Kendall Pine, as he was known by both friends and family, was born in Berkeley, California, grew up in Morgan Hill and lived his life in the beautiful Santa Clara Valley.
He graduated from Morgan Hill High School where his father was principal and his future wife was student body president. The love of his life, Lillian Herback, and he enjoyed 63 wonderful years of marriage.
In 1950, they settled in Gilroy, renovating an 1860’s historical home. He attended UC Berkeley and graduated from San Jose State. During his college years, he enjoyed his work with the Public Health Department. Mr. Pine’s devotion to education showed in his commitment to all his students during 31 years teaching Chemistry and Science at Gilroy High School. His students have gone on to great accomplishments, of which he was very proud, and all were touched by his enthusiasm for knowledge. In 1960, he started the habit of riding his 10 speed Peugeot to work, long before others discovered how wonderful this exercise is. After retirement he stayed active in education, tutoring elementary students and teaching in the adult reading program. Kendall started a balance calibration service, which took him and Lillian throughout the western states. They also enjoyed traveling to Alaska, visiting son Tim and spending time with grandchildren in Soquel. He has stayed active in St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church since 1950, working in leadership groups, homeless feedings and at the Resource Center. He was very interested in family history and was able to trace family roots back to William Brewster, the spiritual leader of the Mayflower. Additionally, he had discovered records of the family namesake, Joseph Mary Pine, an Italian immigrant, who fought in the American Revolutionary War. One of his biggest joys was building a trimaran sailboat, the “Tri-Me”, with his son Tim and his father-in-law, Emmanuel Herback, in 1965. Kendall enjoyed sailing the Tri-me in San Francisco Bay with family, longtime friend Jack Martin and some of his lucky students. He enjoyed many hours farming at the family ranch in San Martin. He leaves behind his wife, Lillian Pine, children; Elizabeth Musal of Soquel and Tim Pine of Anchorage, Alaska, sister Margaret West of Rancho Bernardo, niece Mary McGeeney of Carmel, MT, and nephew Joel West of San Jose, sister-in-law Betty Steidley of Salinas, niece Jeri Olivas and husband Nathan of Salinas, son-in-law Michael Musal of Soquel, grandchildren; Stephen Musal of the US Air Force, Christina and Jeffrey Musal of Soquel, nephews; Phil and Greg Herback of Lake Tahoe, grandchildren; Mike and Danielle Cooley and great-grandchildren; Deandra, Stephen and Cordova Cooley of Lafayette, Indiana, grand-nieces; Cindy Olivas of Ventura and Nancy Torres of Salinas, grand-nephew Nathan Olivas of Salinas, and many other loving family members.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St Stephens Episcopal Church, 651 Broadway, Gilroy. CA 95020 or the Alzheimer’s Association. A memorial service will be held at St. Stephens Episcopal Church, Saturday, March 17, 2007, 2 P.M.
