Remembering The Notable Bay Area Figures Who Died In 2022
From sports legends to world-famous musicians, street performers and artists, those who died in 2022 represented the vast diversity of the San Francisco Bay Area. Among the people we have lost is a healthy "second father", the founder of one of the best restaurants in the world and a manufacturer of cheap wines. Superstars whose fame has spread all over the world and local celebrities whose fame has reached several square kilometers will be missed. To wrap up the year, let's take a look at the Bay Area's top numbers we're saying goodbye to in 2022.
Bob Saget, 1956-2022
Bob Saget, who was never a real Bay Area resident, was best known as the father of San Francisco, starring on the hit sitcom Housefull for eight years. In the series, Saget played the father of Danny Tanner, a father raising three daughters with the help of his son-in-law Jesse (John Stamos) and best friend Joey (Dave Coulier). Saget was so synonymous with San Francisco, and especially with the city's "Painted Ladies" at Alamo Square, that after Saget's death in January, fans flocked to pay their respects to him at 1709 Broderick Street, the series' fictional family home nearby.
Bill Russell, 1934–2022
Bill Russell was born in Louisiana but moved to Oakland at a young age and attended McClymonds High School. Bill Russell is considered the greatest athlete of all time. During his 13-year career with the Boston Celtics, Bill Russell won an astounding 11 NBA championships. But before he was a member of the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame, Russell wowed the crowd at the University of San Francisco, where he led them to the NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956. He also competed in track and field for the Dons and still holds the USF high jump record.
Leslie Griffith, 1956-2022
Emmy Award-winning television journalist Leslie Griffith is best known for hosting KTVU 2's Ten O'Clock News. According to his family, Griffith died from complications of Lyme disease contracted from a tick bite in 2015.
After his death, Griffith's KTVU colleague Greg Liggins wrote: "He was professional, personable and loved by his audience. Leslie excelled in journalism with an emphasis on history. He will forever be part of the long list of talents that have made KTVU news. channel is."
Wayne-Scully, 1927–2022
Having risen to prominence with one of San Francisco's most hated teams, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Vin Scully's extraordinary career has made him a valuable figure on the field. Often referred to as the greatest sports producer of all time, Scully was involved in two major moments in the history of Bay Area sports. He orchestrated "The Trick" when Joe Montana found Dwight Clark in the end zone to give the San Francisco 49ers a victory over Dallas in the 1981 NFC Championship game. And he was on the microphone at the 1988 Kirk Gibson World Series between the Oakland A's and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Scully died in August in Southern California at the age of 94.
Cathy Boudin, 1943–2022
Kathy Boudin, mother of former San Francisco Attorney General Chez Boudin, was a radical activist convicted of the armed robbery of Brink's truck in 1981 that killed three people. During the counterculture movement of the 1960s, Kathy Budin was an activist in the radical left Weather Underground and married David Gilbert, Chesa's father. Boudin pleaded guilty to killing Brink's truck in 1984 and served nearly 20 years in prison before being released in 2003.
“He always ended his phone calls with laughter, a habit he developed during his 22 years in prison, wanting to leave everyone he talked to, especially me, with joy and hope. She lived in salvation and constantly found ways to give thanks to those around her,” Cheza Budin said in a statement her office provided to SFGATE following her mother’s death.
Margaret Keane, 1927–2022
Margaret Keane became a well-known artist and her wide-ranging style was widely recognized. But if her ex-husband had gotten his way, the world might never have known her name. Walter Keane, Margaret's ex-husband, acquired Margaret's art while they lived together in San Francisco in the 1950s and 1960s. After her divorce from Walter, Margaret began to claim recognition for her work, but she had to convince the color panel that her talent was real. At court, Margaret created a classic work in her own style in less than an hour, and Walter refused to attempt to paint her.
Margaret paid $4 million and went on to have an illustrious career, as detailed in Tim Burton's 2014 biopic Big Eyes. He died in Napa at the age of 94.
Christine Coleman 1984-2022
Christine Coleman was the wife of former San Francisco Giants player Tim Lincecum. Coleman was the principal of an elementary school in Burlingame, California. He died after a battle with cancer. In a statement following his death, the Giants wrote: "The Gant family loved him and his caring and kind spirit touched all of us who were fortunate enough to know him during the years he and Timmy were with us."
