Gary Kurutz, a Renowned California Librarian, Historian and Writer

I am deeply saddened at the passing of Gary Francis Kurutz (1948-2025), after learning it first on Facebook and confirmed by BrittneyDawn Cook, Editor of the California State Library Foundation (CSLF) Bulletin. 

My association with Gary 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, and one of the two assistants to the 9th State Librarian James L. Gillis (1857-1917). Guided by 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 Bulletin would likely accept a paper on Eddy, if it had some new material in it. Also it was an open access journal.

At the kind recommendation of Cynthia Mediavilla, emeritus professor at University of California, Los Angeles, I contacted Gary Kurutz, Editor of Bulletin in August 2020. Gary read the manuscript and was interested. He would like to include it in Bulletin #129. Owing to the imminent COVID-19 and overlength of the manuscript, he revised his publishing plan by turning it into a special edition, with his ingenious and tireless efforts in securing the needed fund. 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 published!

During the process of revising, rewriting and proofreading, Gary and I maintained a constant contact mainly by email. In August  22, 2020, he shred with me his lifelong 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 a staunching supporter of creating and preserving early library service in California. Two years later I completed an article on Laura Steffens Suggett (1874-1946) under the close guidance of Dr. Buckland. In January 18, 2023, I emailed both Gary and BrittneyDawn, the new editor of Bulletin about the manuscript. As one of the two assistants to Gillis, Laura was a California library pioneer, and contemporary of Eddy. Gary replied three days later to unequivocally endorse the Laura project as our biblical-heroine, even though he had retired from the position of Editor of Bulletin. Little did I know that Gary and Laura both served as the Head Librarian of Sutro Library, from 1979 to 1980, and 1917 to 1923 respectively.

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 California State Library (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 understandably concerned about their safety. He was happy again that that in July that year, the son's family would join them to spend time 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.

Revisit Magical Capitola

Last Thursday, Paul suggested that we revisit Capitola. Even though the City of Capitola is only two miles away from our home, we did not go there since the devastating storm of 2023 that broke its Wharf midsection, and destroyed the structures of both Capitola Boat and Bait, and the Wharf House Restaurant. The monster storms also damaged many businesses along the Esplanade. 

Being a stranger in our own neighborhood, we found ourselves lost the moment we parked our car at one of the three-hour spots in front of Margaritaville. There were no more parking meters, but a tall sign a short distance away, indicating the area we were in, and ParkMoble app picture. To get a better cell phone signal, Paul went to the sign and entered from scratch his credit card number, and other essential data for parking.

View from Stockton Bridge

Our first destination was, of course, the restored Capitola Wharf. The moment we approached the wharf, a tranquility transcended on us, along with a refreshing modernity. The grimy portable toilets were replaced by three ultra modern bathrooms at the entrance. Going forward, we found the wharf much wider than before with bouncy and strong new boards. 

The End of New Capitola Wharf 

The Bait Shop was open for business in a semi-tent and semi-building, while the end restaurant was gone forever. Everywhere you could feel the pride of locals who had kept their new wharf spanking clean and well-funded. They made substantial contributions by immortalizing their families or loved ones' names in bronze plates drilled in the lookouts, benches, railings and front metal banners. The pristine telescopes installed on both sides were new, and in perfect working condition. What a magical transformation of the Wharf!

We ventured along the Esplanade. All the businesses seemed to be there, displaying a collective resilience after damages from several storms in recent years. Further down Monterey Avenue, we reacquainted with Britannia Arms, Phonebooth, Geisha Sushi, and Thai Basil.

Britannia Arms, British Phonebooth, and Geisha Sushi in the back

Capitola is the Carmel of Santa Cruz County, known for its neat and quint boutique shops and houses. One could gleam from its one-room historical museum on Capitola Road, or residential homes and rentals along Riverview Drive. A feel of magic and pride was again deeply felt and permeated.

Capitola Historical Museum

 

Old Riverview Court & Historic Capitola Cottage

 

December, a Month of Flexibility

Right after the celebration of Thanksgiving in Pleasanton, Nick told us that he would drive his family to Santa Cruz to have Christmas or New Year's with us. Paul and I could not be happier, shopping and preparing a roomful of presents for them. 

Waves at Rockview Drive 12/25/25

Little did we know that an ongoing atmospheric river was brewing on the horizon. As it happened, the rain poured down around the two major holidays, including their eves. We revised our holiday plan accordingly by visiting each other on in-between dry days, and resorting to FaceTime to watch the kids opening their Christmas presents. We managed to connect ourselves with two sisters, one in New York by crashing Hui's big party on December 28, and one in Texas by a surprise call to Crissie immediately after, both utilizing FaceTime. In the meantime, we celebrated three birthdays remotely the same way, and through online delivery.

