Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Saturday, June 12, 2010 at 05:29:53 :
Independent Journal
Monday, June 23, 1980
James ‘Jack’ Kidder dies; former Novato fire chief
Former Novato Fire Chief James “Jack” W. Kidder Jr. collapsed of an apparent heart attack at Indian Valley Golf Course and died Saturday. He was 58.
Kidder served as chief of the Novato Fire Protection District from 1969 to 1975. He started with the fire department as a volunteer in 1950. He was one of the first men hired as a full-time firefighter in 1954.
He became a fire captain in 1959 and was made assistant chief in 1965.
Kidder succeeded former Fire Chief George Cavallero, who died while on the job. Kidder was followed by Chief Charles Onorato, who is leaving July 1.
A native of Newman, Stanislaus County, Kidder moved to Novato with his family 45 years ago when he was 13. He attended Novato elementary schools and San Rafael High School.
Until he became chief, Kidder worked with his late father, James W. Kidder Sr., in a painting and decorating business in Novato. He resumed work in t hat trade after resigning from the fire department.
He was a charter member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7816 in Novato. He was also a member of the Novato Volunteer Fire Department and the California State Fireman’s Association.
Kidder served with the U.S. Navy aboard destroyers from 1941 to the conclusion of World War II in the Atlantic and Pacific theater. He fought in the battle of Guadalcanal.
Survivors include his wife, Lorraine Kidder of Novato; two sons, James A. Kidder and John L. Kidder, both of Novato; three daughters, Janice Lint of Rohnert Park, Georgette Pomilia of Crescent City and Joyce Anne Kidder of San Rafael; two brothers, Leland Kidder of Petaluma and Robert Kidder of Novato; four sisters, Lucille Ahrens of Larkspur, Lois Westland of Hat Creek, Verna Field and Shirley Silva, both of Willits; his mother, Olga Kidder of Hat Creek; and six grandchildren.
A funeral will be held at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday in the Redwood Chapel Funeral Home in Novato. He will be buried at Bahia Valley Memorial Park.
There will also be a memorial service conducted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7816 at 8 tonight in the Redwood Chapel Funeral Home.
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