Christian Charnaux, passed away on Father’s Day
The touching tribute below by John Malick was read at his his 80th Birthday celebration.
Like all people worth knowing, Christian is a bindle of contradictions. He told me he always wanted to be a reporter. He consumes voraciously news, politics, and books in English and French. As an intellectual, he’s well read. With regard to his politics, he’s also, well, Red. A natural born Communist, or as we say in America, a Socialist, who would dare ask ridiculous questions, such as what is best for society? This certainly confuses Americans where it’s every man for himself. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Christian spent his early years in a small French village. But he was no choir boy. No, he was an altar boy, where each Sunday, he simultaneously developed a taste for fine wines and a distaste for hypocrisy. The family then moved to Paris, where he learned the Parisian art of delivering groceries. But he was destined for bigger things.
Seeking to avoid serving in the army, he asked his uncle for help. His uncle decided the military is just exactly what Christian needed and he was immediately drafted into the army. There he developed a keen appreciation of the benefits of insubordination. KP was definitely preferable to crawling on your stomach through the mud.
To escape, he decided to travel. First, he traveled to the east to check out Communism, where everyone was a comrade and no one was a friend. Then he went west to try Freedom, where no one was a comrade and everyone was a friend. Ah Capitalism. Freedom won. When he arrived in New York, he was desperate for work, and he took a job in a frame shop where he learned the trade of picture framing. This proved to be a marketable skill in this new country where everyone moved so frequently that all Americans were basically tourists.
He also developed an appreciation of the beauty of women, whose allure ultimately led him to San Francisco during the summer of Love. There, long before the discovery of weapons of mass destruction, he discovered he possessed the lover’s secret “weapon of crass seduction.” It was French, the language of love. I must confess I knew Christian for many years, and I assumed Merd was a compliment, since he used it so frequently. Only later did I discover that even shit sounds better in French.
This was a match made in heaven, because in San Francisco he met the love of his life, Stefani. He went to Cal, when it cost virtually nothing, studied accounting as an antidote to socialism, and landed a job as an auditor in a local bank. They married, his wife studied law, and became an attorney. They bought a home in Piedmont. It was just down the street a stone’s throw away. They arrived with two beautiful young girls that went to the Piedmont schools. Years later I met Christian, and I was surprised to learn his girls were friends of my children, since they all went to the local schools together.
And that was how this French radical leftist ended up my neighbor in the middle of a community with the politics of the “Daughters of the American Revolution.” Ah only in America.
Only a few short years later his beloved Stefani passed away, leaving Christian to raise his two daughters on his own. He started his own firm as a CPA. I’m not sure where we met, but it may have been just walking around the neighborhood. I was looking for a new accountant, and I noticed Christian stopping to pick up a penny. I knew immediately that he was my perfect accountant.
To introduce him to my Architectural firm, I invited him to visit a home we had just completed on Kaanapali beach in Hawaii. The owner had not moved in yet and we were camping in the house and enjoying the pool. It’s then that I realized that Christian was the perfect guest. Opinionated enough to be intriguing, but gracious enough to be invited back. Our friendship was sealed.
I was already bike riding with a group of friends called the Veloraptors and he joined us each morning for a ride to Montclair. That was 20 years ago. Bernard Pech, another Frenchman, and Elwyn Berlekamp, a mathematics professor at Cal, rode with us. And we were later joined by Andreas, a Swiss programmer, and Grant, another serious coder. Bernard and Christian are natural “frenemies” who disagree on just about everything. Like Churchill said of the Brits and the Americans, they were two friends separated by a common language. But arguments make the hills go quickly, so no one objected. I learned that the French talk by gesticulating with their hands. Which is not a good idea on a bike. And one morning after Berrnard stormed away Christian gave a French salute that left him on the ground with a broken shoulder.
It was a complicated fracture that cost him his practice, because, before Obamacare, with a preexisting condition he couldn’t get health insurance without a group policy. He joined a nonprofit, the Eastbay Center for the performing arts in Richmond. For years he thrived in this incubator for young artists until his recent retirement.
It’s a remarkable life that’s just beginning the next phase. He has moved to a spacious apartment on Lake Merritt. Each morning we still Wordle, recruit and ride. And we have traveled to Italy, France and beyond.
Christian makes obstinacy and grumpiness terms of endearment. And so what do you call this complicated bundle of contradictions? I call him a true friend.
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.
Joel Fajans, distinguished plasma physicist, celebrated researcher, devoted mentor at the University of California, Berkeley, and also avid cyclist passed away on November 17 at the age of 66, after a battle with cancer. Joel was internationally renowned for his contributions to plasma physics. Moreover, he was locally known for his expertise in the classical mechanics of bicycles.
His interest in cycling and how bikes work is well documented in many articles and online videos including the article ‘Why Bicyclists Hate Stop Signs‘ co-authored with Melanie Curry. A cursory search of Joel Fajans cycling will yield several articles and videos concerning bikes and cycling that Joel produced .
He will be missed in our club as well as in the technical community. His complete obituary can be found here
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.
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.