Virginia Lee McGuire

1936 - 2016

Virginia Lee McGuire
Feb. 4, 1936 - June 21, 2016
Santa Cruz
The McGuire family of Santa Cruz, CA, is saddened to announce the passing of Virginia Lee McGuire, who died at 6 pm, Tuesday, June 21, 2016, after valiantly battling a long illness. She was 80 years old.
Born in Ojai, CA, to James A. Van Antwerp and Elizabeth A. Biggers, Virginia grew up in Ojai and Santa Barbara, CA.
Known to family members as "Mom" or "Gigi", Virginia managed to be a wife, mom, friend, extraordinary cook, hostess and tennis player with the kind of style and grace most of us can only envy. Virginia met her husband of 58 years when both were attending San Jose State University. After graduation, in 1957, they moved to Santa Cruz and in 1960 built their cherished home on 15th Avenue.
Virginia raised their three children while also working as a classroom aide at Live Oak and Green Acres with Ruth Antonlini. She later worked as an accountant and bookkeeper for many local businesses. She was an active woman who not only excelled at tennis (she was a longtime member of Imperial Courts Tennis Club), but was also an accomplished gardener who fully landscaped nearly a half-acre — a garden she kept up until the final year of her life. Later in life she took up golf and played until the past year. Virginia was very proud of the many years she volunteered and served on the board of the Live Oak Senior Center. All who knew her, even briefly, were struck by her energy, humor and empathy.
Always known as the best athlete in the family, she wasn't the most confident in the water but allowed her children to frolic at the beach at Black Point and roam their idyllic neighborhood. And that's a gift all three cherish. Virginia was a big-hearted woman full of compassion and love for all (except maybe the Los Angeles Dodgers). One of her passions she enjoyed later in life was baseball and the San Francisco Giants. Jon Miller, Duane Kuiper, Mike Krukow and Dave Flemming were name-checked in conversations with Virginia almost as frequently as her two grandkids.
Virginia Lee McGuire is survived by her husband, David F. McGuire. She is also survived by her three children, Michael (Rebecca Hurst), Meghan (Toby Pickett) and Gillian (Gregg Gaver); her two grandchildren, Mallory and Rylan Pickett; and her brothers Jim VanAntwerp and Richard VanAntwerp.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Santa Cruz County Hospice. The family is also grateful for the loving care shown by Estela, Teojenes, Marivic and Lucero and the rest of the team at the Florence Kuo Foundation.
The family will be holding a celebration of Virginia's life at 2 p.m., Saturday, July 2 at the family home. For details or questions, email Meghan Pickett, meghanleepickett@gmail.com


View the online memorial for Virginia Lee McGuire