ENGAGEMENT

Deya Leta-Pombo and Eric G. Montalvo plan to be married on July 21, 2007 at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Martinez. A reception will follow at Centre Concord. Eric proposed to Deya in Central Park in New York City on Aug. 22, 2006.

Parents of the bride-to-be are Roberto and Rosemary Pombo of Pittsburg, and her grandmother is Delores B. Leta of Tonawanda, N.Y. Parents of the groom-to-be are Mr. and Mrs. German Montalvo and Hedwig Montalvo of San Francisco.

Deya is a 2006 graduate of Sacramento State University, with a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice. She graduated from Los Medanos College in 2003 and from Pittsburg High School in 2001. She is a paid-on-call firefighter/EMT with East Contra Costa Fire Department and is pursuing a full-time career as a firefighter/paramedic. Deya also works as a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty in Brentwood.

Eric is a 1990 graduate of McAteer High School and a 1995 graduate of City College San Francisco, with an associate's degree in fire science. He is a firefighter/EMT with the San Francisco Fire Department.

The bride and groom plan to reside in their home in Oakley after a honeymoon in Cancun.

Johnny and Anacani Rodriguez of Brentwood welcomed their first child, a healthy baby boy, into the world on June 6 at 1:33 a.m. Born at Kaiser in Walnut Creek, Antonio Aloisius Rodriguez weighed 7.5 pounds and measured 20 inches.

Bradyn Samuel Kabat was born on June 19, 2007 at 5:16 p.m. He weighed 6 pounds, ½ ounce and measured 18 inches. He is welcomed by his older brother, Austin Jeffrey, and parents, Sam and Jodi Kabat.

Jim and Stacey Gotcher are proud parents of a son, Chance Gotcher. Chance was born on April 10, 2007.



Angela Ostermeier, 13, has been chosen as a state finalist in the Miss California American Jr. Teen Pageant on July 21 at the Marriott Hotel in Santa Clara. Her activities include choir, voice lessons, drama and tennis. She has been on the honor roll since last year. Her sister, Rebecca, 11, has been chosen as a state finalist in the Miss California American Preteen Pageant, which is held at the same time and place. She enjoys basketball, tennis and voice lessons. Their proud parents are Keith and Linda Ostermeier.

OBITUARIES

Margaret Allene (Peggy) Gromm

Margaret Allene (Peggy) Gromm died at the age of 88 on Saturday, June 30, 2007, at her home in her sleep, after a three month battle with illness . She is survived by her husband, Robert D. Gromm, Sr.

She was born on Feb. 16, 1919, the only child of Allene and Emery Douglas, in San Francisco, Calif.

Peggy attended the Commodore Sloat School, Aptos Junior High School and Balboa High School, and San Francisco State College in San Francisco.

In 1939, she married William Hotchkiss, and they had three children, all of whom survive her: William M. Hotchkiss of Scott Valley, Calif., Douglas Hotchkiss of Reno, Nev., and Lauren Rene Hotchkiss of Berkeley, Calif. She also is survived by two step-children: Robert D. Gromm, Jr. and his wife, Grace Chang, of San Jose; and Claudia Cannata of Antioch, Calif. Other survivors include grandson Jeffrey Hotchkiss of Sacramento, Calif., granddaughter Diane Baird (Mrs. James Baird) of Scott Valley, Calif.; and other grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Her first husband, William Hotchkiss, died in December of 1972. In 1974, Peggy married Thomas Cox, and they lived in Rossmoor. Thomas Cox died in 1994, just 18 days after Robert Gromm's wife, Dorothy Ann, died. In 1997, Peggy married Robert D. Gromm, Sr. and they lived for 10 years on Dutch Slough in the Oakley Township, one mile from Bethel Island.

Peggy was a member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, the Berkeley Women's City Club, the Bethel Island Women's Club, and the Delta Newcomers Club. During her lifetime, she enjoyed playing golf, swimming, summers at the Russian River and at Lake Tahoe.

Peggy's life has an interesting story. When she married Bill Hotchkiss in 1939, he was a Stanford University student and she was attending San Francisco State college. The newlyweds were told that if they were old enough to get married, they were old enough to go to work, and they were sent to live on the Hotchkiss Ranch in Firebaugh, Calif., where they spent the first seven years of married life.

When Peggy married Bob Gromm in 1997, he brought her to his home in Hotchkiss Tract (Reclamation District 799), which meant she spent the first seven years of her married life and her last 10 years of married life on Hotchkiss Land. Hotchkiss Tract is named for W.J. Hotchkiss, the grandfather of Bill Hotchkiss.

Peggy did not want a funeral or services. Memorials may be sent to the East Contra Costa Historical Society, Sutter VNA & Hospice, or a favorite organization or charity.

Manuel Gomes

Manuel Gomes, 88, passed away on June 23, 2007. He was born in Lowell, Mass. in 1919 and later resided in Madeira Island, Portugal before moving to Oakley.

Manuel served in the U.S. Army in World War II as a Master Sergeant. After working 35 years as a millwright and rancher, he retired in 1982. He was a member of Saint Anthony's Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, Millwrights Union Local 102, VFW, Flor do Oakley Club, IDES, Fatima Society, Foresters, and Moose Lodge.

Manuel was the beloved husband of Laura Pitta Gomes. In addition to his wife, Laura, he is survived by daughters, Dolores Stallings, Barbara Stein and Marie Kramer; son, John Gomes; three sons-in-law, Richard, Dick and Randy; five grandchildren, David, Katherine, Kimberly, R.J. and Jacob; and five great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers, Frank, Tony and John, and his sister, Mary.

He will be remembered for his love of people, positive attitude, sharing jokes, and magic tricks.

Requiem Mass was held at Saint Anthony's Catholic Church.