There was Betty McClendon, who taught generations of Los Gatans dance and the finer points of etiquette. She was our "Miss Manners," you might say.

She was society reporter for this paper's predecessor and was always tuned into what was going on in the community and the paper. In a sense, that spirit will continue: She left a number of six-figure bequests to this town. One was a drama scholarship in her name and one was designated for the library foundation, among others. However, since the library doesn't have a foundation yet, the legalities of that bequest are still being worked out. Her mother, Hilda McClendon, was children's librarian for five years in the '20s.

Soon after Ms. McClendon's death came that of John Baggerly, whose name was synonymous with the local newspaper. A lifelong journalist and nearly lifelong Los Gatan, Mr. Baggerly grew up with the paper, since his father owned it at one time. In his later years he wrote the "Picture from the Past" column.

Since no one else has his amazing memory, a replacement for that column has yet to be found, a metaphor for the fact that no one can quite take his place.

Lastly, we lost someone seemingly much too young to die—our editor's wife, Randee Sparrer, who died at age 52. Randee was a dedicated teacher who impacted so many lives the huge church where her memorial was held was overflowing with those who wanted to express their sense of loss.

Terrell School has a memorial to her: the outdoor mural about energy conservation was named for her. Also bearing her name is the Snack Shack at Pioneer High. And the GATE program at Terrell, which she taught, has received more than $4,000 in memory of this exceptional teacher.

Randee was described as a born teacher, an innovator, a leader in every dimension of education.

These three—their spirit, their sense of humor, and the memories of their time with us—linger on, providing some consolation for those three irreplaceable losses.

CROSSING GUARD: Dorothy Yturriaga has been a crossing guard for Noddin School for 25 years and at the same post for 23 of those years. She's the Cal Ripkin of the crossing guards, says one parent. With the unyielding passage of time, she's now helping children cross at the intersection where she once accompanied their parents.

She's like one of the family, say Noddin parents, tracking the histories of her charges. After all, she explains, "I'm the first person they see in the morning." She gives them high fives twice a day.

Grateful Noddinites offered her symbols of their appreciation earlier this year. Parents brought flowers and other gifts to the human traffic fixture at Blossom Hill and Harwood when they learned this was her 25th anniversary.

Yturriaga was also the founder of Search Finders, a nonprofit that helps adoptees track down their biological birth parents. "It's the most emotional thing you'll ever do," she says about the search process. The number of Search Finders is 408.356.6711.

The guard is also a probate researcher for missing heirs: she works for a Sacramento firm that does the research. Her husband, Jerry, is a retired postal employee, and they have four children—Larry, Steve, Cindy and Jimmy. Children she safeguards grow up and, before long, she sees them in cars, not on foot. "I see them drive by and I say 'Oh, my God.' " Hard to believe all that time has passed.

QUILT TRIBUTE FOR ADAMSON: Daves Avenue School librarian Florence Adamson was recently gifted with a handmade quilt created with squares sporting penned messages from friends. The occasion was her retirement in December. The entire effect of the finished quilt was that of books lined up on a shelf.

Friends wrote personalized messages, particularly extolling her for all the lives she's touched. Adamson was librarian at Daves for 20 years. Those in on the planning included Jane Yap, former Daves secretary; Glenice Magee, teacher; and Judy Hanf, volunteer parent. Some 60 people turned out at the retirement celebration. Adamson is described as charismatic, someone with a special touch.

ANOTHER LOCKUP WINNER: Nancy Castro, activities director of the Meadows, raised $742 in the Muscular Dystrophy Association's Lockup last week, aided by 17 donors at the Meadows, plus Moore Buick and Anderson Chevrolet. Castro wrote a car column for this newspaper in earlier days. The event raised a record for Northern California—$81,000.

SENIOR PROGRAM: Onsite health education and screening will be offered at the neighborhood center Jan. 16, 9 a.m.­5 p.m. The cost is $40 for each screening; $98 for three; $125 for four; and $20 for any additional test. For an appointment, call, toll-free, 877.676.7836.

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