Donnell Rubay, a Benicia author, historian, educator and one-time mayoral candidate, died Thursday night. “Benicia has lost a fabulous historian,” fellow Benicia writer Kathryn Reiss said. “Her meticulously researched biographies and historical fiction for children and young adults entertained and educated a generation of readers. A light has gone out in Benicia.” A resident […]
Bob Hitchcock, Benicia World War II veteran, dies at 94
(This article has been updated from the print edition.) Robert Hitchcock, a Benicia resident who served on 32 missions over Europe during World War II, died in his sleep Jan. 30. He was 94. Hitchcock was born in Concord in 1923. His cousin was Jimmy Doolittle, the Alameda-born aviator and Reserve officer known for leading […]
Former long-time Benicia resident, Benicia Unified secretary dies
Ruth Dana Rasmussen, a long-time resident and secretary for Benicia Unified School District’s business manager for more than 20 years, died Oct. 3 in Sacramento with her family by her side. She was 77. Rasmussen was born in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1939 but moved to Benicia with her family in 1960. Her husband […]
Joel Fallon, Benicia’s first poet laureate, dies
Joel Fallon, who had the distinction of being Benicia’s first poet laureate, died Thursday morning, according to an email sent out by current Poet Laureate Johanna Ely. He was 85. “Joel was a wonderful poet and mentor to many, who gave so much of his wisdom and energy to our community,” Ely wrote. “He […]