Touching a memory at The Cabin (Carl Becker)
I mentioned at the party that I would love to have people stop by The Cabin this summer as they are coming or going to Burning Man. I would love to have people come to The Cabin with us whenever we end up going. It's long past time to establish some adult traditions and stories up there. My memories of The Cabin are almost all positive, and they reach all the way back to the beginning...
Some of you have seen my little walking stick with the leather loop and the "CR" burned into the side. It was given to me on my 6th birthday by a gent who was a grandfather to any of the kids at Haskell who wanted one. His name was Carl Becker, and he owned the cabin diagonally downslope from ours all through my childhood years.
One of my young memories is "learning to drive" the Becker's old white jeep around the tract. I couldn't have been older than 7 or 8 years the summer that Carl Becker let all of the kids have a turn "driving" his jeep with him. I couldn't reach the pedals, but I could generally work the steering wheel. Carl held me in his lap and covered the brake while I weaved the jeep like a drunken sailor all around Haskell loop. Oh, how we laughed and carried on while we puttered around the tract at 5 miles an hour. It was a memorable event from a happy place and time in my life.
I just found out today that Carl died two weeks ago, at the age of 101. He was born on April 1, 1909. I don't remember knowing that he was a Fool baby, but I wonder if that helped contribute to the generous laughter and smiles that he shared with all of us. He lived a rich, long life. Many happy returns.
BECKER, Carl Frederick
Born on April 1, 1909, in Sacramento, Calif., he passed away on December 19, 2009. A long time resident of San Rafael, Calif., Carl lived the last five and a half years of his life in Sacramento with his daughter Patricia. Carl is survived by his daughter Patricia Becker, son Richard Becker, granddaughter Sara Becker Welty, grandson Leif Whitmore, and great-grandson Jack Welty. Carl recently celebrated his 100th birthday at the Casa Garden restaurant, located at the Sacramento Children's Home, where he resided for four years during his childhood. He was a 4th degree Knight of Columbus. Carl is remembered for his kindness and charity toward others, his love of family and his devotion to his Catholic faith. The family requests in lieu of flowers that Catholic masses be offered for the repose of his soul; any Roman Catholic church may be contacted to make these arrangements. Friends are welcome for visitation on Monday, Dec. 28, 2009, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., followed by recitation of the Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 7:00 p.m. at NICOLETTI, CULJIS, AND HERBERGER FUNERAL HOME, 54th and Folsom Blvd. All are invited to attend a Requiem High Mass for the repose of Carl's soul on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Stephen the First Martyr Catholic Church, 44th and Fruitridge, Sacramento, Calif. Entombment at St. Mary's Cemetery, Sacramento, Calif. Reception following burial at St. Stephen the First Martyr Catholic Church. All are welcome.
Some of you have seen my little walking stick with the leather loop and the "CR" burned into the side. It was given to me on my 6th birthday by a gent who was a grandfather to any of the kids at Haskell who wanted one. His name was Carl Becker, and he owned the cabin diagonally downslope from ours all through my childhood years.
One of my young memories is "learning to drive" the Becker's old white jeep around the tract. I couldn't have been older than 7 or 8 years the summer that Carl Becker let all of the kids have a turn "driving" his jeep with him. I couldn't reach the pedals, but I could generally work the steering wheel. Carl held me in his lap and covered the brake while I weaved the jeep like a drunken sailor all around Haskell loop. Oh, how we laughed and carried on while we puttered around the tract at 5 miles an hour. It was a memorable event from a happy place and time in my life.
I just found out today that Carl died two weeks ago, at the age of 101. He was born on April 1, 1909. I don't remember knowing that he was a Fool baby, but I wonder if that helped contribute to the generous laughter and smiles that he shared with all of us. He lived a rich, long life. Many happy returns.
BECKER, Carl Frederick
Born on April 1, 1909, in Sacramento, Calif., he passed away on December 19, 2009. A long time resident of San Rafael, Calif., Carl lived the last five and a half years of his life in Sacramento with his daughter Patricia. Carl is survived by his daughter Patricia Becker, son Richard Becker, granddaughter Sara Becker Welty, grandson Leif Whitmore, and great-grandson Jack Welty. Carl recently celebrated his 100th birthday at the Casa Garden restaurant, located at the Sacramento Children's Home, where he resided for four years during his childhood. He was a 4th degree Knight of Columbus. Carl is remembered for his kindness and charity toward others, his love of family and his devotion to his Catholic faith. The family requests in lieu of flowers that Catholic masses be offered for the repose of his soul; any Roman Catholic church may be contacted to make these arrangements. Friends are welcome for visitation on Monday, Dec. 28, 2009, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., followed by recitation of the Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 7:00 p.m. at NICOLETTI, CULJIS, AND HERBERGER FUNERAL HOME, 54th and Folsom Blvd. All are invited to attend a Requiem High Mass for the repose of Carl's soul on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Stephen the First Martyr Catholic Church, 44th and Fruitridge, Sacramento, Calif. Entombment at St. Mary's Cemetery, Sacramento, Calif. Reception following burial at St. Stephen the First Martyr Catholic Church. All are welcome.