Photo above: Alvin Gregory. Photo below: Francis Gregory (left); Alvin on the right. [Photocourtesy of Terri Paterni Gregory]
IN "LA NOSTRA COSTA" I WRITE ABOUT THE GREGORY BROTHERS, ALVIN AND FRANCIS AND GREGORY'S STORE AND SERVICE STATION IN DAVENPORT. FRANCIS PASSED AWAY SEVERAL YEARS AGO. NOW ALVIN HAS ALSO CROSSED OVER "IL ULIMO PONTE". TO US WHO WERE PARTICIPANTS IN DAVENPORT AND "LA COSTA" HISTROY, IT IS AS IF A PART OF US HAS ALSO GONE WITH ALVIN. ADIO ALVIN. UNTIL WE ALL MEET AGAIN ACROSS "IL PONTE"
The below article appeared in the Santa Cruz Sentinel:
January 14, 2007
ALVIN V. GREGORY
Services will be Tuesday and Wednesday for Alvin V. Gregory who passed away January 10, 2007 at his Santa Cruz home surrounded by his loving family. He was 89.
Alvin was born in Santa Cruz, CA on February 24, 1917, the son of Albert and Elvetzia Rosselli Gregory. He grew up in Davenport where his family founded the first service station and general store. He attended and was a graduate of Pacific School and later of Santa Cruz High School. As a youth he was very involved in the 4-H Club, eventually becoming club president and junior summer camp director. During his teenage years he joined Future Farmers of America where he held many offices and was awarded the State Farmers Key by the Governor of California at the State Fair in 1934. He also helped organize the first volunteer fire department in Davenport and was a special correspondent to the Santa Cruz Sentinel. Following his high school graduation he entered the California Maritime Academy, graduating in 1938 with a Third Mates License.
He was selected from the top 10 in his class by the American-Hawaiian Steamship Company in San Francisco as a Cadet Officer on the S.S. Dakotan. His first trip was to the Pacific Northwest. He later served on 12 different ships including the Flag Ship, M. S. Californian. He was promoted to Jr. Third Officer in 1939 to the S.S. Washingtonian on the inter-coastal run, going through the Panama Canal every two months. His journeys took him around the world twice, once in each direction. He later became Chief Mate on the Liberty Ship Benjamin Lundy. The ship traveled from Port Chicago to the South Pacific loaded with 6,000 tons of ammunition where it remained docked as a floating ammunition depot.
On December 1, 1940 while on a one month vacation, he married Dolly Demos of Davenport. The couple was married in the town's only church, Saint Vincent DePaul Catholic Church.
In 1943 he was transferred to the S.S. Sea Devil as Chief Mate. The first voyage transported 2200 Sea Bees to New Guinea where it remained anchored for three months as a floating hotel. In another trip it transported 2200 troops from Hollandia to Leyte in the invasion of the Philippines.
In 1945 Alvin was promoted to Master of the Liberty Ship Wm. B. Leeds. At the time of his promotion he was the youngest Captain in the United States Merchant Marines. On his first trip as Master he took a ship load of general cargo from Long Beach to Manila. Still at war with Japan, the voyage to 30 days, zig-zaging all the way under a black out at night and with no air or sea protection. While in Manila he witnessed the Japanese delegation arrive to work out the surrender details with General Douglas McArthur.
His second and last voyage was from Port Arthur, Texas to Casablanca. Upon his return he was instructed to take the ship to Norfolk, Virginia where the ship was put in "laid up fleet".
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In 1945, Alvin was appointed Lieutenant Commander in the United States Maritime Service and was honorably discharged that year.
Following his retirement from the Maritime Service, Alvin returned to Santa Cruz and joined his brother Francis to run the Gregory's Store in Davenport. He and his brother ran the store for thirty years prior to their retirement, making it 54 years since it was founded by their father in 1924.
In 1946 Alvin ran and was elected for two terms as County Supervisor of the 3rd District. On his second term he served as board chairman. At the time of his election he was the youngest Supervisor in the State of California. He also served on the site committees for Dominican Hospital and Cabrillo College.
After returning to Santa Cruz, Alvin was very active in the Santa Cruz Elks Lodge, Italian Catholic Federation, Marconi Club and for many years was the chairman of the Davenport/Coast Road Reunion Committee. He was also an active member of the California Maritime Academy Alumni Assoc.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Dolly Gregory of Santa Cruz; son, Leon D. Gregory of Santa Cruz and daughter, Eleanor A. O'Connor and her husband Jack of Petaluma. He is also survived by one grandson, Matthew Schmitka of Petaluma.
The funeral procession will leave Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel 1050 Cayuga St, Santa Cruz, CA Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at 9:30 am for Holy Cross Catholic Church, 126 High St, Santa Cruz, CA where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated beginning at 10:00 am. A vigil service will be held at Pacific Gardens Chapel, Tuesday evening at 7:00 pm. Friends are invited to call at Pacific Gardens Chapel, Tuesday from 3:00 pm until the vigil. Interment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Santa Cruz, CA.
