Carole Judith Lucas
Dec. 20, 1934 – March 21, 2026

Carole Judith Lucas, of Moraga, California, passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, March 21, 2026.

    Carole was born on December 20, 1934, to William and Erna Petersen in Barrington, Illinois.  She moved to California in 1945 and graduated from Mt. Diablo High School in Concord in 1952 and attended Cal Berkeley 1952-1953.

    In 1955 she met Ed Lucas.  They were married in 1956.  They went on to have 3 children, Greg, Dina and Steve.  

    She worked for Pacific Telephone Co., 1953, Dow Chemical Co., 1955 and was a homemaker.  She then went back to work for St. Mary’s College as Assistant Director of Development from 1980-1993.

    She was immensely involved in the Moraga community.  She held various volunteer positions in many organizations such as Moraga Service League, Scouts, Moraga Ranch Swim Team, Moraga Library, and Moraga Historical Society.  She and Ed were avid St. Mary’s College Basketball fans, season ticket holders for over 50 years.  She loved to read, family camping, vacations at their cabin in Bear Valley, genealogy, word games, Mah-Jong, and of course hanging out with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

    She was proceeded by her parents, brother Billy and husband Ed.  She is survived by her children Greg Lucas (Cindy), Dina Fiorio (Danny) and Steve Lucas (Darla).  Grandchildren Ashlee Blom (Dane), Chelsea Estrada (Anthony), Hannah Tyler (Ben), Zoe Calara (Gabe), Bailey Fiorio, Daniel Lucas, Lindsey Lucas, and Ben Lucas.  Great Grandchildren Skyler and Harper Blom, Ellie and Hayes Estrada, Griffin and Emmy Tyler and Lucas, Miles and Nori Calara.

    A Celebration of her life will be held at Ristorante Amoroma, 360 Park St., Moraga on Thursday, June 25 from 1 to 4 p.m.

    In lieu of flowers we request donations be made to either St. Jude’s Childrens Hospital or Moraga Historical Society, organizations Carole felt strongly about. 

 

Rev. David James Ricketts
Jan. 2, 1970 - April 12, 2026

On April 12, 2026, at the age of 56, Rev. Dave Ricketts had a heart attack and died while in the Dominican Republic working with Here for Kids and Seed to Sower Ministries.

    Dave was born in Santa Cruz, California, to Terry and Nancy Ricketts. His brother John arrived two years later. The family placed high value on church involvement. Beginning in high school, Dave took part in spring break housebuilding trips to Mexico; he participated in or led 32 Mexico trips, 20 with Amor Ministries.

    In 1991, Dave earned a BA in Religious Studies from Westmont College in Santa Barbara. In 2004, he earned an MDiv from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena. He was ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 2006.

    Dave met his wife Siv on their first night at Westmont. They fell in love at age 20 and married at 23; their 33rd wedding anniversary will be May 22. Their sons, Corban (27) and Quinn (22), are the great joy of their life.

    Dave served five churches during his career: Oxnard First Baptist; Solana Beach Presbyterian; Mt. Soledad Presbyterian; Moraga Valley Presbyterian, as Associate Pastor for 19 years; and San Clemente Presbyterian, as Co-Lead Pastor for only seven months.

    An avid outdoorsman, Dave enjoyed hiking, camping, backpacking, and fly fishing. He took his family camping throughout the U.S. and to explore the jungles of Costa Rica. To celebrate his 50th birthday, Dave climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. In Lamorinda, he had a side gig as “The Snake Guy,” safely relocating rattlesnakes from neighbors’ yards, committed to the people and environments in which he lived. He delighted in sharing his sons’ adventures with Boy Scout Troop 212.

    Dave will be remembered for his larger-than-life personality, booming voice, and infectious laugh. He was the life of the party, went above and beyond in service, and loved deeply.

    Dave is survived by his wife, Siv, and sons Corban (Hallie) and Quinn; his parents, Terry and Nancy, and brother John; three brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; four nephews and a niece.

    A celebration of life service will be held at Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church at 2 p.m. June 21.

