Beth Young-Hodgman

A fourth generation northern Californian, Beth's battle against leukemia ended on September 26, 2010. She died peacefully at home. In 1943, Beth was born in Sacramento. She graduated from McClatchy High in 1961, and was co-editor of the school newspaper. Beth's life long fondness for literature was sparked by an early passion for authors such as Jack London. Opting to help care for four younger siblings, Beth moved with the family to San Francisco in 1964. In San Francisco, Beth's path crossed many scenes: the Beats, Neal Cassady being one friend; Diggers; Hippies; activists, and Kesey's Pranksters. Beth's social consciousness led to her arrest in a 1964 Civil Rights Sit-In protesting Oakland Tribune's racial policy. In 1966, Beth married Douglas Hodgman, a Kalamazoo native, and had two children. Three years later they divorced, which led Beth to a fierce test of endurance as a single mother raising two children without paternal support. In the late 1970s Beth moved to Ukiah with the kids. She attended Mendocino College, and in 1980 received Mendocino Community College's E.O.P.S. scholarship to UC Davis, where she earned a Bachelor's of English. She was always generous and open minded, qualities she learned from her mother Charlotte. When her kids became active in the punk rock scene, she fed and housed touring bands. Later when her son Brian Zero formed his own Santa Rosa based band Siren, she attended their shows at Petaluma's Phoenix Theatre, sometimes joining the band making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the audience. To those who love Beth, she'll be remembered as someone with a talent for gardening, a love of bicycling, a sharp intelligence, and the ability to always find the right words to comfort someone in need. She is survived by daughter Miriam, son Brian Zero; sisters Barbara Young-Mebane (husband David), Every Day (OR), brothers Andy Young (wife Julie) and Steve Young. She is also remembered fondly by her friends at Burbank Heights, Sebastopol. The family urges that in Beth's honor donations be made to one of the following organizations: Memorial Hospice, The Ceres Project, or the Redwood Empire Food Bank (REFB). A private memorial is pending.