Jerome Bothe Deck

Anticipating his new life with Christ, and with his family surrounding and holding him, Jerome Bothe Deck, M.D., (“Jerry”), of Santa Cruz, passed away on September 1, 2026. Even after death, he smiled sweetly and lovingly. His intellectual curiosity, quiet fortitude, generosity and faith impacted all who knew him. He was 88.

Born in San Jose in 1938, he attended Bellarmine College Preparatory and Santa Clara University. At this time, he met his future wife, Sylvia, as her blind date at a Valentine’s Day party. Yes, it was love at first sight! After receiving his medical degree from St. Louis University and completing his medical residency at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, he served Alaska Natives in Sitka, Alaska with the Public Health Service. In 1968, he moved to Santa Cruz, spending 31 years working at the Santa Cruz Medical Clinic as an internist. His countless patients praised his exceptional care and calming presence. He retired in 2000.

He was an Eagle Scout and held tenures as Chief of Staff for Dominican Hospital, Pastoral Council President at Holy Cross Church and Treasurer of the Siena House Board. He was also an immigration sponsor, a home builder in Central America with Habitat for Humanity and a regular volunteer for the Holy Cross Food Pantry.

His interests included antique clock and player piano restoration, extensive travel (including an abroad trip with each grandchild), genealogy, learning Spanish, history books, stamp collecting and playing the piano. He maintained his yard as a beautiful, contemplative sanctuary. He knew the story of each redwood tree surrounding the house. Outwitting gophers and designing the world’s first and only squirrel-proof bird feeder were some of his crowning achievements.

His self-taught talents included woodworking and stained glass. Projects started simply – a stained-glass pigeon or a plywood stereo box for his children. With time, his pieces evolved and included elaborate oak tables with inlayed designs (now treasured by his grandchildren) or a stained-glass ceiling depicting a wise oak tree, its canopy spreading in every direction.

His wit and affection were evident in how he raised his children. To their delight, he taught them poker games like No Peeky Baseball. He could even make meatloaf entertaining, once sculpting the meat into a perfect cat. On Saturday mornings, after returning from patient rounds, he brought home maple donuts from Ferrells and rallied his kids: “I’m taking trash to the dump. Let’s go!”

His body served him well, whether it was in biking, skiing, tennis or running. To his children’s astonishment, after running the first of his six marathons, he ate an entire cube of butter and a box of Wheat Thins. And his fondness for backpacking in the High Sierras, a trait inherited by his children, revealed his deep relationship with nature.

His young adult letters highlighted a favorite prayer: Dear Lord…teach me not to ask for reward, save that of knowing that I do your will. (St. Ignatius). Catholic liturgy was his sacred and happy place. Sitting in the pew, he often appeared asleep. But, if you listened closely, you could hear him humming with the music. This is where he found connection with family and community and Jesus, whom he affectionately called “Our friend.” Later in life, he fostered friendships with people from different faith traditions. His ecumenical vision helped him better understand God and his own faith.

He was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Deck, in 1993, and his mother, Lillian, in 2007. He is survived by his beloved wife of 66 years, Sylvia. Together, they were familiar fixtures, typically seen walking hand-in-hand along West Cliff or through their neighborhood. Their enduring love inspired many, especially their family.

His legacy, creativity and love of nature survive in his five children and their families: Kristin Côté, married to Jean, parents of Philippe, Isabelle, and Caroline; Joseph, married to Liliana, parents of Joseph and Peter; Jerome Jr., married to Lydia, parents of Clare, Samuel, Jerome, and Henry; Celeste Guerrero, married to Nicholas, parents of Nico, Andreas, and Mariana; John, married to Christine, parents of Alexander, Ella, Maria, Brigid, and Shanti. His 17 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren—Lilli, Eva, Marz, and Elanora—affectionately called him “Papa.” From their Papa, they received their first haircut and their first reading of Green Eggs and Ham. He is also survived by his sister, Vicky Nanawa, and his brother, Peter Deck.

Please consider donating to Siena House Maternity Home (sienahouse.org) or Holy Cross Catholic Church. The funeral mass occurs on Friday, September 18th at 11 AM at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Santa Cruz. And! No tie required. Jerry embraced life with an open-collared approach. He wanted the same for those attending his funeral.