Opening Christmas presents

Such flexibility is the order of the day in our life and work. Since this fiscal year, our library has encountered an unexpected challenge. Our reliance on shelf-ready for print materials met a roadblock when the new vendor Ingram failed to deliver the promised result. Overbooking itself at the bidding, it was soon overwhelmed with the demand from a huge number of abandoned customers after the quick demise of veteran vendor Baker & Taylor.

What has it meant for our flexible workflow? At the beginning, our copy catalogers were inundated daily with dozens of carts of new titles. Ever since the cataloging meeting of 7/16/2025, I have re-enlisted myself as part of the cataloging team. After my being decommissioned for nearly two decades, I cataloged 18 carts (more than 600 volumes) from July to December. Our team has now been divided into two sections, cataloging and processing, with additional help from ILL and Outreach. All of a sudden, déjà vu of our former department has appeared now and then. Apparently, we are not alone in such a remake. Many a library is on the same track, according to Post-B&T, Vendor Jostle for the Library Market. 

Holiday lunch 2025 at Abbott Square

Self-reliance is still needed in our endeavor to save in-house basic labor cost. We had a heavy lesson in the supply chain shortage, post Covid-19. But our memory is short, requiring constant reinforcement and reminders. Flexibility has helped us to succeed in the year past and will surely help us in the year ahead.

Early Thanksgiving Dinner from Grey Bears

We received our early Thanksgiving dinner from Grey Bears on November 8, 2025. Last Saturday, Paul and I rushed through our breakfast, and set off to Grey Bears' headquarters to pick our holiday dinner. 

Festive volunteers greeting us

Seeing a long line of cars ahead of us, we knew that we were definitely not the first in line. Guided by sets of volunteers in visible vests, our Tesla crawled forward, turned around the dead end to drive past the Bears Electronic Recycling Center. Such a busy traffic scene was a sharp contrast to the quiet Saturday morning exactly a week before. 

Moving forward to turn at the road end

We finally inched our way into the Bears yard. To make more room in a tight yard space, all vehicles were ordered to make four or five lanes, so as to be called upon to receive our dinners at the kitchen gate. Like many years before, everything was well organized with proper signs and cheerful volunteers tasked with specific duties. 

Lanes were created to make more room in a small yard

Unlike the past tradition, one could order online up to six dinners without having to specify the name for each receiver. One name was ample. The new system seemed to be more streamlined. Once one's name was checked by one volunteer, a colorful shopping bag or more would be waiting at the gate, depending on the quantity of dinners. Colorful bags turned out to be donations from Santa Cruz New Leaf Community Markets. It is another streamlined item for Grey Bears this year. Instead of clumsy handlings when several dinners were involved, roomy New Leaf bags can hold two or three dinners easily.

Grey Bears in full swing for holidays

By the time we left the yard, we saw the line of waiting cars not only not diminishing, but growing to the corner of Chanticleer and Soquel Avenues. Curiously, no one seemed to be in an anxious hurry, but hopeful. Perhaps, they shared the same feeling as we did: we were indeed fortunate to live in such a supportive and generous community. Politics could swing left or right, but our local community was something we could always rely upon. Grey Bear's early Thanksgiving Dinner is one living example. 

Second in line to pick up our holiday dinners

Crossing Whale Bridge on Veterans Day

It has been my wish for some time to cross the Whale Bridge erected in July 2025. It is a bicycle and pedestrian crossing over Highway 1 to connect the Chanticleer Avenue that is cutoff by the highway. Since the day it was conceived, the bridge has been attracting negative speculation and complaints about too few users, due to its long curved span, rather than a conventional straight shot over-crossing. 

Much Ridiculed Cracked Mandilion  

Shortly after 2:00 pm on this Veterans Day, Paul and I decided to embark on our humble adventure, in order to see for ourselves if the controversy was worthwhile. After half a mile from our home, we arrived at the foot of the bridge. Indeed, the much criticized whale medallion at the entrance was cracked in a few places. As the cracks were the same color as the rest of the design, they somehow blended in nicely and even gave some weather-beaten characteristics. 

Highway 1 South Traffic on Veterans Day

Once on the bridge, we noticed a sharp contrast between the serenity around us and tremendous traffic on Highway 1 South. There were about five pedestrians and cyclists on our way over. In about a quarter of a mile, we reached the other end of the bridge, finding ourselves looking at the buildings of Grey Bears and its Electronic Recycling Center on our right, and Santa Cruz SPCA on our left, which solved the mystery of dog walkers on the bridge. Since we were on the campus of Grey Bears, we might as well do some shopping at its Thrift Store, where we spent $2.19 to replace our worn out lemon squeezer and an aqua blue basket. 

