NorthBay Healthcare Foundation's
501(c)3 Non-Profit ID Number:
94-2995085

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Foundation Staff

Brett Johnson
President, NorthBay Healthcare Foundation bjohnson@northbay.org (707) 646-3130

Colleen Knight
Executive Assistant cknight@northbay.org (707) 646-3131

Tim Johnson
Financial Analyst txjohnson@northbay.org (707) 646-3132

Jane Schilling
Director of Volunteer Services jschilling@northbay.org (707) 646-4211

Dream of a Lifetime links

Jerry's Joy

Widow Remembers Husband's Life and Final Dream

When Jerry Larson realized he wouldn't still be alive by Thanksgiving, he had an idea. There would be one more special party with his family to celebrate the holiday-it would just be a little early. "He decided that we would have a special, early celebration," his widow, Joy said. "He told us what he wanted and he made a detailed menu. Even the day before our feast, he was still working on making notes of all the things that we had to have. We went so far as to create a chart, checking off all the elements to remember. Finally as we sat at the table, he looked up and down and said, "Something's missing." "What's missing?" we asked him. "We have the wine, the turkey and the homemade cranberry sauce and the Jell-O." He paused for a moment or two and finally said "My teeth!" "We all burst into laughter, and of course he did too."

Sharing the Caring

A Latina Daughter Receives Help From NorthBay Hospice

In a modest, cozy Vacaville ranch house that smells of fresh herbs, powders and aromatic lotions, Juana Martinez sleeps. The 98-year old native of El Salvador has been bedridden for a number of years, and in her final chapter of life, has come to the home of her daughter Cecilia Vega.

Vega's dedication to her mother has been her main focus almost without respite, for the past decade. Cecilia, 57, is the youngest daughter in her traditional Salvadorian family. As expected in her culture, she is the one who is designated to wash, feed, tend wounds and give constant care and comfort to her mother for as long as it takes. But now, breaking with tradition, she is receiving help. That help comes from NorthBay Hospice & Bereavment's team of doctors, nurses and volunteers.

A Dream with Wings: NorthBay's Special Program Arranges Multi-Family Flights

Ida Pennington could no longer speak, but the walls of her tidy Vacaville home did the talking for her. They told stories about a life well-lived and a family well-loved.

A handmade family tree in the living room depicted the fruit on the branches - children and spouses, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A portion of her dining room held dozens of framed photographs. Many featured Ida's youngest grandchildren: Rebecca, Jessica and Angela.

Toni Maria: From a Nightmare to a Dream

One of the first childhood memories Toni Maria can recall is watching German soldiers ordering her father to dig his own grave. They shot him, quickly buried his body, and moved her family from their Abruzzi farm to a prison camp. Today, she still leaves a little bread on a plate at the end of her meal, to remind herself of the scarcity of the food provided at the camp during WW II.

Blessed with beauty, vitality, strength and a strong character, Toni made it though. After leaving the camp, she became a nightclub singer, a chef, a restaurateur in San Francisco and a loving wife. Although she had no children of her own, her husband, Ben (her former meat delivery man who she met at her restaurant) more than made up for that by blessing her with six stepchildren. She loved them and they loved her, the beautiful meals she cooked for them and her understanding heart. That love for their special stepmother continues to this day.

Alzira Silveira, 82

Alzira Silveira, 82, of Fairfield was suffering from Alzheimer's disease, and longed to return to a place she could remember.

She lived a long and busy life, but in her final years was often confused and her many memories of busy times were largely forgotten by her.

So her wish was to enjoy a family gathering at the Cliff House Restaurant in San Francisco, a place she would often visit in her younger years.

A Dream Shifting Shape

Just two days before his death, Dennis Newstead was planning a grand adventure

Newstead, 93, was scheduled to be a recipient of NorthBay Hospice & Bereavement's Dream of a Lifetime program. He was about to go to one of his favorite cities in the world: San Francisco. The former musician and printer wanted to feel the excitement and stimulation of the art and restaurant scene in North Beach.

"San Francisco is a wonderful, 'come-and-look at-me' city," he said, his eyes sparkling with excitement during a conversation at the care home in Vacaville where he was staying. "It has everything one would desire: wonderful restaurants, theaters and interesting people. It's a city that invites you to enjoy it and I enjoy it."

A Day by the Ocean

Carmen Toledano knew a lot about dreams- especially one in particular. The 88-year-old widow followed her husband's dream and traveled with him to the United States from Spain in the 1960s. Leaving friends and family behind, she uneasily settled in Vacaville where her husband had been born (his family had returned to Spain in the 1920s).

Through the years, Mrs. Toledano tried to get used to her new life, a new language and different customs. While she loved her husband and wanted to support his dream, she never adjusted to her new country. Instead, she longed to be back by the ocean in her beloved Southern Spain, watching the waterfront activity and seeing the boats come in.

Bill Mize

Throughout his life, Vacaville resident Bill Mize felt the need for speed. He appreciated the lines of a finely-made car, and the happiness and exhilaration of a roaring ride.

"Oh, Dad just loved to talk about cars, and he loved good stories and hanging out with his buddies," laughs his daughter, Tracy Brooks. "He's always been a man's man-- larger than life. He loved sports and particularly racing and he shared that joy with all of us. After my mom died, he took good care of us, and he was a very active man until he got sick."