Wilbur (Will) James Drew

WILBUR (WILL) JAMES DREW

Will Drew of Santa Rosa, CA passed away on August 15, 2022, two weeks after his 95th birthday and eight years after the passing of his beloved wife of 63 years, Patricia Kelly Drew.

Will was born in San Jose, CA on August 3, 1927. He was raised amidst the depression era in the fertile Santa Clara Valley, where he picked fruits and nuts at neighboring farms and worked in a factory making tin cans in support of the war effort. Graduating from Santa Clara High School in 1945 and, ever a patriot, he enlisted in the Navy at age 17, enduring boot camp at Great Lakes in Chicago. The war with Japan ended shortly after he finished boot camp and upon discharge he returned home to San Jose.

Will attended San Jose State College where he competed on the tennis and wresting teams and obtained his Bachelor of Arts and teaching credentials in 1950. He later returned to earn his MA in School Administration. A lifelong learner he was always studying the U.S. Constitution, U.S. Presidents, world history, family genealogy and more. His deep intertwining knowledge of a wide range of subjects and recall of details and dates was remarkable.

Surfing in Santa Cruz was a favorite pastime and on one trip to the beach he, his brother Fred and friend Tom picked up some SJSC co-eds hitchhiking to the beach. It was this day that Will met Patricia and their long love affair began. They eloped in 1950 and married in Willits, halfway between their hometowns of San Jose and Eureka. They honeymooned at the Benbow Inn, Richardson's Grove, and along the Oregon coast.

Will, with Patricia teaching by his side, began his teaching and school administration career in Danville and Pittsburg, CA schools from 1950-57. During this time, he orchestrated the construction of Pittsburg's El Pueblo Elementary school. Lifelong friendships with fellow teachers and students were made. Summer vacations and day trips to the beaches and woods of Sonoma, Monterey, Mendocino and Humboldt counties fueled the romance of their marriage, highlighted by return trips of packing into the Trinity Alps where they were resupplied by mule trains at their camps.

Will & Patricia resolved to live in the country and raise a family, which brought them to the remote small town of Calistoga in 1958. Will made great strides as the K-8 Principal and 2 decades as Superintendent of Calistoga Joint Unified School District. Being the charismatic leader that he was, Will earned the respect of the Calistoga community which facilitated the passage of local school bonds for the construction of the new Calistoga Elementary School. The new Calistoga High School athletic fields were also completed under his watch. He continually engaged his students with constant encouragement, always helping to build their knowledge and a strong moral compass.

Will was an active member of the Calistoga Rotary Club and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church. A friend of Ben Sharpsteen, Will was instrumental in the creation of Calistoga's Sharpsteen Museum. He was a man that cared about his community, sustaining friendships with many families over several decades.

Will and Patricia farmed prune and walnut trees, wine grapes and planted landscapes and gardens at his Calistoga ranch where they also raised their 5 children, Dalmatian dogs, and Registered Welsh ponies. Always working together, they later remodeled an old Victorian farmhouse in Humboldt County and planted more beautiful gardens that kept them busy year-round. In their travels, they had fun hunting for and adding to a wide range of interesting collections. Spirited games of Dominos were enjoyed over many decades.

Upon retiring as Superintendent of Schools in Calistoga, Will became the Editor of The Weekly Calistogan newspaper for an eventful time! He later enjoyed a successful career as an innovative insurance agent specializing in winery insurance while traveling the counties of Northern California. Will was well respected by his peers and clients

After retirement and with children raised, Will and Pat planned more adventurous trips. Starting with a year long 5th wheel trip though the United States and Canada studying and exploring family genealogy, they continued their travels exploring and tracing deep family roots in Ireland, Germany, and Switzerland. Friends were made wherever they went. Will maintained an incredible ability to engage and loved to make connections with others. He grew so many new friendships, staying in touch thereafter.

He recently attended the Calistoga High All Class Reunion and was honored to have so many students, some in their late 70's, express their fondness for 'Mr. Drew' and his many contributions to their school experience and to Calistoga. To his last day he remembered names of his students and their families and with a smile, the things they got in trouble for. If you met Will, you became a student, and walked away knowing (and thinking) more. His insightful conversations inevitably lead to teaching moments with examples included

Will was a very devoted and loving family man; his greatest passion and pride was family, and he gave them his all with unwavering love, support, direction, and encouragement. His soul was pure and gentle; his keen sense of humor ever present. He led by example with kindness, integrity, strength including his ever-present moral compass. He cherished his life experiences and friendships. Those that knew Will loved him as well.

Predeceased by Wife Patricia Marie (Kelly) Drew, his parents Fred and Lillian Drew of San Jose, his sister Lillian (Drew) Fiebig of Napa, brother Fred Drew of San Jose, and his much-loved grandson David Fallon Drew of Santa Rosa.

Survived by his children Steven and wife Gerri, Michael and wife Maggie, Dana Facto and husband Marc, Patrick, and Daniel, his adored grandchildren Julie, Lisa, Dustin, Shannon, Kelly, and Tyler and great grandchildren Barrett and Bailey. He is also survived by many generations of cousins, nieces and nephews. Phyllis (Kelly) Bailey of Blue Lake, Will's beloved sister-in-law, gracefully survives as the last of a generation of both the Drew and Kelly family lines.

A celebration of Will's life will be held at a future date. His was a life well lived.

In honor of Will Drew, charitable contributions can be made to Calistoga High School Alumni Association, Inc. , P.O. Box 953, Calistoga, CA 94515 , a 501 (c) charitable trust