SPCA Dog Walker

On our way back, we saw much busier foot traffic. There were about 15 people, walking by themselves or with dogs, and some riding standard or electric bicycles. It is a safe route with high and strong railings sealed on both sides of the crossing. Perhaps to offset their severity, a total of 18 metal whale cutouts were attached, eight on the southbound side, and 10 on the northbound. 

Whale and Paul

The Whale Bridge is quite a feat and improvement to our local area and life, after a construction cost of about $34 million sourced from Measure D sales tax, State Senate Bill 1, and regional funds. Unlike the famed rail-trail debate, the bridge is standing tall and proud! From the bridge we can have a better nearby view, including the water purification facility. 

Water Purification Facility

Happy Birthday, Paul!

The celebration of Paul's birthday this year can be characterized by three words, quiet, but busy and joyous.

Owing to the unusual quietness over the weekend, Paul could not help but feel a little curious. I did a pretty good job by keeping under wraps Nick's coming on Monday, until on the eve of his birthday when Paul asked me if we expected anyone the next day. Once the cat was let out of the bag, I happily took the blame for not keeping my vow. But it was worth it, for Paul was much happier and more expectant since.

Nick did not roll in until after 1:00 pm, due to the unexpected Caltrain's roadwork on Highway 17 South. Before then, Paul attended his noon Midjourney session with Peter and Claire, while I went to the Buttery to pick up the cake. It all worked out nicely.

The rest of the day, we chatted and cooked in the kitchen. In addition, Nick helped Paul to reinstall the Norton Utilities. Before dinner, Paul and Nick went out for a drive, which gave me a little breathing space for completing the cooking and cleaning up. Around 6:00 pm, we started our birthday dinner with our turkey-tofu soup, salad, green beans, baby cucumber, meat spaghetti, and finally pan-fried swordfish. I was pleased that everything turned out just right, although no one actually noticed any difference, except for the cook herself. 

Birthday Card from and by Leni & Paulie

The Buttery's tiramisu cake lived up to its fame. Together with our ice cream, we had a hearty dessert. With phone calls, piles of cards and gifts from friends and families, it was a truly great birthday celebration, which was continued by a FaceTime with Leni and Paulie around 11:00 pm. They were anxious about the feedback of their handmade birthday card. Papou reassured them that it was beautiful and well-loved.

It is a productive and creative year for Paul. In less than one year, he has won three photo contests in Santa Cruz Good Times. Congratulations and Happy Birthday, Paul!

SUNSET DRIVE taken amongst the happy people enjoying the sunset at West Cliff 
Photograph by Paul Titangos
Courtesy of https://www.goodtimes.sc/the-editors-desk-11-6-24/ (29 October 2025)

FLASH OF GREEN captured Jan. 5 on Seacliff Beach
Photograph by Paul Titangos
Courtesy of https://www.goodtimes.sc/the-editors-desk-31/ (5 February 2025) 

EGRET BALLET taken from the cliff that runs along Pleasure Point 
Photograph by Paul Titangos
Courtesy of https://www.goodtimes.sc/the-editors-desk-11-6-24/ (5 November 2024)

Lifelong Commitments in Artists

Last Saturday afternoon, Paul was ready to visit his chosen Open Studio (OS) sites. After a break from the house chores, I decided to tour with him.

Our first artist was Donna Thompson on the other side of Highway 1. When we first arrived at her home studio, it was quiet except for a few elderly ladies sitting in a line acting as both sentinels and greeters. Donna, recovering from her recent health issues, was a bit pale but vocal about the slowness of this year's OS, "There was no activity the first hour today." 

Since our walls and visible hanging space are covered with Paul's framed photos, and paintings and drawings by Leni and Paulie, I skipped Donna's painting section, to go straight to her famed garden chicken table. Very quickly we picked out a pair of chickens, one B&W, and one iridescent blue at a price of $95 per hen. When we turned around, we found endless shoppers waiting for their turns. Before we said our goodbyes, loaded with two chickens and two necklaces, Donna was beaming and busy with more visitors, including a lady honcho from the Cultural Council, the governing body of OS.

Garden Art Chicken 

Courtesy of https://www.donnathompsonartist.com/gardenchickenart

Our next destination was David Fleming's home studio in Aptos. Like Donna's studio, it seemed quiet too. But according to Dave and his wife Jeanne, they had a quite busy and brisk start with two big paintings already spoken for. 

