James “Jim” Charles Smallman, 87, of Alameda, California, passed away on December 31, 2025. Jim served on the boards of the Alameda Architectural Preservation Society and Alameda Museum, volunteered at the Meyers House and Garden, and tutored students at Alternatives in Action High School.
“He gave freely of his counsel, resources, time, and expertise, helping friends, neighbors, organizations, and cities better understand what was worth preserving.” Friends and community members remember Christopher Buckley, longtime Alameda resident, city planner, preservationist, and tree advocate.
“Barbara Jane Kettelhut (Bachtell), aged 80, passed away peacefully on May 15, 2026, in Sacramento, California. Born on March 18, 1946, in Alameda, California, Barbara lived a vibrant and full life marked by her love for family, adventurous spirit, and unique personality.”
“Ellen Katherine Larson Paisal and Andrew Paisal Jr., passed away on February 4 and February 2, 2026. Our parents were deeply loved by our family, including our big brother Andy who has been waiting patiently for them so he can resume watching the Giants games with our dad.”
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“She inherited our mother’s spacious spirituality and accepted all kinds of paths and people. She was artistic and ingenious, and enjoyed making her home, and her place in the world, functional and beautiful.” Laura Louise Rhodes died on May 1, 2026, under a brilliant full moon, in St. Louis, Missouri.
“For Tim, everything mattered. Everything had meaning.” Timothy Patrick Mahony, Jr. passed away unexpectedly in Alameda on April 9, 2026. He was 47.
George Kuria died April 24, 2026, at his home in Alameda, California. “George’s main passions were fishing, gardening, photography, and most of all having extended conversations with friends and family.”
“Lindsay had a way of making people feel comfortable around her and was everyone’s friend. She had a soft heart, a sensitive spirit, and cared deeply about the people in her life.” Born in Alameda on September 29, 1982, Lindsay Eleanor Kendall-Gonzalez passed away peacefully on April 2, 2026.
Irving James (Jim) Blamire, a lifelong resident of Alameda, passed away on February 9, 2020, at the age of 93. Joyce Beverly Johnson Blamire, Jim’s beloved wife, passed away on April 1, 2026, at the age of 96. They were married for 69 years.
Mark Betz, 73, of Alameda, California, passed away peacefully at home on March 27, 2026, surrounded by his family. Born on Valentine’s Day in Alameda, Mark was a lifelong resident of the community he loved.
Ku’uwehilani (Lani) Cid-Iulio, beloved Kumu Hula, Hawaiian culture keeper, and founder of Hālau Makana Polynesian Cultural Center in Alameda, passed away peacefully on March 1, 2026, surrounded by love and the presence of her ‘ohana.
Born in Akron, Ohio on July 3, 1956, Bill Erny passed peacefully on January 27, 2026. Bill attended Encinal High School in Alameda and eventually went to work at the Ballena Bay yacht harbor, where he also loved to fish.
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