Charles Stanley Gilliam

A memorial Mass for native Sacramentan and retired Sacramento Bee and Senior Spectrum staff writer, Charles Stanley Gilliam (also known as Sacramento Stan), will be celebrated at 1:30 PM on January 7, 2010 in Sacred Heart Church, 39th and J Streets. A Celebration of Life Reception will follow the memorial Mass at the Newman Center, 5900 Newman Court. Stan died December 18, 2011, at the age of 87, in Carmichael, California. Stan was born in Sacramento to Flora (GG) Rippon Gilliam and Charles Bilby Gilliam on April 29, 1924, and descended from Sacramento/Franklin pioneering families Rippon, Kuechler, Gilliam, Woodard and Bilby. On July 29, 1950, Stan married Joan (pronounced Joanne) Cecilia Jonen. They remained happily married for 57 years. He was preceded in death by his loving wife Joan in January 2008. The couple had three children and six grandchildren. Prior to his retirement from the Bee in 1989, Stan penned the daily column 'Stan's Sacramento' for 11 years. For the preceding 12 years, he entertained and educated Sacramento's restaurant goers with his weekly column 'Eating Out.' In all, Stan was with the Bee for 28 years, starting out as a part-time copy editor. The newspaper business was Stan's second career, the first being teaching. He spent 17 years in education, first at Grant Union High School/Grant Technical College and then at Sacramento High School, where he touched many lives. He also spent 20 years as a seasonal timekeeper and night office manager at Del Monte Corporation in Sacramento. Not wishing to languish in retirement, he continued writing 'Stan's Sacramento' for the weekly Senior Spectrum until his final column in 2007. Stan attended David Lubin Grammar School and Kit Carson Jr. High School. He attended Christian Brothers High school, graduating in 1941. He then matriculated at Saint Mary's College of California where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree. In the mid-1950s he was conferred a Masters Degree in English/Journalism from California State University, Sacramento (then known as Sacramento State College). Stan held distinguished service awards from Saint Mary's College and California State University, Sacramento, and was recognized as Alumni of the Year at both Saint Mary's College and Christian Brothers High School in 2003. Stan was a 66-year member of Elks Lodges No. 6 in Sacramento and No. 2103 in Carmichael. He was also an honorary life member of the Northern California Peace Officers Association and the alumni associations of Christian Brothers High School, Saint Mary's College, CSUS and Grant Union High School. Over the years, Stan was active in numerous clubs and organizations and up until his death still attended gatherings as late as October of 2011. Stan is survived by sons John Anthony (Tony) of Challis, Idaho (spouse, Gynivell) and Stuart Charles of Pleasant Hill, Contra Costa County (spouse Rhonda Hughes), daughter Ann Dolora (Anndee) of Laramie, Wyoming (spouse Nicholas Zakis); and six grandchildren: Patrick Banks, Rose Banks, Jonathan Gilliam, Michael Gilliam, Amanda Gilliam and Timothy Gilliam. The family requests no flowers. Any remembrances may be sent to The Stan Gilliam Journalism Endowment Fund at Saint Mary's College of California, Moraga, CA 94575; Sacramento Food Bank, 3333 3rd Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95817; or the memorial funds of Christian Brothers High School, 4315 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Sacramento 95820. The family wishes to acknowledge Stan's caregiver and good friend, Doreen (Rina) Muzzi, who provided assistance to Stan subsequent to the death of his wife, Joan. Her assistance allowed him to maintain his vibrant involvement in the community he so loved.