Lincecum is one of the most popular figures in San Francisco Giants history, having won two Cy Youngs and helped the team win three World Series championships.
Gaylord Perry, 1938–2022
Hall of Famer and two-time Cy Young champion Gaylord Perry was one of the greatest pitchers in the history of the San Francisco Giants. Perry used his fastball to mix outs and has over 300 wins and 3,000 strikeouts in his 21-year career. The right-hander began his career with the Giants and played for the Giants from 1962 to 1971. The number 36 jersey was retired by the Giants in 2005.
Giants and Baseball Hall of Famer Juan Marichal said of his former teammate, "I will always remember Gaylord for his love and dedication to the game of baseball, his family and his farm."
Don Christopher, 1934-2022
Don Christopher, owner of Christopher Ranch, California's largest garlic grower, helped establish Gilroy as the garlic capital of the world. Christopher also co-founded the world-famous Gilroy Garlic Festival, which has delighted many visitors since 1979 and is dedicated to the "stinky rose" with garlic dishes like French fries and ice cream.
Joe Hehner 1981-2022
Joe Haner was part of the San Francisco Bay Area music scene and was the fiancé of garage rock icon Shannon Shaw. He was hit by a truck.
Bill Hickey, 1936–2022
An early legend of Northern California surf culture, Bill Hickey helped establish Kelly's Cove in Ocean Beach as San Francisco's premier surf destination.
Carol Lee, 1951-2022
Carol Lee was a San Francisco-based artist and sex worker's rights activist known for coining the term "sex work".
D. H. Peligro, 1959-2022
DH Peligro was the drummer for the legendary San Francisco punk band The Dead Kennedys.
Ralph Eggleston, 1965–2022
Ralph Eggleston was an Academy Award-winning director and production designer for Pixar films, Toy Story, Monsters, Inc. and is known for his work on Inside Out in San Francisco.
Sally Schmitt, 1932-2022
Sally Schmitt, the founder of the French laundry, was instrumental in the food movement in California. Schmitt founded a French laundry with her husband before selling the restaurant to world-famous chef Thomas Keller.
Fred Lyons, 1924–2022
Fred Lyon had one of the longest and most productive careers among photographers of the 20th century. From images of the Coit Tower to images of the Golden Gate Bridge, "[Lyon's] DNA was in San Francisco," said gallery owner Peter Vetterman.
Sachin Littlefeather, 1946–2022
Born in Salinas, California, Littlefeather was an actor and Native American rights activist best known for turning down the Marlon Brando Best Actor award at the 1973 Academy Awards. However, after his death, questions arose about Littlefeather's origins.
Jonathan the Amazing, 1958–2022
Hundreds of people filled Pier 39 in the 1980s to see the Amazing Jonathan show, part magic, part comedy, part street.
Deward Hastings, 1944-2022
Deward Hastings was famous for entertaining visitors in his backyard hot tub in Berkeley. Officials say he died doing what he loved most: soaking in a bath.
Fred France, 1943-2022
Fred Francia, a Modesto resident and Santa Clara University alumnus, helped create Charles Shaw's ultra-affordable wine brand of budget wine patron known as Two Buck Chuck, which sells for $1.99 at Trader Joe's.
Sonny Barger, 1938–2022
Sonny Barger, whose funeral service lasted six hours, was responsible for founding the first Oakland branch of the Hells Angels.
Dave Smith 1950-2022
Electronic music pioneer Dave Smith helped develop MIDI, the technical standard for most electronic instruments to communicate with each other. Until his death, he ran the synthesizer company Sequential Circuits in San Francisco.
Young Slow B, 1992-2022
The Stockton rapper, born Deesan Victor, is best known for songs like "I Love You" and "Unforgivable" from his 2021 album Slo-Be Bryant 3.
David Golovin, 1981-2022
Veteran chef David Golovin worked in some of the Bay Area's most prestigious cuisines, from Spruce to Nopa, before opening Dear Inga in 2019.
Traxamillion, 1979-2022
One of the founders of the hi-fi movement, Traxamillion (born Sultan Banks) produced tracks for some of the Bay Area's biggest hip-hop artists.
Richard "Momo" Anderson, 1948–2022
One of the last of the beat generation, visual artist Richard "Momo" Anderson frequented North Beach before his death.
Amy Graff, Amanda Bartlett, Dennis Young and Susana Guerrero contributed to this article.