Donna and Dave are both emeritus art professors at San Jose State University. Apparently, the challenges from health and age have not slowed them down a bit. Dave is a prolific artist with his paintings stacked everywhere in the house, front and side yards, and garage/storage. While not firm on foot, he and Jeanne are crystal clear mentally, inventorying every piece of art and recalling every single detail about friends of the long past. 

CHICKEN OR EGG?

Courtesy of https://www.davidflemingartist.com/workszoom/6222845/chicken-or-egg#/

Dave paints and creates nonstop, while Donna diversifies her talents to paintings, pastels, paper mache and crafts. Her garden chickens have been bestsellers several years in a row in Santa Cruz. Such lifelong commitments remind me of Norwegian writer Jon Fosse's Septology series. Asle, the main character, also creates his oil paintings for as long as he lives, even though he feels tired in the end. Such dedication is driven perhaps by an artistic mission, or perhaps by an urge to dislodge an image stuck in his head, the same way as writers do with their writings, or as Paul does with his camera work or post-camera work. 

True artists possess and fulfill their lifelong commitments

Behind Beautiful Scenery

Paul and I cannot resist beautiful scenery when selecting our TV or movies to watch, even though they might involve horrific murders or backwater ignorance. Since April, back from our Shanghai trip, we have completed a number of TV series, such as Death in Paradise (Britain), Doc Martin (Britain), My Life Is Murder (New Zealand), Thursday Murder Club (Britain), and Untamed (US).

Courtesy of https://www.netflix.com/tudum/videos/the-thursday-murder-club-deleted-scene

There is a commonality threading all those shows, stunning natural beauty in direct contrast with human crimes and foibles. Abundant are juxtapositions, e.g., Caribbean aqua blue water, golden beaches and lush forests vs. various killings and thinly-disguised bureaucratic power struggles; a physician's tireless efforts to cure and save local inhabitants in a sleepy fishing village Portwenn, or rather Port Isaac, on the Atlantic coast of north Cornwall; New Zealand's beautiful beaches and cityscape vs. endless murder cases and victims; killings at a retirement community in an idyllic seaside village of Fairhaven in Kent; and Yosemite National Park's magnificence vs. the patricide in Capitan. 

Needless to say, the use of beautiful scenery is not only an usual method for TV shows to retain and attract their loyal and new audience, but also a subtle device to display the cruelty of violence, or futile human enterprises against the background of blue skies and deep seas. This is especially true of Bert Large's series of failed businesses in Doc Martin, or Kyle Turner's outstayed status as a special agent in Yosemite Investigative Service Branch in Untamed.

Courtesy of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Untamed_%28TV_series%29

There is another underlined reason in adopting beautiful scenery, namely the deep appreciation of nature on the part of main characters. For its natural beauty in Portwenn, Doc Martin would rather give up his prospective deanship at the Imperial College, while PI Lucy Crowe was content to bake bread for Baristas Café, and assist DI Kieran Hussey in solving murder mysteries in Auckland. 

Courtesy of https://parade.com/tv/my-life-is-murder-season-5 

To Paul and me, there is a further reason to love those beautiful scenery that open both our heart and mind. Life in places with picturesque scenery is usually harder and more competitive. It takes a certain personality and resilience to make a living there. In those decades we have been living and working in Santa Cruz, so many people came and went like going through a revolving door. Like any beautiful places, Santa Cruz is not for the faint of heart. 

Our Boys & Girls Clubs Story

We have been with Boys & Girls Club (BGC) of Santa Cruz County four years in a row for Leni and Paulie.

I happened to be aware of its existence through my former colleague Paula C. Years ago, she sent her grandchildren there when they came to stay with her. As far as I remember, she was at once impressed and pleased with its service and potential benefits.

In 2022, Leni came to spend her summer in Santa Cruz. Prior to her arrival, Paul and I inquired about the BGC and started our application process. Little did we know that it was a very competitive one. There are three BGCs in Santa Cruz County, Downtown, Live Oak and Scotts Valley. The most competitive BGC is the Live Oak one, due to its brand-new building and proximity to the Simpkins Family Swim Center.  Its admittance list is always full with a long waiting list to the boot. 

We finally heard from the Downtown and Scotts Valley BGCs. In consideration of my work location, we chose the Downtown one. And it was a wise and happy choice, especially with its nurturing and experienced director Katie Freeman. In the three years there, Leni has transformed from a scarred and quiet girl to a good swimmer, excellent artist and dabbling guitarist. With the frequent visits of Santa Cruz Public Libraries nearby, she has acquired the habit of reading.

