Obituary of Franklin Gould

Franklin Mann Gould passed away as the sun set on Monday, August 20, 2012. He was born on October 9, 1927 in Omaha, Nebraska. He started high school at Central High in Omaha. Following his family's move to San Diego for his father's service in the Marines, he attended San Diego High School and San Diego State College where he was a center on the football team. He served his country from 1946-47 as an Army Corporal at Letterman Hospital in San Francisco. Following his honorable discharge and another year at San Diego State, he transferred to the University of California, Berkeley where in 1952 he graduated with a B.S. in Chemistry. Frank was an Industrial Chemical Salesman for Braun, Knecht & Heimann, Van Waters and Rogers, Univar and Pacific Pac, as well as being a driver for Marty Franich Ford in Watsonville until this May. He developed an incredible ability to find parking, drive the backroads of California and the western states and faithfully drove his children (and their friends) to innumerable water polo games, swim meets, soccer games, track meets, speech and debate tournaments, on berry picking adventures and to the beach. He coached soccer for the Santa Cruz Youth Soccer League from 1978 through 1981. Frank and & Pegge attended four Olympic games: Los Angeles, 84; Calgary, 88; Atlanta, 96; and Salt Lake City, 2002 as well as the 2000 US Track and Field Trials, Sacramento. Frank was a long-time and knowledgeable track and field fan for more than 62 years. Along with Pegge, Frank was an avid San Francisco Giants fan and held 49er and Cal football season tickets and they attended many rugby games and tournaments. Neighbors enjoyed Frank's participation in their "Committee Meetings" and his extensive understanding of wine and the wine industry. He loved American holidays such as the Fourth of July and roasted huge turkeys for the family's forty-four-year tradition of Thanksgiving at the Beach. Numerous years of Saturday mornings found Frank heading out for coffee with the neighborhood gentlemen as well as going to garage sales to purchase Tonka trucks to sandblast, repaint and refurbish. Since 1997, Frank has organized an annual Carmel reunion of his a Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) fraternity brothers and is a Hall of Fame member of the Delta Xi Chapter. Frank taught 4-H classes, served on the Good Shepherd School Board and the Alzheimer's Association Board. He was an election poll worker and loved greeting voters. Many were stunned that he remembered their names year after year. Recently Frank was a beloved member of the Strength & Exercise Class for Seniors at the Dominican PEP Program. During the class, he could always be counted on to "make someone happy" as he did on his daily walks through the neighborhood. Frank was the devoted caregiver to his wife of 55 years, "Pegge," Margaret Malsor Gould until her passing in 2011. Frank is survived by his children Richard and wife Margaret, Anne and husband Peter, and Michael and wife Audrey, and his brothers Tom and Bob. Five grandchildren were special to him: Julia, Emily, and Eric Damron, Conor Gould, and Christopher Montero. Numerous favorite nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family survive Frank. Donations in Frank's name may be sent to Alzheimer's Association of Santa Cruz County; University Of California, Berkeley Athletic Dept.; the Dominican PEP Program or the charity of your choice. Private services were held at Frank's request.