Obituary of Vivian M. Berlin

Just two months shy of her 94th birthday, Vivian's long struggle with Alzheimer's disease ended at her home in Santa Cruz where she passed away peacefully on May 22, 2013. Vivian was born July 12, 1919 to Ray Pinkston and Emma Holloway Pinkston in San Jose, CA. Her early years were spent in San Jose. At about age 8, her family moved to Merced, CA where her father was a tenant farmer. After graduating from Merced High School in 1938, the family moved to the westside of Santa Cruz to what had been her grandparents' summer cottage on Wilkes Circle. She graduated from Smith's Business School in Santa Cruz and her first job was working for attorney Willard Payne. She eventually went to work for the Santa Cruz Sentinel in the Circulation Dept. This is where she met her future husband, Lloyd Berlin, who was the Circulation Mgr. They married on April 12, 1947 at the Calvary Episcopal Church in downtown Santa Cruz. Two daughters, Shirley and Barbara, followed. Vivian was a stay-at-home mom when it was much more affordable to do so. She loved her flowers in the yard, especially her roses. There was a vegetable garden planted each spring, which yielded lots of yummy things for her to put on the dinner table each night. From her lemon tree she baked countless lemon meringue pies and from her apple tree, the best apple pies and applesauce her family had ever tasted! She loved to read mystery novels. She also loved cats. Over the years, her home never had less than two cats in residence at any given time, and sometimes three and even four. Vivian was a member of The First United Methodist Church and taught Sunday school there for many years She enjoyed being a Brownie and Girl Scout leader, and was a longtime member of Eastern Star. When her daughters were in high school, she went back to work part time at the Sentinel doing vacation relief for the Circulation and Classified Ad Depts. And, yes, Lloyd was still there as the Circulation Mgr. Vivian is survived by her two daughters, Shirley Hasty of Santa Cruz and Barbara Berlin (Darrell Burns) of Los Gatos. Grandchildren, Miranda Stark (Bill) of Santa Cruz and Evan Hoppin of San Francisco. Two great grandchildren Molly Stark and Kirby Stark, also of Santa Cruz. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Edith; her husband Lloyd in 2003; her son-in-law Jim Hasty in 2006. We would like to send our appreciation and thanks to Vivian's caregiving team, who over the years and recent months took such great care of her; allowing her to stay at her home until the end. To Dixie Bozeman, who was with us for these past 10 years and became a trusted friend and family member to all of us. To our recent additions to the crew, Ida and Diana; Hospice nurse Pat Corcoran; Hospice aides Yessica, Gail and Sondra; and, last but not least, to first Trish, and then Jill, whose weekly visits from Hospice helped keep us all sane as Vivian went through the final stages of her life. We will be forever grateful for your kindness, understanding and help. At Vivian's request, there will be no services. She will be laid to rest in a private graveside ceremony beside her late husband Lloyd. In lieu of flowers, any kind acts of charity may be donated in her memory to: Hospice of Santa Cruz County, 940 Disc Drive, Scotts Valley, CA 95066. ". . . And just at the moment when someone at my side says: 'There, she is gone!' there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout: 'Here she comes!' And that is dying." Henry Van Dyke