The Tennis Club has just learned of the passing of three club contributing members:
James Gordon Hess of Sun City West passed away at 95 years of age. He passed away peacefully at home surrounded by beloved wife, Maria Hess, and other family members and friends.
Jim was born on December 6, 1928, in Altadena, California. As a baby he moved with his parents to Tucson, Arizona.
He attended the University of Arizona where he earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in metallurgical and mechanical engineering. Jim served in the United States Air Force as a Captain during the Korean War.
During his career he headed up several major construction projects internationally, working in Holland, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the United Arab Emirates.
As an active member of the Sun City West community, Jim was an avid tennis player, golfer, and member of the stained-glass club. For a time, he served as president of the tennis club and helped with the organization of the Sun City West’s annual Swing Into Spring tennis tournament.
Jim and his wife, Ria, enjoyed a long, happy marriage. Jim is survived by his daughters Julia (Foster) and Janet (Sterling), 7 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.
Jim will be remembered as an energetic, accomplished, hard-working man, and one who has served as an example and role model for several family members; and, as a friend to many.
Jim will be interred at the Garden of Memory Pavilion. He will be missed.
To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of James Gordon Hess, please visit our Tree Store.
She obtained a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1983. During her career, she attended and conducted programs to advance teachers in computer science. She spent three weeks at Princeton University that enabled her conduct these seminars.
She served on the St. Mary’s Elementary School school board and spent ten years on the City of Waukesha Board of Zoning Appeals.
Pat enjoyed sports and partook in tennis, captaining several ATA tennis teams, playing golf and soccer. Her ladies soccer team was appropriately named “Just For Kicks.” After her retirement, she bided her time awaiting Joe’s retirement. Unfortunately, during her wait, in 2003, she was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer and became a survivor in 2004. She could not sit still and went on to enjoy some time in sales, part time, of women’s apparel and then employee benefit plans.
In 2006, Pat and Joe retired to Egg Harbor, Wisconsin, but purchased a winter residence in Sun City West, Arizona. There she joined the Clay Club and the duplicate bridge club where she attained director status as well as Life Master status. She joined the Racquet Club where she became president of its 450 membership. They fell in love with Sedona which they visited and hiked often.
Pat was a fitness enthusiast working out at Curves, first in Waukesha, then Door County and then Surprise, Arizona, even though she has four rec centers at her disposal in Sun City West.
Pat’s real calling was mother, cook and host. She looked forwarded to the holidays, especially Christmas. She would start her cookie baking regimen shortly after Thanksgiving aided by her children and continue until a dozen different types were stored in jars. Cooking took a serious turn shortly before Christmas in preparation for an annual gathering of four generations of the Melendes and Lazar families and also friends. Even a Christmas Eve oven fire did not daunt her as her kind Jewish neighbor provided an oven on Christmas Day to complete her task.
She initiated an annual get together for her children, their spouses and her grandchildren at Wisconsin Dells where a good time was had by all. Her older son Mark and his wife Christine have continued this tradition of family togetherness hosted at their home at Thanksgiving.
Pat was a source of strength and support to Joe, her husband and companion of 56 years. Perhaps each being a second of four children was a basis for their compatibility, but for whatever reason, they shared and enjoyed many activities together; there was golf, tennis, hiking, duplicate bridge, travel including 30 trips to Las Vegas, dancing and Marquette men’s basketball including trips to the Final Four in 1974 and 2003.
Pat is survived by Joe, her husband of 56 years; their son Mark and his wife Christine; their daughter Sarah; their son Matthew and his wife Maria. Also, their six grandchildren Samantha and Andrew Morrow, and Eliana, Leo, Tahlia and Ian Melendes.
Pat is further survived by her brother Dr. Anthony S. Lazar (Bernice); her sister the Honorable Theresa Lazar-Springmann; and her brother Vincent J. Lazar (Lisa). She was predeceased in death by her parents Anthony and Betty as well as her brother-in-law David Springmann.
The family would like to thank the most caring staff of the skilled nursing facility of the Pete and Jelaine Center, a part of the Door County Medical Center in Sturgeon Bay. Due to the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease, Pat resided there from October 5, 2021, until her death. She became part of its family as did her husband Joe, a daily visitor. Pat entered Hospice Care at the Facility on February 4, 2024, under the auspices of Unity Care of Green Bay. Its staff was an added measure of care and comfort to Pat and Joe and was most appreciated.
A Celebration of Pat’s life will be held on Saturday June 8, 2024, at Randle-Dable Brisk Funeral Home, 1110 S. Grand Ave., from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. A private family Mass of Christian Burial will be held.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to Pete and Jelaine Horton Center. You can find more information at dcmedical.org/foundation/skilled-nursing-facility.
Randle-Dable-Brisk Funeral Home, Crematory and Preplanning Service is honored to serve the family. For further information please call the funeral home at 262-547-4035 or visit our website at www.randledable.com to leave the family an online tribute message.
Content Writer: Bruce Dougan (763 370 9795) Contributor: Joan Denton (623 341 1246) Published: May 1, 2024