of Highways 20 and 53, beginning at 11 a.m.

Heeszel, who died earlier this year, grew up in Clearlake Oaks, and had most recently lived and worked as a plumber in the San Jose area, where a memorial was held for him on April 18.

He is survived by his parents, Bob and Judy, and twin brother, John.

For more information on the April 26 event, contact Sue Burton, 998-3355.

Stephen Joseph Vecellio, aka “The Cookie Man,” died in distress on Feb. 25, 2009.

Born Sept. 18, 1945, he was raised in the Bay Area and attended school in both Oakland and San Leandro, Calif.

He joined the US Marine Corps after graduating in 1963. He served his country for eight years in Vietnam and later San Diego, during which he was a member of the the First and Third Marine Divisions.

He continued serving his American Vietnam brothers as post commander of the Disabled American Vets Chapter 7 and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He established and was commandant of the Marine Corps League “Frank Reasoner” Detachment of Hayward, Calif.

From 1990 to 1993 he served two terms as a member of the California's Veterans Boards, appointed by Gov. George Deukmejian and Gov. Pete Wilson. He established and served as executive director of the Veterans Resource Council, an organization sponsored by the Small Business Administration, assisting veterans who wanted to open small business.

He served on the committee for the Vietnam Memorial in Sacramento, helping to coordinate Mr. Bob Hope's San Francisco Bay Area visits and taking the mock-up of the memorial around to various groups.

During the first Gulf War, he was selected by Sen. Pete Wilson to head up “Operation COHART” (Californians Organized to help Our Reserves and Troops).

He retired from Pacific Gas & Electric after 30 years in the Oakport yard. He joined the community of Hidden Valley Lake where, for the past nine years, he attempted to enjoy Lake County.

Stephen was the son of Alvina (Babe) Vecellio and predeceased by father Joseph Vecellio.

He left behind his loving wife of 25 years, Toni Vecellio. He is survived by his two daughters, Diane Marie Vecellio of San Leandro and Victoria Camacho and her husband Rui of Pleasanton; and stepson, Brian Tuller of Santa Rosa. He also was survived by his nine grandchildren who were the light of his life: Anthony, Samantha, Jared, Roy Josh, Steven, Laura, Daniel, Angelo and Juno, all of the Bay Area; his brother, Gene and wife Jeanette Vecellio of Ripon; sister, Renee Campanella and husband Charles of Pleasanton; three nephews; one niece; two grand-nieces and one grand-nephew.

His favorite saying: “God and the Soldier, All men adore, in times of trouble, but no more. For when the war's over and trouble righted, God is neglected and Soldier slighted.”

A funeral mass will be held for Stephen at noon on Saturday, March 21, at St. Joseph Church, 21396 Highway 175, Middletown.

Family requests any donations be made to our local Catholic churches: Weekend masses at St. Joseph Church in Middletown or Our Lady of the Lake in Loch Lomand (contact at 987-3676), or daily masses at Queen of Peace Church in Clearlake (contact at 994-6618) as his family plans to attend all masses at these churches.

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