Walking inside San Quentin’s Chapel on August 10, a visitor watched ushers standing and handing out programs that read “In Loving Memory of Brother Charles ‘Chuck’ Adams— Rejoice in Heaven, Chuck. Dec. 8, 1950 – May 30, 2018.” Adams was 67 years old. “Sometimes it’s difficult to find people who are committed,” church elder Derrick Holloway said. “He exemplified what it meant to walk with the Lord.” The ceremony began with the 21-member Worship Team, to which Adams had belonged, taking the stage while an audience of about 50 inmates … [Read more...] about In loving memory of fellow Brother Charles “Chuck” Adams
Obituary
Remembering a great brother, father, son and friend
Arnulfo Timoteo Garcia was our mentor and best friend. He died in a car crash shortly after gaining parole, but I still feel his hand guiding everyone in the San Quentin News family to do the best for our community, including our advisers, volunteers and prison administrators. He’d always say: Moving forward! When we first met, I didn’t see myself working for a prison newspaper. But Arnulfo saw a reporter in me. He brought me into the San Quentin News family and it ended up being the most important job I’ve ever … [Read more...] about Remembering a great brother, father, son and friend
San Quentin mourns Dr. Davida Coady long time friend and volunteer
San Quentin mourns the passing of one of its volunteers, Dr. Davida Coady, whose humanitarian work with Cesar Chavez, Mother Teresa and third-world countries has impacted disadvantaged children, refugees, addicts and lifers. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of Dr. Coady,” said Tith Ton, an inmate at San Quentin and addiction counselor trained by Dr. Coady. “Forty years ago she provided medical aid to my mom in a refugee camp in Thailand. Forty years later, she taught me how to become an addiction counselor to provide treatment for others … [Read more...] about San Quentin mourns Dr. Davida Coady long time friend and volunteer
Arnulfo T. Garcia a dream continues to prosper
This newspaper has previously reported on the life and untimely death of former editor Arnulfo T. Garcia. However, Garcia was much more than editor of the San Quentin News (SQN), he was a towering visionary and dreamer. Unlike most dreamers, he had the rarely bestowed persistence and determination to carry out his dream. The result was the newspaper’s Social Forums and the respect of news organizations from around the world. “Some 70 million Americans have a criminal record – a number equal to Americans with a college degree,” according to … [Read more...] about Arnulfo T. Garcia a dream continues to prosper
Remembering Arnulfo T. Garcia
When I first met Arnulfo Timoteo Garcia in 2009, he was hired to work for our print shop instructor John Wilkerson as a clerk. However, upon discovering Arnulfo didn’t know how to turn on a computer, Wilkerson wanted to fire him. Ironically, when the print shop closed the following year, Wilkerson told Arnulfo he was the best clerk he ever had. Sadly, Arnulfo died in a car accident with his sister, Yolanda Hernandez, a little over two months after he was released from the Santa Clara County Jail. “There are a flood of memories from … [Read more...] about Remembering Arnulfo T. Garcia
Exonerated man dies 10 months after release
An innocent man, who was exonerated and released after spending 18 years in prison, died 10 months later in December of 2016. Luther Ed Jones Jr., 71, was released in February 2011 by Lake County Superior Court Judge Andrew Blum when the district attorney brought forth new evidence that exonerated him. Jones was convicted in 1998 of molesting his ex-girlfriend’s 10-year-old daughter. “The young woman, who had been the alleged victim in the case, contacted the district attorney’s Office on Feb. 9 to say that her mother — who at the time the … [Read more...] about Exonerated man dies 10 months after release
Obituary: Honoring the Life Of Russell Mefford
Russell Mefford died of cancer at 6:57 p.m. on Aug. 22. His devoted wife, Denise, lost a husband. His three sons – Andrew, Austin and Adrian – lost a father. His family lost a member. “As a result of Russell’s death, San Quentin will be a less happy place,” Michael Wolke said. Wolke said he met Russ, 50, on the Level III yard at Solano. They came to San Quentin on the same bus in 2009 and struck up a friendship that Wolke says carried them happily through these last years. “Russ was an honorable and principled man who carried himself … [Read more...] about Obituary: Honoring the Life Of Russell Mefford
Remembering the Life of Mark Titch
Mark Titch passed away on April 22 after being hospitalized for 11 days. Titch was scheduled to appear before the parole board May 14 for the ninth time. The cause of his death is not yet known. “It takes two months before the official cause of death is reported,” said Chief Medical Officer Elaina Tootell. Titch entered through prison doors in 1976 as a 17-year-old convicted of murder and kidnap. He was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole. Chuck LeGros, his cellmate for nine years, came to prison at age 45 and did not know … [Read more...] about Remembering the Life of Mark Titch
Thomas Curby Henderson Died From Fourth Tier Fall
Thomas Curby Henderson, 60, better known to inmates and as the meek, hard working, and humble “Charlie,” died on Jan. 23 at Marin General Hospital following a four-story fall at San Quentin State Prison on Jan 22. Charlie’s death, still under investigation, shocked many of the men housed with him. The Marin Independent Journal reported Charlie’s death, which attracted several merciless comments. [San Quentin Prisoner Dies After Plunge from Fourth-Story Tier; http://www.marinij.com]. “A man lost his life and the comments indicate readers are … [Read more...] about Thomas Curby Henderson Died From Fourth Tier Fall
San Quentin Prisoner Writes Unique Obituary Before His Passing
Editor’s Note: George Burns passed away on Oct. 16, 2013. Burns was one of the eight inmates honored at a memorial service held in the Protestant Chapel on Nov. 15, 2013. He was the youngest of the inmates. Last year he took a journalism class held by Patten College. One of his assignments was to write his own obituary. Here is what he wrote: Mr. Burns went to Highlands High in Sacramento. He participated in track and played football his freshman year for Highlands High. He loved to cook different types of food. He was a very good cook. … [Read more...] about San Quentin Prisoner Writes Unique Obituary Before His Passing