 

Norman Kilburn Tuttle II
Oct. 30, 1935 - March 17, 2026

Norm lived a full, successful, and satisfying life but died at age 90 after a few short months of not enjoying life at all. He was born in Watsonville, the same town where his grandfather was born in 1877 to a pioneering family. Norm loved his Tuttle family history, going back to 1636 in New Haven, Conn.

    In 1950, he relocated to Orinda with his family, parents Katie Lou Crawford and Norman Tuttle, along with his younger sister Joey, and made lifelong friends at Acalanes High School. At UC Berkeley he was recruited out of the “Reg Line” for the Cal Crew, earning three varsity letters and being chosen as captain. He liked to joke that rowing was the only sport where you sit down and go backward. He was a member and ultimately President of Sigma Phi Society which he said he joined because they didn’t have locks on the doors.

    Norm married his college sweetheart Barbara Hall in their senior year before graduating in 1957. Norm served as an officer in the Air Force (he bravely flew a desk) and returned to Berkeley to attend Boalt Hall (aka Berkeley Law) where he graduated in 1963. By then they had been joined by son Crawford and daughter Cameron.

    Most of Norm’s legal career was spent as a partner at the highly regarded law firm Crosby Heafey Roach and May in Oakland developing his expertise and reputation as a real estate attorney. His warm, charismatic, curious, and authentic approach led to many of his clients becoming his friends. He never tried to impress anyone as evidenced by his not-so-snazzy Mazda pickup that he drove to work. Norm was also legendary for his mentoring of younger lawyers. He was fondly referred to as “The Professor” by some of his partners and was famous for the annual historical tour of Oakland he led for the firm’s summer interns.

    Barbara and Norm built a house in Lafayette in 1964 where they hosted wonderful gatherings and raised their two children along with many pets. Sadly, Barbara died of cancer in 1976.  

    Norm felt a deep connection to his community, serving on the Lafayette Planning Commission and City Council, including a year as Mayor. He chaired the Lafayette goals and policies committee that was fundamental to the development of the city’s first general plan. He was a longtime fan of the Marquis de Lafayette and threw himself into building a sister-city relationship with Langeac, the birthplace of Lafayette, in south-central France. He led a “State Visit” to Langeac, consisting of about eight teens, including his kids and his nephews and niece, all on bikes. Prior to their riding into town, he carefully prepped them on how to behave amid the throngs of people who would be waiting to greet them.

    Much to the amusement of some, but definitely not all, not a soul was there. Later the visiting contingent was properly feted, but Norm gamely put up with the teasing. For years! It was classic Norm, turning an idea into an adventure and bringing young people along for the ride.

    Norm met the one he had been waiting for and happily fell in love with Mary Lee Ullner Burress and they married in 1992. Wonderful and exotic travel adventures brought out his creativity including skits, plays and costumes. Norm and Mary Lee lived their life together in chapters. They moved from Lafayette to become city dwellers in a San Francisco apartment while Mary Lee did one of her fixer-uppers in St. Helena. Norm’s love of gardening enhanced the outside while ML worked inside. After 18 years in St.

Helena, they bought a new home in Maui, a favorite destination for them both. Norm loved watching the sunsets at Keawakapu Beach with friends and working alongside Mary Lee to create a tropical paradise at their new home. In 2023 they returned to the East Bay where they both had many friends and happy memories and settled in Rossmoor.

    Norm enjoyed celebrating his recent 90th birthday with most of his family who gathered to share many memories and much laughter. His family was happy to be able to tell him personally and before it was too late how much he was loved. 

    Norm is survived by Mary Lee, his son Crawford, wife Molly and their children Olivia and Owen of Camas, Wash., and his daughter Cameron of Sonoma. Mary Lee’s children, son JD Burress, his wife Christina, and their children Nick and Ali as well as her daughter Katy Joyce and her husband Billy with their sons Jacy and Jaxxon who were all very much a part of Norm’s life. Norm is also survived by step-brother Peter Frazier (Robin), his sister Joey Tuttle Judge, brother-in-law Bill, their children, and grandchildren who all dearly loved him. Norm is missed by many.