Dolores Dorothy Glissman

1929 - 2022

Dolores Dorothy Glissman, age 92, born April 23, 1929, daughter of Theodore Thomas Camara (formerly Da Camara) of Porto Santo, Portugal and Ida Cunha of Oakland, CA, and a lifelong resident of Santa Cruz and Scotts Valley, California, died December 30, 2022. As a stay at home mother, Dolores devoted her life to her family making sure that all were healthy, nurtured, well fed, safe and happy. She spent most summers at the beach playing volleyball, boogie boarding and getting so tan that it lasted all year. She made her boys wear the brightest bathing suits on the beach so she could watch their every move and make sure they were safe. Santa Cruz's beaches were a second home to the Glissman family and she could never get enough sand and surf. In her early years, she worked at the Miramar restaurant on the wharf and was introduced to cooking. Food was plentiful in her home, with big dinners for family gatherings and snacks out on the counter when the school bus dropped her sons off. She would famously serve the family, refill the plates as each item was eaten and when everyone was done, she would eat. Even when begged to sit, she would keep serving. She would be waiting in a warm car in early mornings after swim practice with hot chocolate and cinnamon toast. She was always there, wherever she was needed. She volunteered (or was volunteered) to bake goods for all school classes as long as her kids were in school which meant probably a few thousand goodies handmade and personally delivered to the class or event. When her kids were in college and beyond, she was still delivering food. She was a brave woman! Even though she could not swim, she learned to water ski and swim with a lifebelt. The family enjoyed many boating and camping vacations with friends, throughout California. In her 80's, she could be seen on the back of her son's motorcycle racing around Connecticut and it would be impossible to count the number of times she rode the roller coaster, even as an elder. She was very proud of her Portuguese heritage and enjoyed visiting her Portuguese extended family and attending Portuguese events. She spoke fluent Portuguese. She was an avid bridge player and had a very close group of friends who shared that hobby with her throughout her life. She loved her home in Scott's Valley and the big fires in the fireplace during the winter. During her senior years she enjoyed living in Spring Lakes Mobile Home Park. She had wonderful neighbors that she loved like family and was on several event committees while her husband Bob was a member of the Board of Directors. She was active at Twin Lakes Church in Santa Cruz. She and Bob were regulars at Gilda's on the Wharf, and spent hours at their kitchen table just talking, drinking coffee and waving to neighbors. Until they each passed, both she and Bob would say regularly that they could not believe they lived their whole lives in such a beautiful place as Santa Cruz. She married Bob in Ben Lomond at the Wee Kirk church on August 2, 1952, and together, they raised three sons, Theodore Bergen who with his husband Steven Mitchell, resided in Oregon until Ted's death, Richard H. Glissman of Santa Cruz with whom she spent some time nearly every single day for the last twenty five years or more and following Rick's retirement, even more time, and David R. Glissman of Simsbury, Connecticut who had the privilege of being able to speak with her multiple times a week as Dave drove home from work and during Bob and Dee's frequent and long visits to Connecticut. In addition to her husband Bob who predeceased her, sons Rick, Dave and son-in-law Steve, she is survived by Dave's wife Irene, their children Robert Glissman of Simsbury, Connecticut, his children Skylar and Carter; Daniel Glissman of South Windsor, Connecticut and his wife Tracy and children Eleanor and Henry; Melanie Hoppi of Suffield, Connecticut and her husband Michael Hoppi and children Remington, Hunter and Willow; and Chelsea Glissman of Fort Worth, Texas, all of whom loved and adored her. Dolores dedicated her life to her family and her family loved her with all their hearts. She lives on in the lives of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, whose values, goals and personalities she shaped. A private funeral service and burial will be held on February 3, 2023.