Marin memoriam: Notable residents who died in 2025

Several well-known members of the Marin community died this year, including a world-famous author, a nun known for her running prowess and a Secret Service agent who protected Jacqueline Kennedy on the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.

All made lasting contributions to the civic and cultural life of the county. A look back at the local luminaries who died in 2025:

January

Claude Jarman Jr., Jan. 12:  An Oscar-winning child actor and former executive director of the San Francisco International Film Festival who was best known for his performance in “The Yearling.” He was 90 and lived in Kentfield.

February

Clint Hill, Feb. 21: A Secret Service agent known for leaping into a limousine to shield first lady Jacqueline Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963, in Dallas when President Kennedy was assassinated. Hill was 93 and lived in Belvedere.

March

Jesse Colin Young, March 16: A musician and singer for the Youngbloods, well known for their song “Get Together.” Young, who died at age 83, was a longtime resident of Inverness.

Gary Spratling, March 26: The former Tiburon mayor, lawyer and deputy U.S. attorney general was a founding trustee and first chair of the Marin Community Foundation. He was 83 and lived in Tiburon.

June

Bill Bagley, June 9: A former state assemblyman representing Marin and Sonoma counties and chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. He was 96 and lived in San Rafael.

July

Martin Cruz Smith, July 11: The author was best known for his book “Gorky Park” and the ensuing series that featured the fictional Russian detective Arkady Renko. He was 82 and lived in San Rafael.

August

Pat Kendall, Aug. 7: A health care leader who had a 50-year career with Kaiser Permanente, 31 years of which she spent as the first medical group administrator for Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Medical Center. Kendall, who was inducted into Marin Women’s Hall of Fame in 2020, died at age 77 at her home in San Rafael.

Sister Marion Irvine, Aug. 30: A Dominican nun in San Rafael of 76 years known internationally as the “Flying Nun” for her impressive running abilities. She broke multiple world and American age-group records, won five gold medals at the 1989 World Master Championships and became the oldest athlete to qualify for the U.S. Olympic trials in her division. She died at age 95 at the convent where she resided at Dominican University of California.

September

Paul Haakenson, Sept 10: The former Marin County Superior Court judge and prosecutor was 61 and lived in San Rafael.

October

Joan Thayer, Oct. 10: A retired Marin County assessor-recorder and San Rafael City Council member. She was 82 and lived in San Rafael.

Mark Milberg, Oct. 13: The Novato City Council member and former mayor was 65.

November

Phil Brown, Nov. 5: A former Novato city manager of 18 years who was also known for his work as a community volunteer. He was 94 and lived in Novato.