February 22, 1928 - March 12, 2022 Resident of Clements, CA On the anniversary of his passing and in loving memory, we remember our father, grandfather, and dear friend, Kermit L. Darrow, who passed away at his home in Clements, CA at the age of 94. He was laid to rest in a private plot at Cherokee Memorial Park, Lodi CA, joining his wife of 47 years, Eleanor N. Darrow, who died in 2007.
Kermit was a longtime resident of Santa Cruz CA for over 60 yrs until his move to the Sierra Foothills in 1990.
Kermit was born in Klamath Falls, OR to Horace F. Darrow and Velma E. (Wescoatt) Darrow. A year later, in 1929 his parents and older brother Robert H. Darrow moved to Santa Cruz, CA where the family would reside on Goss Avenue in Santa Cruz for many decades.
During Kermit’s young life as a very shy child, his quiet contemplative nature would prove to be very useful. His early talent for drawing soon became a noticeable gift and his interest in structures and building things, grew. Kermit’s aptitude for visualization and measure were fostered by his parents throughout his school years. In 1939, he and his family attended the World’s Fair on San Francisco Bay which was inspiring and educational.
Kermit attended Santa Cruz City Schools and graduated from Santa Cruz High School in 1946. He was a player on the Cardinal Baseball Team. His family’s love for the beach and Kermit’s fabrication and creative skills were put to good use by building a very old-school, wooden longboard that he and his brother took out surfing. It was heavy... but it worked!
Kermit attended Hartnell College in Salinas, and graduated in 1948 and was later accepted into the ‘School of Architecture’ at the University of California, at Berkeley. He became a Sigma Chi Fraternity brother and being an avid football fan, never missing a Cal versus Stanford game. During his summers of work and recreation, he perfected his game of horseshoes, a lifelong skill, it was a ringer for the win!
Kermit completed his degree in Architecture from the UC Berkeley in 1951. He was married to his high school sweetheart Lois G.Thomsen for 11 years, and his first daughter, Lizabeth Diana Darrow (Evanovich) was born. He established his private practice of architecture downtown Santa Cruz in 1955, while still in association with A.I.A. architect Francis A. Lockwood’s firm. Kermit became a member of the American Institute of Architects of the Monterey Bay, in 1957.
Kermit’s architectural career began both in commercial and residential buildings. His visions of the future were manifesting, while squarely rooted in modern design and modern concepts. Notably, Kermit’s architectural aesthetic was ‘light for living concept.’ This allowed for minimalistic clean lines and calm living spaces of glass and beamed high ceilings, which all culminated in a fluid indoor and outdoor feel. The outdoors was used as a focal point and could be appreciated from every room in his fine homes.
Many of such homes were located in the Pasatiempo and DeLaveaga areas in Santa Cruz.
In 1960, Kermit was remarried in Carmel, CA to Eleanor S. Noble, and soon he designed and built a custom home with his wife amoungst the majestic redwoods of Bonny Doon. The house featured an enchanting indoor garden solarium that could be seen from the main rooms of the house. A handful of years later their daughter, Joan Leslie Darrow (Ferrell) was born and was raised there. Kermit donated his services to draw up plans to build the Bonny Doon Fire and Rescue Department which was completed in 1971. Kermit was a long acting volunteer fireman in Bonny Doon (Battle Mountain) along with his adopted son Matthew for a period, before Matt took up residence in Lake Tahoe. The plans for the Bonny Doon Presbyterian Church and ‘an addition’ for the Bonny Doon Elementary School were donated and built as well.
Some of Kermit’s most recognized public works are the Santa Cruz Town Clock, completed in 1976 for the bicentennial celebration, the Pacific Garden Mall (1969) in collaboration with landscape architects Arthur B. Hyde and Roy Rydell, and the Dream Inn Hotel (1972) and numerous other public buildings.
Kermit’s social involvement, volunteer work and affiliations included; Goodwill Industries as a board member, a lifetime donor to the Salvation Army, an Elks Club member and highly active Rotarian for many years, and others. He was elected as the Santa Cruz chapter president for the Berkeley Alumni Association, in 1958. He was a supervisory architect and consultant for numerous projects during his career. After Kermit retired from his architectural practice, he became the Chief Building Inspector for the City of Santa Cruz Planning Department. Kermit was very involved during the Loma Prieta earthquake aftermath, in 1989. He worked tirelessly alongside many of his colleagues who volunteered to help others recover and rebuild what they lost.
In Kermit’s family life, we fondly remember one of our family vacation traditions at the Cal Alumni, Lair of the Golden Bear, in Pinecrest, CA. We always stayed at Camp Blue, as Camp Gold was our fun rival. It was as entertaining in different ways for each of us, as it was peaceful. (Anecdote: Brushing your teeth at the spigot by flashlight and worried about bears was remedied having your Dad with you brushing his teeth also.) We all remember Kermit’s large, yellow D8 Catepillar tractor which became a family icon. Liz, Matt and Joan all had their turn high up in the bucket. Kermit loved that Catepillar, as it was the ‘work-horse’ for the property in Bonny Doon.
He was also known for his green thumb as he toiled and tended his vegetable garden each year with rows of sweet corn, tomatoes, peas, lima beans, squash, and strawberries to share and enjoy. Our family has many lovely memories throughout the years of summertime celebrations and get togethers. Kermit tending the barbeque, humorously trying to tell jokes but laughing at the punchline, swimming and games, horseback riding, skiing, ocean fishing, boating excursions and trips to Lake Tahoe and Yosemite; all treasured memories.
By 1990, he and his wife Eleanor began a new adventure in their lives. Weekend boating on the San Joaquin Delta became a passion and before long their enthusiasm for the Clements area turned into building a custom home, once again. The couple lived on their yacht, the ‘Florentina’ docked at the Bethel Island Harbor Marina in Stockton, for nearly a year with their three cats, until the house was finished in 1991.
Kermit continued his work as the Chief Building Inspector for San Joaquin County for 19 years, building lasting friendships until his retirement at the age of 80 in 2008. Kermit and Eleanor had many years of enjoyment and entertaining at the Clements home and taking friends and family out on the Delta.
The Monterey Bay and the Santa Cruz Mountains were the cornerstone for all that Kermit held dear. His duty and the love for his family that emanated from there and beyond became distant anchors during his struggle with dementia. A very special thank you goes out to America’s Senior Care in Lodi for their years of collaboration and care for Kermit, and Hospice of San Joaquin County.
Kermit is survived by his two daughters and their husbands; Lizabeth D. Evanovich and Sam Evanovich and Joan L. Ferrell and J. Scott Ferrell; three grandchildren: John Evanovich and Nichole (Evanovich) Torres, Morgan M. Ferrell and three great-grandchildren; Gabriella, James, and Henry Torres.
Kermit was a gentle, charming person, thoughtful, generous and always helpful. He worked diligently but mostly loved the simple, beautiful things in life, like togetherness.
His favorite song, “I Will Always Love You,” by Whitney Houston, was true and constant in his life. He was loved and respected by many and will be greatly missed by his friends and family.