Richard Warren Latimer

RICHARD WARREN LATIMER died June 20, 2014, with his wife and children at his side. Dick was born in Chicago, on August 13, 1934, to Horace and Nita Latimer. The family moved to California and he was raised in Napa and Vallejo. He earned his BA from the University of San Francisco and his Master's Degree in English from the University of California at Berkeley. He married Maureen Foley on August 20, 1960 and moved to Santa Rosa in 1961. Dick taught English at Santa Rosa High School -1961 to 1965. When Piner High School opened, he joined the faculty and was the first English Department Chairman, a position he held for ten years. He retired from teaching after 30 years. He became a certified paralegal and worked eleven years for the Council on Aging. Dick was active in local Democrat Party organizations including serving on the Sonoma County Democratic Central Committee. He served as President of the Santa Rosa Teachers' Association and helped organize a workers' union at the Council on Aging. He volunteered at Catholic Charities' Homeless Center and was a volunteer teacher's aide at Burbank Elementary School. He enjoyed gardening, travel, books, opera and most of all the time he spent with his children and grandchildren. He is survived by his wife Maureen and their children, Liz Garbocci, Kathleen Ely, Caroline Latimer, John Latimer, Mark Latimer and grandchildren Ryan and Jennifer Carroll, Ethan and Patricia Ely, Julia, Emily, and Claire Latimer, Robert and Ashlin Garbocci, great-grandchildren Madison and Rylee Carroll and brother Bruce Latimer. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday, July 1, 2014, at St. Leo's Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Petaluma Ecumenical Properties, Catholic Charities' Homeless and Immigration Programs, or the American Heart Association. Private Interment. Family assisted by LAFFERTY & SMITH COLONIAL CHAPEL, Santa Rosa.