PIEDMONT — A starstruck father and a go-getter mom made for a cheerful, energetic family within the Knowland household.
These recollections are nonetheless vivid for Invoice Knowland as he displays on his mom, Dolores “Dee” Knowland, 90, who handed away March 10 in Walnut Creek’s Rossmoor district. Along with being the widow of the late Joe Knowland, the final of the Knowland household to function writer of The Oakland Tribune, she was an entrepreneur who was energetic in Oakland civic life. Invoice Knowland and his household grew up in Piedmont, the place the children would play within the cul de sac they lived on.
“Making (dwelling) films was impressed by my dad. He liked present enterprise. My mother and father did little performs collectively. They carried out collectively, singing and dancing. It was inspirational to me seeing them play the piano at Christmastime and Dad doing a smooth shoe for the assembled friends,” Invoice Knowland mentioned this week.
Dee Knowland’s identify is related to entrepreneurship, luxurious actual property, spectacular fundraising and awards. She and her husband co-chaired the marketing campaign to revive Oakland’s artwork deco Paramount Theatre. She additionally served on the honorary board to help the restoration venture for Oakland’s Fox Theater. She began a well being and wonder heart, “The Finest Me,” and bought and marketed an elite magnificence cream, Crème de la Mer. She was a prime agent for Compass Realty in Walnut Creek, successful an award as one of many prime 100 brokers in the US.
“Mother received into actual property in her 50s,” her son mentioned. “Folks appreciated her a lot they'd be in contact for years, with Christmas playing cards and notes. “She was an awesome mom. She sorted us. She loved what she was doing; it was infectious to different individuals. Mother and Dad have been nice mother and father, household was first for them. We have been at all times effectively liked, and we liked them. The household would go to the Russian River, they liked it there. Disneyland a number of occasions, Hawaii.”
The close-knit household grieved when the Knowlands’ daughter, Rebecca, died in 2016 from Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Then Dee Knowland misplaced her husband of 69 years in 2019. The pair have been married in 1950 in Olney, Maryland, later shifting to Oakland, then Piedmont within the early Sixties and again to Oakland within the late Eighties, within the Rockridge district.
Her husband, Joe Knowland, took over as writer of the Oakland Tribune in 1974 after having began as a cub reporter there 20 years earlier. His coronary heart was not in newspaper publishing, although, and in 1977 the newspaper was bought to a communications company, ending the legacy of three generations of Knowlands working the Oakland Tribune. Joe Knowland then determined to pursue an performing profession, which Dee Knowland didn’t appear to thoughts. He had minor roles in “Escape from Alcatraz” in 1979, “Star Trek IV” in 1986 and two different films.
Some clips from the Hayward Historic Society’s social columns present Dee and Joe Knowland closely dedicated to the marketing campaign to revive the Paramount Theatre. Different clips from 1975 discuss Dee Knowland’s clique and an occasion to advertise downtown Oakland with a $5-a-plate fundraiser on the Spaghetti Depot in Jack London Sq..
A 1983 clip by Tribune columnist Robin Orr has Dee Knowland giving a farewell get together to her “Finest Me” spa to commit her consideration to advertising and marketing her $140-a-jar magnificence cream. On her Legacy.com obituary web page (bayareane.ws/DeeKnowland-obit), pals and associates spoke of Dee Knowland and the way she affected these round her.
“I used to be devastated to listen to of Dee’s passing,” Jamie Stonick Rodriguez. “She was a tremendous soul and like a grandma to me. I really liked each minute I spent together with her. I'm honored to have recognized her for 15 years. I'll miss her deeply.”
“Dee was considered one of my favourite individuals on the earth! I’m unhappy and on the similar time pleased she was reunited with Joseph who liked her so dearly,” Peg Adams wrote. “Dee is in my coronary heart perpetually.”
Invoice Knowland mentioned a celebration of life for his mom will likely be held in July.
“Mother was a spark of pleasure. She was actually one thing,” her son mentioned.
She is survived by her son, Invoice; daughter, Deanne; daughter-in-law, Beverly; and grandson, Forrest. Memorial donations may be made to American Coronary heart Affiliation, P.O. Field 840692, Dallas, TX 75284.
Linda Davis is a longtime Piedmont correspondent. Contact her with information suggestions or feedback at dlinda249@gmail.com.