SacBee -- Obituaries

Leon Lefson, a longtime political activist who was an influential figure in the progressive community, died in his sleep April 5, his family said. He was 98.

Leon Lefson poses for a portrait that accompanied a 2005 Bee article headlined "At 90, this Marxist still marches on." The lifelong activist died April 5 at 98.

John G. Piches, a prominent Roseville resident who was a longtime civic and business leader, died April 5 after a brief illness, his family said. He was 92.

Jean C. McEvoy, an attorney and leader in the Sacramento legal community who was a champion for women and social justice, died Sunday.

Jean McEvoy

Arthur F. White, a low-key financial planner who celebrated the outdoors as an adventurer and leader in Sacramento conservation groups, died April 12 of heart failure, friends said. He was 86.

Arthur White

Jean Pimentel Quint, a retired teacher whose family kept North Sacramento on the move in its heyday, died April 18 of congestive heart failure, her family said. She was 91.

Jean Quint taught 30 years in North Sacramento schools; her parents ran a bus company.

Evelyn "Evie" Palumbo, who was a leader and enthusiastic volunteer in community groups, died Monday of progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare neurological disorder, her family said. She was 73.

Evelyn Palumbo

Mari L. Cobb, a Sacramento woman who opened her heart in an online diary and a college classroom to share her story of living and dying with an aggressive disease, died April 21 of cancer, her family said. She was 65.

Susan L. Mogull, a teacher and influential advocate for accurate portrayals of Jews and Judaism in education, died April 24 of cancer, her family said. She was 72.

Susan L. Mogull, a teacher and influential advocate for accurate portrayals of Jews and Judaism in education, died April 24, 2013, at 72. Read her story here.

Sharidan Giles, a trailblazing theater technical director who mentored many professional stagehands, died April 26 after a brief illness at age 55.

Sharidan Giles

Florine Washington, an educator who was believed to be the first African American to enroll at what is now California State University, Sacramento, died Saturday, her family said. She was 97.

Florine Washington

Dr. Herbert Bauer, a longtime Davis resident and pioneering public health leader in Yolo County, died Tuesday, his family said. He was 103.

Dr. Herbert Bauer

Norman B. Slater Jr., a longtime Clarksburg farmer and community volunteer, died May 4 at 94, his family said.

Norman B. Slater Jr. was a volunteer firefighter who also served on agency boards.

Harold N. Pauley, a noted Sacramento composer, musician and artist in the gospel music industry, died May 8 of cancer, his family said. He was 47.

Harold Pauley

Elmer R. McBeath, a veteran fire chief in Folsom and Rancho Cordova who began fighting fires before he was old enough to drive, died May 13 at 88. He had congestive heart failure, his family said.

James Richard Rowoldt, a Vietnam War combat soldier who was a longtime California and national leader in the Veterans of Foreign Wars, died Thursday of cancer and diabetes, his family said. He was 68.

James Rowoldt

Jo A. Lonam, a world traveler and scholar who helped establish interior design as a field of study at California State University, Sacramento, died May 12 of cancer, friends said. She was 81.

Jo A. Lonam

William "Bill" Hegland, a leader whose integrity, hard work and organizational skills propelled him to success as a business consultant and major general in the Air Force Reserve, died May 17 of bladder cancer, his family said. He was 82.

William "Bill" Hegland

Ron Broward, a Davis businessman who co-founded the popular Sudwerk microbrewery and devoted himself to finding and identifying remains of missing U.S. service members in the Korean War, died May 8 of liver failure, his family said. He was 80.

Ron Broward, a Davis businessman who co-founded the popular Sudwerk microbrewery and devoted himself to finding and identifying remains of missing U.S. service members in the Korean War, died May 8 of liver failure, his family said. He was 80.

M. Jeanne Bartelt, a physical education teacher who was a leader in developing statewide PE standards for California schoolchildren, died May 22 of cardiac arrest. She was 89.

M. Jeanne Bartelt

Dorothy B. Sorenson, a former Bee food editor who gave readers tips about cooking and recipes over the phone and in columns under the pen name "Katherine Kitchen," died May 8 at 92, her family said.

Dorothy B. Sorenson

Obituary: Leon Lefson helped write Early Childhood Education Act

Obituary: John G. Piches, longtime Roseville civic leader

Obituary: Jean C. McEvoy active in Sacramento legal community

Obituary: Arthur White was outdoors adventurer, conservation leader

Obituary: Jean Quint's family had key North Sacramento role

Obituary: Evelyn Palumbo was active area leader, volunteer

Obituary: Mari Cobb chronicled her cancer odyssey

Obituary: Susan Mogull advocated for accurate portrayal of Jews

Obituary: Sharidan Giles was pioneer in theater technical work

Obituary: Florine Washington was honored as first black student at CSUS

Obituary: Dr. Herbert Bauer, public health pioneer in Davis

Obituary: Norman B. Slater Jr., 94, was Clarksburg farmer and community volunteer

Obituary: Harold Pauley shone in gospel music industry

Obituary: Elmer McBeath was fire chief in Folsom, Rancho Cordova

Obituary: James Richard Rowoldt was Vietnam combat vet, longtime VFW leader

Obituary: Jo Lonam founded Sacramento State's interior design program

Obituary: Maj. Gen. William Hegland was successful in business, military

Obituary: Broward was co-founder of Sudwerk microbrewery

Obituary: M. Jeanne Bartelt helped develop California PE standards

Obituary: Dorothy Sorenson, 92, former Bee food editor