Summary: Sheldon Cook was interviewed by Julie Sullivan in July, 2005. Dr. Cook set up his office in Lafayette and began to practice pediatrics in 1953. He practiced for the next 28 years, always making house calls–as many as 52 in one weekend. He says that people would recognize his car and request that he […]
Oral History: Anne Fiorentino Grodin – February, 2005
Summary: Anne Fiorentino Grodin was interviewed by Julie Sullivan in February, 2005. Anne describes how Lafayette grew and changed during the 50 years from 1955 to 2005. Along with other family members she helped operate Valley Disposal from 1979 to 1989, when the company was sold to Waste Management Inc. Soon afterwards she became active […]
Oral History: Jack Marchant – November, 1984
Summary: Jack Marchant was interviewed by Julie Sullivan in November, 1984. He grew up in Berkeley and went to Cal. In 1933 he became active as a homebuilder in Berkeley and Kensington. After service in World War II and being a teacher for a few years Jack resumed his homebuilding career in Lafayette, where he […]
Oral History: Bob Sherman – October, 2005
Summary: Bob Sherman was interviewed by Julie Sullivan in October, 2005. Bob taught and coached divers and swimmers for over 30 years at the Sherman Swim School, which he founded in 1961. He was also a physical education teacher in the Orinda School System. A champion diver himself, Bob trained divers at UC Berkeley as […]
Oral History: Ed Stokes – November, 2004
Summary: Ed Stokes was interviewed by Julie Sullivan in November 2004. He founded Diablo Foods in 1968, and 37 years later he was still working six days a week. In addition to operating the store, he was an active participant in and supporter of many Lafayette civic organizations, and was honored to be selected as […]
Oral History: E. G. Craig – November, 2004
Summary: E.G. Craig was interviewed by Julie Sullivan in November, 2004. He moved to Lafayette and opened an architectural office in 1956. Over the next 4 decades he developed over 30 homes in the city, along with three office complexes. He practiced for 12 years before Lafayette became a city, then for three decades after. […]
Oral History: Miler Magrath – October, 2005
Summary: Miler Magrath was interviewed by Julie Sullivan in October, 2005. In 1990 Miler took over management of Diamond K Supply from his father William, who had operated the business for over 40 years. Miler describes how the customer base shifted over the years from farmers and ranchers to builders and developers, and how Diamond […]
Oral History: Mark Silverman — October, 2022
Summary: Mark Silverman was interviewed by Andree Hurst in October, 2022. Mark’s parents, Herman and Eleanor Silverman, bought the “Lafayette Sun” newspaper in 1947 when they were both in their mid-twenties. From the beginning they were both involved in the editorial and business activity required to put out a weekly paper. They were not afraid […]
Oral History: Mary-Louise Lynch and Timothy Lynch, Jr. — October 25th, 2022
Summary: Mary-Louise and her son Timothy Lynch, Jr. were interviewed by Andree Hurst on October 25, 2022. Mary-Louise and her husband Timothy John Lynch, Sr. built a house in Lafayette in 1953 and raised 7 children, one of whom is Tim. Her husband worked as a liquor wholesaler supplying local restaurants like Petar’s and the […]
Oral History: Hirsh Morton – April, 2006
Summary: Hirsh Morton was interviewed by Julie Sullivan in April, 2006. Hirsh came to Lafayette in 1952 as the designer for well-known builder Jack Marchant. Later he operated an architectural firm in partnership with Frank Essert. Hirsh served on the city planning commission, and he also sought out opportunities to contribute his services to public […]
