Edward W Westgate

Edward “Ed” William Westgate of St. Helena passed away on Oct. 18, 2012 from complications following a fall. He was surrounded by his family to whom he was deeply loyal: his wife of 24 years, Joan; daughter Page Munksgard; step-children Kristen Jaeger, Eric Sandberg, Derrik Sandberg, and Stephanie Sandberg — all St. Helena School graduates. There are also 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Ed Westgate, 100, was born May 15, 1912, in Rio Vista, Calif., to Edward. William and Edith Cooley Westgate, farmers in the San Joaquin Delta. He attended University of the Pacific (U.O.P.), then graduated from Stanford with a degree in economics. His ailing father soon died and Ed was in charge of the family farms.

In 1933, during the Great Depression, one of the ranches was sold, and Ed became the tenant farmer of the buyer, former President Herbert Hoover. Ed’s career included farmer, U.S. Army officer, developer, vintner, and community leader. Ed served in World War II with the Economic Warfare branch in Northern Africa, the Middle East and Brazil.

Home from the war, Ed gave up farming to become a developer. Ed was an innovator. He developed the first major hotel on an outer island in Hawaii: the Sheraton Maui. He built the first condominium in the U.S., 1070 Green St. in San Francisco, and in Hawaii. Partnering with an established Hawaiian firm, Westgate/Amfac, he helped reconstruct the Silverado Country Club, featuring two 18-hole golf courses designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr.

U.O.P. was a major interest for Ed. As a regent, Ed served for 29 years on its board. Ed was admired as a negotiator, hard driving and smart, honest and fair. Ed’s standard was, “What is good for me has to be good for the other fellow as well.”

He lived his life as in his favorite Sinatra song, “I Did It My Way.” He liked to say, “Yes, I did do it my way.” The celebration of life was a family affair.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Napa Valley Hospice; University of the Pacific; or Planned Parenthood. Please share your fond memories of Ed at MorrisonFuneralChapel.com.