Widely known for his sharp sense of football and well respected for his uplifting attitude towards life, Los Gatan Nick Tuttle died Nov. 29 after a courageous battle with colon cancer. He was 60.

Born on Jan. 25, 1943, in Oak Park, Ill., Tuttle grew up in Arlington Heights, Ill., and graduated as a co-valedictorian from Mount Prospect High School. After graduating from Case Institute of Technology, Tuttle headed to Stanford University in 1965, where he received his master's degree in business. After graduation, he and Susan were married, and Tuttle began a career with IBM. Working his way up from being a marketing manager, Tuttle and his family moved around the East Coast for several years before settling in Los Gatos. Tuttle then switched jobs, becoming vice president of marketing for Rolm Corporation, Pyramid Technology Services, and then he founded Renaissance Technology.

An avid sports fan and athlete, Tuttle played everything from basketball and football in high school to tennis and bocce ball later in life. However, in 2001 he was diagnosed with colon cancer. Tuttle turned his energies to the town, intently following football at Los Gatos High School. For the past two years he was the announcer at the frosh-soph football games and wrote stories on the team for the Los Gatos-Weekly Times. "He was passionate about doing that, and definitely worked really hard," says Tuttle's son, David.

Following football in the last two years "meant so much to him," says longtime friend Joe Rodgers. "In recent weeks he was very weak, and he'd have to rest for two days to have the energy for announcing. But he was very focused, a get-the-job-done kind of person. He had a wonderful, positive attitude. The glass was always half-full with Nick."

Even with unstable health, David says his father made an effort to stay upbeat. "He was always optimistic," he says. "He was a very well liked guy and positive to the end."

Friend Patti Hughes remembers Tuttle's demeanor—and his knack for analyzing football—most vividly. "He was so calm, logical, and rational. Nick was a safe haven in a world of insecurities. We've really lost," she says. "Life is a sport and he was a champion athlete in the sport of life."

He is survived by his mother Marguerite Tuttle, his wife of 35 years, Susan, and his sons, David and Jeffrey.

Services have been held. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Los Gatos High School football program through the Los Gatos Athletic Association, P.O. Box 1334, Los Gatos, 95031.


Frank Lazaneo

Longtime Los Gatos resident Frank Lazaneo died Dec. 2. He was 75.

Born in San Francisco on July 1, 1928, Lazaneo graduated from Los Gatos High School in 1946. He was the owner of Frank's Los Gatos Market from 1957 to 1982 and was a member of the Los Gatos Lion's Club for more than 40 years. In addition, he served on the Los Gatos Planning Commission from 1972 to 1977 and was on the board of directors for the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce for five years.

He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Penny Lazaneo, daughters Connie Lazaneo, Pam Rizzi, and Patty Hannegan, stepchildren Sandy Alubowicz and Chip Alubowicz, sons-in-law John Hannegan and Bill Brill, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A celebration of his life will be held Dec. 10 at 2 p.m. at St. Mary's Church at 219 Bean Ave., Los Gatos.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to the Los Gatos Lion's Charities, P.O. Box 522, Los Gatos, 95031.