Eleanor was born on August 6th, 1920, to Felix and Ethel (Storm) Rogers in Watsonville, CA. She lived an idyllic, small town life: she rode horses, played tennis, skied at Badger Pass and went to the beach in Capitola. In 1936, during the 4th of July Parade, she and a group of girls pulled a bi-plane down the street; their reward was a flight around Watsonville wearing a leather cap and goggles – a flight her parents only found out about afterwards. Her father taught her to drive at 16; always the responsible one, she became the ‘designated driver’. After dancing at the Capitola Dance Hall, she would drive friends back in their car over highway 19 - in the fog with her head out the window to see the road! After graduating from Watsonville High School, she went to Salinas JC, then San Jose State, to earn a degree in design. Three years into college, she met her future husband, a Santa Clara University senior and basketball player, Robert Feerick, on July 5th, 1940, at the World’s Fair on Treasure Island. They became engaged on her birthday the following year and married shortly thereafter on September 5th, 1941, at St Clare’s church, Santa Clara. By 1948, with two young boys in tow, the family headed to Washington D.C. where Bob played professionally for the Washington Capitals. There she was not only able to expand her antique collection, but also hone her keen basketball knowledge – she could still illuminate plays from the 40s and 50s with ease – enough so that she could have written a book! After spending the 1950s and early 60s in Santa Clara, where Bob coached at his Alma Mater, the family landed in San Francisco where Bob became coach for the newly transplanted San Francisco Warriors basketball team. In San Francisco, Eleanor attended antique and art auctions, visited museums and became a society woman. She entertained often, which included feeding the team during home games. At 50, she took a part time sales job in the china and crystal department at Breuners. Tragically, during her 56th year of life, Eleanor lost both her husband and only daughter, Deidre. After this, she lived the remainder of her life in San Jose. Her eldest son, Bob, was able to take care of her during the last years of her life, for which she was so grateful for.
Eleanor, being a child of the Depression, was not extravagant, but was able to enjoy her antiques, Waterford crystal collection and trips to Hawai’i. And, a clear outlier, she enjoyed her evening cocktail and smokes to the end. Except for having her babies, she never went into the hospital. She was a stoic and a devout Catholic, never asking or wanting for anything - except a nightly prayer to not wake up! She loved reading, entertaining on holidays and looked forward to each and every 49er and Warriors game. Mostly, she loved being with family and friends and reminiscing about the wonderful life she had. She had her humor until the end: “I look in the mirror and ask who that old woman is!”
Eleanor is also preceded in death by her younger siblings, Mary and Ed. She is survived by her three loving sons, Bob, Rick and Chuck (Jacqi); grandchildren Patrick, Christiane, Tim, John and Mike (Tanya), and one great-grandchild, Henry; nephews Bruce (Kathy) and Gary, and many nieces and nephews, including Dawn who faithfully brought Eleanor Communion every Sunday.
A funeral service will be held on Wednesday October 23rd, 2019 at Oak Hill Funeral Home, Chapel of the Roses, on Curtner Avenue in San Jose at 9:45 AM. No donations please. Only prayers for our beloved Eleanor to rest in perpetual peace.
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