Gary Kurutz, a True California Librarian and Writer

My association with Gary Francis Kurutz (1948-2025) is relatively short, compared with his other longtime associates and colleagues. The catalyst is Harriet G. Eddy (1876-1966), the first organizer of the California County Library System. Under the guidance of Dr. Michael K. Buckland at Berkeley, I was researching and writing about her since 2018. Upon the completion of two years' writing, I was contemplating about its prospective publishers. Dr. Buckland advised me that the California State Library Foundation (CSLF) Bulletin would likely accept a paper on Eddy, if it had some new material in it. Also it was an open access journal.

Through the kind recommendation of Cindy Mediavilla, emeritus professor at University of California, Los Angeles, I contacted the editor of Bulletin Gary Kuruts in August 2020. As predicted by Dr. Buckland, Gary read the manuscript and decided to include it in Bulletin #129. Owing to the imminent COVID-19 and overlength of the manuscript, Gary revised the publishing plan by turning it into a special edition, with his ingenious and tireless efforts in fund seeking. Edited professionally by Pat Morris and Gary himself, the 2021 Special Edition is a beautiful and classic tribute to Eddy, an unsung heroine in the history of California libraries. Looking at the official publication, the quiet Gary could help cheering loud to Dr. Buckland, "We are very pleased for you, Michael! Harriet lives on!" (Re: Beautiful! On Sat, Jul 17, 2021 at 10:51 AM) 

Gary's 2021 Special Edition came true

During the process of revising, rewriting and proofreading, Gary and I maintained a close contact and shared many aspects of our professional and personal experiences. He imparted to me his dream plan, "It has been a goal of mine to create a pictorial history of early library service in California. Those photographs of makeshift library buildings and libraries sharing space in general stores are an amazing story. The dedication of the traveling librarians like Eddy makes me admire their valor. It must have been very frightening on some of those roads long before AAA and service stations every few miles."

Gary was indeed a staunching supporter of creating and preserving early library service in California. Years later in January 18, 2023, I emailed both Gary and BrittneyDawn Cook, Executive Director of CSLF about my new manuscript on Laura Steffens Suggett (1874-1946), a California library pioneer and contemporary of Eddy. Gary replied three days later to endorse the Laura project as our biblical-heroine, even though he had retired from the Bulletin as its editor.

Thanks to two editors of Bulletin, Laura's story is out for the public

As a renowned California librarian, historian and writer, Gary guided me generously to the rich resources CSL housed, such as the California History Section at the CSL, his pictorial article entitled, It's a Long Trip from Headquarters (Bulletin #92), and his exhibits celebrating Early County Library Service in California. 

Gary was a loving husband, caring father and proud grandfather. In March 17, 2021, he was all excited that his son, daughter-in-law, and baby granddaughter would drive from San Diego to Sacramento. Since their arrival time was at 2:00 AM, Gary and his wife were deeply concerned about their safety. In July that year, the son's family came to spend time with his parents in South Lake Tahoe.

Gary was a true admirer of natural beauty in California. He wrote more than once to show his love for Santa Cruz where I live and work, its surfing culture, and tourists from all over the world. "Santa Cruz must be bursting with visitors. Several people in my neighborhood have told me their trips to your beautiful community. How fortunate you are," wrote Gary, in August 20, 2020.

We miss you, Gary. So does California, its mountains, forests and beaches.