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James D. Wilson––
Newsweek Photographer
James D. Wilson, the
long-time San Francisco photographer for Newsweek magazine, passed
away peacefully in his Oakland home on November 30, 2005. He was
70-years-old. A beloved partner, brother, uncle, friend and colleague,
Jim was also a gifted pianist and photographer. His pictures–-hundreds
of them appeared in Newsweek over the last four decades––chronicled
the cultural, social and political life of California (the Bay Area
in particular) from Pat Brown’s governorship through the end
of the dot com era.
He covered pivotal events for Newsweek
like the murders of George Moscone and Harvey Milk, the trial of Dan White,
the tragedy of People’s Temple, the explosion of Mount St. Helens and
the Loma Prieta earthquake. His classic photograph of streakers on the Golden
Gate Bridge at the first Gay Freedom Day Parade is part of the city’s
visual history. And portraits of some of the countless luminaries Jim photographed
through the years––Lena Horne, MFK Fisher, Truman Capote, B.B.
King, Joan Baez, Janis Joplin, Bill Graham and Maya Angelou––decorate
the walls of his bungalow on Howe Street.
Born in Oakland on September 14, 1935
Jim was raised in Ogden, Utah. He was the only son in a family with six children.
After graduating from Ogden High School––and a stint in the Army
where he worked as a piano player traveling from base to base––he
moved back to the Bay Area in 1957 and took a job, first at Western Union in
Palo Alto, and then as the teletype operator at Newsweek Magazine in San Francisco
where his vibrancy, his quick wit, beaming smile and strong work ethic served
him well. Self-taught, with no prior experience, Jim became one of the most
frequently published photographers at Newsweek.
He was a man who mined the depths of what
life has to offer. Jim loved playing Chopin and Debussy on his Steinway and
collecting first edition novels and Meissen figurines. He taught himself to
speak French and traveled to Europe, France especially, at least once a year.
An early pioneer of the vanity license plate, he tooled around San Francisco
for 30 years with one that read “Oui, Oui.”
After his retirement from Newsweek in 1995,
he enjoyed spending time at home with his partner of 29 years, Sal Archini,
and their cherished Boston terrier, Flo. He enjoyed working in the backyard
he transformed into a mini-Monet’s garden and starting each morning with
donuts and coffee at the Piedmont Grill.
He was as kind as he was colorful. “He
helped all of his sisters, and it came from the heart,” said Ann Hotchkiss,
who lives in Lincoln, California. “He liked to take me to nurseries
and tell me to buy whatever I wanted without looking at the price. Being with
Jim was like being in a dream. He made you feel like you were so important.”
Jim, who asked to be cremated
in his tuxedo, is survived by his life partner, Sal Archini, and Chris, Steve
and Maria Archini; his sisters, Fern DeLoach of St.Peters, Missouri, Ann Hotchkiss
of Lincoln, California, Carole Wilson of Hayward, California, Pat Irwin of
Warren, Ohio and Donna Wanstreet of Aurora, Illinois; his stepsister Joanne
Griffin of Ogden, Utah, 16 nieces and nephews and Flo, his dog. Contributions
in Jim’s honor can be made to PAWS (Pets Are Wonderful Support) at 645
Harrison St. Suite 100, San Francisco, CA 94107. 415-979-9550.
San
Francisco Chronicle Obituary
Wayne Robertson
A long time Mill Valley resident, and a beloved husband, father, son,
brother, uncle and friend, passed away on April 12, 2006, in a drowning
accident in Sayulita, Mexico while vacationing with his family. He was 60 years
old.
Wayne was a man of multiple talents. An expert in technology, he spent
much of his adult life as a software developer, consultant and business speaker.
He also had a law degree, and was an adept writer and seasoned guitarist who,
as one friend put it, had “the best male tenor voice I ever heard. Like
an angel.”
Wayne was a tall man with a huge heart and a quiet, gentle presence.
Full of energy and enthusiasm, “he was a real participator,” said
Beverly, his wife of 24 years, “always looking at what he could do or
how he could help.” A dedicated dad, he was a familiar face at soccer,
baseball and basketball games his son Matthew, now 15, played. At Marin Country
Day School, where Matt graduated, Wayne became a leader early on. He was a
docent for many years as well as a member of the Parent Board––and
he often played a part in the parent-produced play at the annual
school auction.
Always calm and composed, Wayne had an active spiritual
life as well. For the last 30 years he had been an explorer of consciousness
through the Arica School of knowledge and contemporary enlightenment.
Born in Windsor, Canada on October 6, 1945, Wayne
was raised in Rock Island, Illinois. He graduated from the University of Illinois
in Champaign-Urban and set out for New York where he worked as a performing
artist––and met Beverly. The couple moved to the Bay
Area in 1987 when Wayne took a job at Apple Computer.
Wayne is survived by his wife Beverly and son Matthew
of Mill Valley; his mother Ronnie Robertson, of San Diego and sisters
Carol Lynn Foreman and Leigh Ann Martin of San Diego.
Please make donations to the Wayne Robertson
Memorial Fund c/o Mercy Corps, 3015 Southwest First Avenue, Portland,
Oregon, 97201. 1800-292-3355.
Mercycorps |