Through Leni's attendance, we have also learned our lesson. It seems that spring is the time to register. In as early as March this year, we signed Paulie up, as Leni was planning to stay home with her parents. Just a week before June, we got an unexpected call, saying that a hundred kids from the Downtown BGC would join the Live Oak one for the first two weeks, due to construction on the building. Two weeks later, we fell a victim of convenience, and decided to stay put for Paulie in the location of Live Oak where we reside. 

After a mutual conferring between the Unit Director Silka and Area Director Katie who has deservedly been promoted to the top position, our request was duly approved. It has a bitter-sweet ending. Paulie has grown mentally and physically in this summer, especially his art work and, eloquence of language and reasoning. Owing to his young age and free spirit, he was not used to receiving and obeying explicit instructions. As a result of this compounded by administrative miscommunications, he was prevented from attending several outdoor activities, such as movie-going, local sight-seeing spots, Beach Days and Simpkins Swim Field Trips. Thanks to the sympathetic Papou, Paulie was not wanting from any of those activities. Papou took him to CineLux Capitola for How to Train Your Dragon the same week after the group viewing. He also let Paulie play on beaches and the Simpkins Center. "It is the best days of my life," declared Paulie after the last swim. Hopefully, he will be mature enough next year to avoid those penalties, and truly blossom and succeed in the club.

After our personal experience with Boys and Girls Clubs, Paul and I have been curious about BGCs, its present and part. It seems that it is a nationwide organization founded in 1860 in Hartford, Connecticut, by three women, Elizabeth Hamersley, and Mary and Alice Goodwin. At present, there are around 5864 BGCs in the United States (BGCA), with 800 local chapters/alliance in the state of California. According to BGCA, about 92% club members expect to graduate from high school, 81% plan to go to post-secondary education, 86% are prepared to stand up for what is right and 88% are ready for a leadership role, and treat people around them fairly. It is quite impressive achievement and bright prospect for our future leaders!

Upright Paulie

Grandson Paulie has been staying with us this summer to attend his Boys and Girls Club of Santa Cruz County. Gradually, we have discovered a number of extraordinary qualities in him. 

For instance, he is an upright seven-year-old boy. Young for his age, he adheres fiercely to his principles. He prefers his breakfast a bowl of traditional Cheerios with milk. He was outraged to the point of tears when I sneaked in some smashed quail egg or chicken egg yolk. After several unpleasant episodes, I have finally given up my feeble attempts to boost his protein intake at breakfast. As a traditional Cheerios consumer, Paulie is not tempted to try other cheerio types, even though he is a big fan of the Bluey series, and loved his new Bluey outfit instantly. The aversion might be associated with his throwing up perhaps from eating Bluey cheerios during the 4th of July vacation week.

Paulie receives his punishment stoically. A month ago on June 11, he wandered off during his first Beach Day. His temporary disappearance ruined the day club activity. His teachers combed the whole Twin Lakes State Beach to look for him. It turned out that he was talking to an unknown couple on the beach, which escaped the due notice of searchers, assuming that he was their family member. As a severe repercussion, Paulie was banned from swimming field-trips activities in the month of June, including Simpkins swims and beach days.

During that period, he was unusually quiet, but with no complaints. He was to miss How to Train Your Dragon at Cinelux Theater Capitola the following Tuesday, due to a mix-up in the sign up period. He refused his club lunch or his own that day. On hearing this, Papou Paul could not sit still. The very next day, he met and talked to the Club Director, to reach a mutual understanding and course of action for Paulie. Additionally, Papou purchased tickets to Simpkins that Saturday and swam with Paulie in the Warm Water Pool. On Sunday, three of us all went to the Cinelux to see the Train your Dragon movie with popcorn in hand. After due delays and testing, Paul has now proved himself to be outdoor-worthy. Today, he is at the Buccaneer Bay Mini Golf, Santa Cruz Boardwalk!

Politeness is another quality Paulie has possessed. His "Excuse me" has endeared himself to friends and strangers alike. He never speaks ill of anyone, but always praises people around him. In slightly over one month, he has been promoted to one of the most popular club members, receiving a chorus of greetings and goodbyes upon arrival and departure.

Seriousness about one's responsibility is Paulie's other notable quality. Once designated as a lime picker, he has picked all scattered fruits cheerfully, no matter how low he has to bow to reach them. He is also a dedicated paperboy to get daily Sentinel papers from the driveway to the kitchen table. He does it willingly, regarding the job more as a spirit lifter, than a chore or nuisance. 

Paul and I are in constant amazement living with Paulie, even though he can be quite demanding in getting two necessities on time, i.e., his dinner, and fruit bowl. Like his sister Leni, Paulie is a serious fruit eater, strawberries in particular.