A final farewell: Notable Bay Area residents who died in 2022

They were our neighbors. We knew their names because they served our communities, were leaders of business and industry, played or coached for the region’s sports teams, or entertained us at area events. And in 2022, we said goodbye.

Here are the stories of several notable residents who died this past year:

January

Jim Corsi, 60: The relief pitcher was a member of the 1989 Oakland A’s team, which won the World Series; Jan. 4

Freddie Hughes, 79: The soul singer from Oakland, who had a hit in 1968 with “Send My Baby Back,” also worked with such artists as Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Etta James, and Ike and Tina Turner; Jan. 18

John Arrillaga Sr., 84: The noted Silicon Valley real estate developer also was a philanthropist who donated millions of dollars to Stanford University; Jan. 24

Mark Levine, 83: The educator and musician was a pillar of the Bay Area jazz music community for decades, and his 2003 release, “Isla,” received a Grammy nomination for Best Latin Jazz Album; Jan. 27

February

Bill Soliday, 78; The longtime sports writer for the Hayward Daily Review, Oakland Tribune and this news organization covered the Oakland Raiders and the NFL; Feb. 1

Jeremy Giambi, 47: The former Major League Baseball player, who was born in San Jose, played for six seasons, including two in Oakland with brother Jason; Feb. 9

Lawrence Fan, 67: He was the sports information director at San Jose State for more than three decades and was an unofficial historian of Spartan athletics; Feb. 21

Johnathan Szeles, 63: The famed comedian and magician, known by the stage name The Amazing Johnathan, got his start in San Francisco in the 1970s; Feb. 22

Richard Blum, 86: The Bay Area businessman and longtime member of the UC Board of Regents was married to U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein; Feb. 27

March

Sally Schmitt, 90: The culinary pioneer was a chef, cookbook author and co-founder of the world-famous Napa Valley restaurant The French Laundry; March 5

John Korty, 85; The filmmaker won an Oscar for the documentary “Who Are the DeBolts? And Where Did They Get Nineteen Kids?” also made several TV movies and animated shorts for “Sesame Street”; March 9

Dolores Knowland, 90; The longtime East Bay entrepreneur was active in Oakland civic life, and she and husband Joe — the last of the Knowland family to serve as publisher of The Oakland Tribune — were instrumental in the restorations of the Paramount and Fox theaters; March 10

DeJon Packer, 24: The rookie San Jose police officer joined the agency after a San Jose State football career that took him from junior-college walk-on to lead running back; March 13

Jerry Thorne, 77: He served more than 15 years on the Pleasanton City Council, including eight years as mayor; March 27

Joel Bartlett, 81: He was a meteorologist at Bay Area TV stations KPIX and KGO-TV for more than three decades; March 31

April

Charnett Moffett, 54: The Bay Area jazz star worked with Art Blakey, Ornette Coleman, Pharoah Sanders, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock and many other artists during his nearly 40-year career; April 11

Phil Trounstine, 72: The longtime journalist and commentator was the former political editor for the Mercury News and a communications director for former Gov. Gray Davis; April 11

Tim Feerick, 34: He was the bassist for the Sacramento-based band Dance Gavin Dance; April 31

Daryle Lamonica, 80: The deep-throwing quarterback led the Oakland Raiders to their first Super Bowl appearance; April 21

May

Robert J.P. Maginnis, 80: The former San Leandro police chief also taught criminal justice at the high school and community college levels; May 3

Norman Mineta, 90: The longtime South Bay politician was first person of color to serve on the San Jose City Council, was elected San Jose’s mayor, spent two decades in Congress and served as U.S. Secretary of Transportation during 9/11; May 3

John A. Dutra, 86: He was a founder of a real estate and development firm, then became a member of the Fremont City Council and the state Assembly; May 29

June

Josh Jensen, 78: The vintner at Calera Wine Company was a legendary producer of pinot noir from Mt. Harlan in San Benito; June 13

Ray “Big Chief Hatchet” Blazio, 82: He was was the grand marshal of the annual Oakland Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras parade, and served as a bridge between Oakland and New Orleans; June 17

Hugh McElhenny, 93: The Pro Football Hall of Famer was a star running back in the 1950s who played with the San Francisco 49ers for nine seasons; June 17

Betty Peck, 100: The former kindergarten teacher was a community advocate in Saratoga and founded the Saratoga Community Garden; June 18

Margaret Keane, 94: The artist, who lived in Napa for years and had an art gallery in San Francisco, was known for her distinctive paintings of wide-eyed figures and sparred with her ex-husband after he tried taking credit for her work; June 26

Cristin Coleman, 38: She was a much-loved principal at principal at Washington Elementary School in Burlingame, and was married to former Giants star Tim Lincecum; June 27

Sonny Barger, 83: The longtime Oakland resident was founding member of the Hells Angels rode the country by motorcycle, wrote bestselling books, and advocated against smoking after his throat cancer diagnosis; June 29

July

Mila Mangold, 114: The longtime Berkeley resident was the oldest person in California at the time of her death; July 2

Bryan Marchment, 53: The ferocious NHL defensemen played for the Sharks for more than five seasons in his 17-year career, then later joined the Sharks’ scouting staff; July 6

Willie Ellis, 69: He spent decades greeting people and selling knickknacks at Lake Merritt in Oakland, and was dubbed “the informal Mayor of Lake Merritt”; July 22

Kitty Monahan, 89: She was a beloved Santa Clara County preservationist, educator and historian who spearheaded efforts to protect the area’s parks for decades; July 25

Jerry Ceppos, 75: The longtime journalist was the top editor at The Mercury News, then later served as dean of two major journalism schools; July 29

Bill Russell, 88: The legendary basketball player and outspoken civil rights activist starred at McClymonds High in Oakland and the University of San Francisco before winning 11 championships with the Boston Celtics; July 31

August