The family would like to express their deep gratitude for the loving care shown to Alvin by his caregivers; Beth, Lin, Visitation and Wilma, the nurses and staff at Dominican Hospital 2 East and Hospice Caring Project during his illness and final days of his life.
www.legacy.com/santacruzsentinel
The below article appeared in the Santa Cruz Sentinel:
January 14, 2007
ALVIN V. GREGORY
Services will be Tuesday and Wednesday for Alvin V. Gregory who passed away January 10, 2007 at his Santa Cruz home surrounded by his loving family. He was 89.
Alvin was born in Santa Cruz, CA on February 24, 1917, the son of Albert and Elvetzia Rosselli Gregory. He grew up in Davenport where his family founded the first service station and general store. He attended and was a graduate of Pacific School and later of Santa Cruz High School. As a youth he was very involved in the 4-H Club, eventually becoming club president and junior summer camp director. During his teenage years he joined Future Farmers of America where he held many offices and was awarded the State Farmers Key by the Governor of California at the State Fair in 1934. He also helped organize the first volunteer fire department in Davenport and was a special correspondent to the Santa Cruz Sentinel. Following his high school graduation he entered the California Maritime Academy, graduating in 1938 with a Third Mates License.
He was selected from the top 10 in his class by the American-Hawaiian Steamship Company in San Francisco as a Cadet Officer on the S.S. Dakotan. His first trip was to the Pacific Northwest. He later served on 12 different ships including the Flag Ship, M. S. Californian. He was promoted to Jr. Third Officer in 1939 to the S.S. Washingtonian on the inter-coastal run, going through the Panama Canal every two months. His journeys took him around the world twice, once in each direction. He later became Chief Mate on the Liberty Ship Benjamin Lundy. The ship traveled from Port Chicago to the South Pacific loaded with 6,000 tons of ammunition where it remained docked as a floating ammunition depot.
On December 1, 1940 while on a one month vacation, he married Dolly Demos of Davenport. The couple was married in the town's only church, Saint Vincent DePaul Catholic Church.
In 1943 he was transferred to the S.S. Sea Devil as Chief Mate. The first voyage transported 2200 Sea Bees to New Guinea where it remained anchored for three months as a floating hotel. In another trip it transported 2200 troops from Hollandia to Leyte in the invasion of the Philippines.
In 1945 Alvin was promoted to Master of the Liberty Ship Wm. B. Leeds. At the time of his promotion he was the youngest Captain in the United States Merchant Marines. On his first trip as Master he took a ship load of general cargo from Long Beach to Manila. Still at war with Japan, the voyage to 30 days, zig-zaging all the way under a black out at night and with no air or sea protection. While in Manila he witnessed the Japanese delegation arrive to work out the surrender details with General Douglas McArthur.
His second and last voyage was from Port Arthur, Texas to Casablanca. Upon his return he was instructed to take the ship to Norfolk, Virginia where the ship was put in "laid up fleet".
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In 1945, Alvin was appointed Lieutenant Commander in the United States Maritime Service and was honorably discharged that year.
Following his retirement from the Maritime Service, Alvin returned to Santa Cruz and joined his brother Francis to run the Gregory's Store in Davenport. He and his brother ran the store for thirty years prior to their retirement, making it 54 years since it was founded by their father in 1924.
In 1946 Alvin ran and was elected for two terms as County Supervisor of the 3rd District. On his second term he served as board chairman. At the time of his election he was the youngest Supervisor in the State of California. He also served on the site committees for Dominican Hospital and Cabrillo College.
After returning to Santa Cruz, Alvin was very active in the Santa Cruz Elks Lodge, Italian Catholic Federation, Marconi Club and for many years was the chairman of the Davenport/Coast Road Reunion Committee. He was also an active member of the California Maritime Academy Alumni Assoc.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Dolly Gregory of Santa Cruz; son, Leon D. Gregory of Santa Cruz and daughter, Eleanor A. O'Connor and her husband Jack of Petaluma. He is also survived by one grandson, Matthew Schmitka of Petaluma.
The funeral procession will leave Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel 1050 Cayuga St, Santa Cruz, CA Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at 9:30 am for Holy Cross Catholic Church, 126 High St, Santa Cruz, CA where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated beginning at 10:00 am. A vigil service will be held at Pacific Gardens Chapel, Tuesday evening at 7:00 pm. Friends are invited to call at Pacific Gardens Chapel, Tuesday from 3:00 pm until the vigil. Interment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Santa Cruz, CA.
The family would like to express their deep gratitude for the loving care shown to Alvin by his caregivers; Beth, Lin, Visitation and Wilma, the nurses and staff at Dominican Hospital 2 East and Hospice Caring Project during his illness and final days of his life.
www.legacy.com/santacruzsentinel
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