In Memory

Virginia McCloskey (Hartzell) - Class Of 1936

Virginia McCloskey (Hartzell)

Mary Virginia McCloskey Hartzell (July 31, 1919 - July 21, 2017) passed away in her home of 24 years at Canterbury Woods in Pacific Grove, ten days short of her 98th birthday. Born in San Mateo, the daughter of Mary Vera McNabb and Paul McCloskey, Sr, she was a lifelong California resident. Growing up in Southern California, she graduated from South Pasadena High School and was a second-generation alumnus of Stanford University (Class of 1940). A member of Pi Beta Phi and Cap and Gown, she maintained close ties with her Stanford connections her entire life. After serving as part of the host committee for visiting Japanese students in California in 1939; she traveled to Japan and Occupied Korea and China in the summer of 1940 as a member of the Japanese American Student Conference. She continued her friendship and support of her Japanese friends for many years after the war.

Ginna met her husband, Walter Hartzell (Bud) of Redlands, California on a blind date for an ice cream cone while they were both students at Stanford. They married in June 1942 and would have celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary this past June. After their marriage, Bud enlisted in the US Army as a physician and they became part of the World War II effort. Ginna worked for Price Waterhouse during the war years while Bud served in the European theater, including the D-Day Campaign.

After the war, Bud and Ginna moved to Northern California and began a family. They established themselves in Alameda County. Their four children; Adrienne, Robert, John, and David were born in short order and became the center of her life. During her children's elementary years she was instrumental in establishing public school libraries in Fremont. She was a tirelesss volunteer in her brother Pete McCloskey's campaigns for Congress in the 1960s.

In the early 1970s, Ginna was able to build her dream home on the cliffs above the beach in Aptos. She settled into the Santa Cruz community, enjoying life on the beach, weaving, and being close to her grandchildren. Ginna began hand weaving while living in Fremont. Over the next 50 years she perfected her craft and became a master weaver, specializing in exquisitely executed traditional fabrics. She was a founding member of the Santa Cruz Handweavers Guild and a mentor and teacher for many years.

Ginna is survived by her children, Adrienne Hartzell Knudsen of Newton, Massachusetts, John (Ellen) of Cannon Beach, Oregon, and David (Katy) of Soquel, California; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild; and her brother, Pete McCloskey (SPHS '45). Her husband, Walter Hartzell (2009) and her son Robert (2012) predecease her.

Santa Cruz Sentinel, July 25, 2017