Tribute to Steve Goldenberg

Steve Goldenberg passed away on January 7, 2025, at the age of 74, at home in Oakland, California. Born on March 18, 1950, in Washington D.C., he was known as Goldy by some and a loyal friend by all who ever met him. His life was defined by service to others, devotion as a husband to his wife Susan, and intense love for the outdoors whether backpacking, cycling, walking, or participating in sports.

Steve possessed a strong spirit but after a fierce struggle with cancer, his strong body finally gave out and he passed peacefully beside Susan, his wife of 40 years.

Steve graduated from the University of Denver with a bachelor’s degree, then received his MBA from the University of California, Berkeley. While attending Berkeley he fell in love with the Bay Area and the nearby Sierras and decided to make his home and career in Oakland. After a brief stint with Kaiser Industries (where he met Susan) he founded his own financial firm, Ideal Data Management (IDM), which he successfully ran for over 41 years.

Steve will be remembered best for his service to community groups including Boy Scouts of America, Big Brothers of America, and Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program (BORP). 

As an assistant scout master of Oakland’s Troop 206, he participated as a merit badge counselor, Troop Treasurer, Troop Quartermaster, and hike coordinator for over 25 years. On weeklong 50-mile hikes in the Sierras and surrounding states you would always find Steve “sweeping” at the rear of the hike group, helping young boys up the trail with his humor, encouragement, and patience. As a Big Brother to Paul Onisko and John Oakley, he encouraged and mentored them, setting an example of responsibility, tenacity, and integrity. He was passionate about BORP where he was consistently one of the top leaders in fund raising, leaning on friends and acquaintances to sponsor his participation in BORP’s annual fund-raising bike ride.

Later in life he began cycling, often riding 3-4 times a week with his cycling group, the Veloraptors. The Veloraptors became a second family to Steve as they rode locally, statewide, and out of state. Again, you would most often find him bringing up the rear keeping an eye out for the group. During his courageous battle with cancer the Veloraptors were the first to organize meals and visitation schedules for Steve and Susan.

Just as serious as his generosity, Steve was also serious about having fun. He was a rugby player for the Old Blues Rugby Club, and a fun-loving hiking partner with 8-10 dads from Troop 206. Even as the boys from the troop had long moved on, this group kept on backpacking in his beloved Sierras, including the John Muir Trail and the Mt. Whitney summit. On a Montana 50-miler when Steve was thirty-five, he passed an “old man” on the trail and asked his age. The man replied he was 70. Steve turned to a friend and said, “let’s make a pact that we’ll still be backpacking when we turn 70.” That promise was kept. He only stopped hiking when the cancer began to take over.

Steve is survived by his beloved wife Susan, brother Alan (Barbara), sister-in-law Patricia (Jim, deceased), his nephews Adam (Megan) and Zachery (Lorena), niece Michelle (Michael) and a host of grand nieces, nephews, and God daughters.

Steve’s memory will live on through his friends and the many lives he touched. A celebration of life is being planned for Spring. In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates memorials be made in Steve’s honor to BORP at 3075 Adeline St. Ste 200, Berkeley, CA 94703-2930.

Sadly, Ed has passed away from his injuries. 

Many friends have requested that we keep the fundraiser open, in support of the Litton family, who has a long road ahead them.

Initial fundraiser listing

Ed Litton was in a terrible cycling accident on December 2nd in Point Richmond, near his workshop. He suffered a serious spinal cord injury. He was taken to Marin General Hospital, the nearest trauma center, and rushed to surgery. Currently, he doesn't have any feeling from his mid-chest down. He is awake and able to move his arms but only time will tell of any long-term spinal cord damage.

 

Ed is a dear member of the Bay Area, vintage, and classic cycling community. He is an amazing bicycle frame builder. He was part of the Northern California bike racing culture, building his first bikes while working at the original REI Co-op in Berkeley. He shared a frame building shop with Albert Eisentraut. He helped people like Joe Breeze, Gary Fisher and Tom Ritchey build the first mountain bikes that spawned an entire industry. He built some of the best local racers' and enthusiasts' bikes, and helped repair and restore many incredible classic bicycles.

 

Behind the scenes, he repaired and repainted many Bianchis, and finished frames for builders like Ron Cooper and Bruce Gordon. He helped build and paint many Rivendell bikes. Ed was the go-to guy for prototyping of paint schemes for Marin and Public bikes. He restored some of the finest Italian, British, French, Japanese and American bicycles of our time. Only a few others in the world have his understanding of the technical nuances of frame building, repair and restoration.

