Dolores Freitas Spurgeon

Professor Emerita of Journalism at San Jose State University, passed away on July 25, 2012. She will be greatly missed by her family, her friends, and her many former students. Dolores lived in Santa Clara all her life. During her childhood, Dolores lived on the family ranch with her father John, an immigrant from Madeira, her mother Mary, who was born in Kauai of Portuguese immigrant parents, and her brothers. She was a teacher before she was hired to work in San Jose State's new Journalism Department in the late 1930s. Dolores taught at San Jose State until 1975. A long and happy retirement filled with travel followed. Dolores's accomplishments included the establishment of the magazine program of what is now the University's Department of Journalism and Mass Communications. As a student, Dolores was the second editor of the Spartan Daily. She was the author of, among other things, Magazine Journalism as a Career for Women (1965). Dolores was one of the women whose lives were profiled in Stories Grandma Never Told: Portuguese Women in California. She served on the Santa Clara Historical and Landmarks Commission between 1958 and 1964. Dolores was preceded in death by her husband, John Spurgeon, her parents, and her brothers John, Dick, Al, Bob, and Bill. Dolores is survived by her cousin Lorraine Freitas, her sister-in-law Joan D. Freitas, her nieces Jeannie Peterson, Joan M. Freitas (Brian Heikenen), and Joanne Schnuckel (Brian), her nephews Bob Freitas (Carole), Gerry Freitas, Mike Freitas (Natalie), and Jim Freitas, and her grandnieces and grandnephews. Rosary, Sunday 7/29/2012 7PM (Visitation 5-9PM) at Lima Family Santa Clara Mortuary, 466 N. Winchester Blvd. Mass, Monday 7/30/2012 11:30AM at Saint Clare Parish, 941 Lexington St. Santa Clara. Interment to follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery 22555 Cristo Rey Dr, Los Altos