 

His obsession with perfection and his attention to detail are unmatched in the industry. Ed is notorious for being slow and methodical, but the finished product was spectacular and worth the wait. He didn't do this work for the money, or for the glory, but for the pure love of cycling. Ed's pride in his work, dedication to his craft, and humbleness are rare and treasured by all who know him.

 

His wife, son and daughter are with him at the hospital during this difficult time. The next few weeks are critical and we know how stressful it can be to deal with unknown medical expenses and insurance companies, not to mention the overhead costs of keeping his business alive while Ed is incapacitated.

 

Ed's family needs our help. Ed was always generous with his customers and friends, and now we hope the community can be generous in kind. Please share this widely, with anyone who might be able to contribute.

Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, and treasured friend Dennis W. Cathey passed away peacefully at home on January 18, 2023. He was surrounded by his wife and children. He remained positive and courageous until his very last breath. He was 72 years young.

Dennis was born on February 22, 1950 in Richmond, California to Margaret Jean Cathey and Henry Floyd Cathey. He attended San Jose State University and the University of Phoenix earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Information Systems. He worked as a software and hardware technical writer in the medical and biotechnical industries for more than 30 years.

Dennis is survived and dearly missed by his loving wife of 45 years, Cindy Mellin Cathey; his adoring children Jordan Michael Cathey (Jessica Crispi Cathey) and Jillian Cathey Botkin (Charles Benjamin Botkin); his grandchildren Raya Jordyn Cathey (5), Cruz Michael Cathey (3), Madeleine Gray Botkin (3) and Eliana Catherine Botkin (1); his brother Malley Cathey; his brothers and sisters in-law Randall Mellin, Christina Crede Mellin, Jerry Mellin, Debbie Mellin, Cathy Cathey, Marianne Cathey, and his many, many loving nieces and nephews. He is pre-deceased by his parents and his brother Steve Cathey.

Without question, Dennis was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. His family was the most important part of his life and brought him love, laughter, adventure, and great pride. His family meant everything to him. He was a perfect role model for what a father should be.

Dennis had an incredible zest for life and a great sense of humor and wit. Up until his last moments, he could tell a joke or crazy story that had us all laughing. He was a remarkable, loving man. We often said that he should have been a stand-up comedian.

Dennis devoted his life to exercise and fitness, no matter how hard it was to fit in to his busy schedule. He was a founding member of a small cycling group that started in the Montclair neighborhood in Oakland and evolved into the VeloRaptors Cycling Club of about 100 members. The club of fellow cyclists was his community, through which he formed many long-lasting friendships.

Another passion of Dennis’ was cars – old cars, classic cars– most any car. He used his passion for cars to help many family members and friends buy and sell their cars. He could talk about cars all day, any day. Dennis loved to travel and felt fortunate to travel internationally with dear friends to places like Italy, Croatia, Hungary, Turkey, Austria, Czech Republic, Vietnam, Cambodia, Cuba, and Puerto Vallarta.

He led a very full life; packed with love and adventure. Dennis will be remembered for his kindness, huge heart, funny jokes and stories, resolute attitude about his disease, determination, positivity, passion for cycling, love of life and nature and the birds that came to visit him in his backyard. As one dear friend put it, Dennis made our lives richer and it’s gold that will never be spent. Our memories of Dennis will live on in our hearts forever more.

Donations can be made in Dennis’ name to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation or a charity of your choice

Published by San Francisco Chronicle on Jan. 31, 2023

Tragically, on April 14, 2021, Joe Shami, “The Legend of Mount Diablo”, was struck and killed by a vehicle while riding his bicycle in Lafayette, CA. In honor of Joe’s efforts, spirit, and inspiring demonstration of life fully lived there are now two wonderful remembrances of his life of cycling. The California State Parks Foundation has dedicated the Bike Turnout Project on Mt. Diablo to Joe and a bench has been placed along the Lamorinda trail near his home. In addition, Joe’s passing was also noted in a recent issue of the MIT News which reads as follows:

Although he is not with us today, Joe left a special gift in his will of $123,415.61 to the California State Parks Foundation to fund additional bike turnouts on Mount Diablo. Read more about Joe and the Bike Turnout Project at this link.

Here are pics of Joe at the top of Mt. Diablo and a few VeloRaptors at the bench dedicated to him.

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If you find yourself on the LaMorinda trail you will find Joe’s bench near the birdhouse village as shown below.

Joe Shami was recently remembered by Trek in an on-line magazine focussed on 22 riders changing the world with bikes.

Follow this link to this issue of Trek and find the article starting on page 45.