Louis Dunand Sevenau & Velma Henrietta Marley

FAMILY LINE AND HISTORY

Louis Dunand “Lou” Sevenau
1st of 4 children of Ernest Edward Jules Sevenau & Edna Marguarite Clement/Kellogg
Born: Dec 15, 1913, San Francisco, California
Died: Aug 20, 1996 (age 82), Windsor, Sonoma Co., California; stroke resulting in coma and pneumonia
Buried: Aug 23, 1996, Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma, San Mateo Co., California
Occupation: Typesetter for SF newspaper, SF Municipal Railway conductor; SF Police Department (Sergeant)
Avocation: Crossword puzzles and golf
Married (1): Mar 28, 1938, Velma Henrietta Marley, San Francisco, California
Four children: Stephen Louis Sevenau, Robert Kenneth Sevenau, Myrtle Ann Sevenau, Michael Gerard Sevenau
Married (2): Apr 19, 1980, Marian Alicia Imelda (Curran) Mitchell, Santa Rosa, Sonoma Co., California

Velma Henrietta Marley
1st of 2 children of Stephen Bernard Marley & Myrtle Josephine Beedle
Born: Jul 7, 1918, San Francisco, California
Died: May 25, 1979 (age 60), Sacramento, Sacramento Co., California; heart attack
Avocation: Catholic Church volunteer
Buried: May 29, 1979, Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma, San Mateo Co., San Francisco, California
Married: Mar 28, 1938, Louis Dunand “Lou” Sevenau, San Francisco, California
Four children: Stephen Louis Sevenau, Robert Kenneth Sevenau, Myrtle Ann Sevenau, Michael Gerard Sevenau

1. Stephen Louis “Steve” Sevenau
Born: May 16, 1939, San Francisco, California
Died: Aug 3, 2014 (age 75), Reno, Washoe Co., Nevada; prostate and lung cancer, cardiac arrest
Military: U.S. Navy (reserves?)
Occupation: Janitor for City public works, U.S. Postal Inspector, real estate agent, ex-prisoners mental health counselor
Religion: Entered St. Joseph’s Catholic Seminary at age 13 (1953-1959)
Married: Aug 8, 1964, Irene McCartney, San Francisco, California
Divorced: mid-1980s
Three children

2. Robert Kenneth “Bob” Sevenau
Born: May 9, 1946, San Francisco, California
Military: U.S. Army Reserves (served 5 years)
Occupation: vendor at Kezar Stadium (age 12 to 14), gas station attendant, PacBell (switchman), Safeway cashier; owner of ARCO service station, owner natural foods distribution, owner carpet/flooring stores (Rugworks)
Married (1): Oct 7, 1967, Catherine Frances Clemens, San Francisco, California
Separated: mid-1972, Santa Rosa, Sonoma Co., California
Divorced/Dissolution: Nov 1973, Santa Rosa, Sonoma Co., California
Two children
Married (2): May 9, 1980, (R.C.W.F.), Santa Rosa, Sonoma Co., California
Divorced: 1995, Santa Rosa, Sonoma Co., California
Married (3): Winter of 1996 or early 1997, (R.M.T.), Sea Ranch, Sonoma Co., California
Divorced: married ten months, Sonoma Co., California
Married (4): 2004, (R.D.L.), on a cruise to Tahiti(?)
Divorced: abt 2009/10, Sonoma Co., California
Married (5): Jul 11, 2014, Moriah Fey, Santa Rosa, Sonoma Co., California

3. Myrtle Ann Sevenau
Born: Jun 11, 1950, San Francisco, California
Died: Jun 11, 1950, San Francisco, California; at birth, umbilical cord around her neck
Buried: Jun 12, 1950, Holy Cross in Children’s Perpetual Care in Colma, San Mateo Co., California
Re-interred: May 29, 1979, with mother, Velma Henrietta (Marley) Sevenau, Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma, San Mateo Co., California

4. Michael Gerard “Mike” Sevenau
Born: Oct 15, 1953, San Francisco, California
Died: Aug 31, 2014, (age 60), Alamo, Contra Costa Co., California; died in a fiery car crash, drunk driving
Occupation: Liquor store owner in San Francisco (Steve & Itchy’s); owner of carpet/rug cleaning company (The Carpet Man)
Author: How to Beat the Sharks When the Water’s Polluted
Married: (R.L.S)
Two children

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Marian Alicia Imelda Curran
Daughter of Thomas William Curran & Mabel Frances Murphy
2nd wife of Louis Dunand “Lou” Sevenau
Occupation: Secretary to Superintendent of Parks at McLaren Lodge, San Francisco
Born: May 3, 1912, San Francisco, California
Died: May 3, 1994 (age 82) Santa Rosa, Sonoma Co., California; heart attack
Buried: Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Colma, San Mateo Co., California
Married (1): Jun 8, 1935, Thomas Joseph “Tom” Mitchell, San Francisco
Two children
Married (2): Apr 19, 1980, Louis Dunand “Lou” Sevenau, Santa Rosa, Sonoma Co., California

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Thomas Joseph “Tom” Mitchell
Son of James Joseph Mitchell & Katherine Gillespie
1st husband of Marian Alicia Imelda Curran
Occupation: Worked for auto dealerships in San Francisco
Born: May 12, 1906, San Francisco, California
Died: Sep 6, 1970 (age 64), Camp Meeker, Sonoma Co., California
Buried: Sep 9, 1970: Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, in Colma, San Mateo Co., California
Married: Jun 8, 1935, Marian Alicia Imelda Curran, San Francisco, California
Two children

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Ernest Edward Jules Sevenau & Edna Marguarite Clement/Kellogg (parents of Louis)

Ernest Edward Jules Sevenau
1st of 2 children of Ernest Joseph Sevenau & Marie A. Loiseau
Born: Mar 3, 1892, San Francisco, California
Died: Mar 20, 1970 (age 78), San Francisco, California
Buried: Mar 24, 1970, Olivet Memorial Park in Colma, San Mateo Co., California
Occupation: Dyer, roofer, latherer, streetcar conductor, San Francisco De Young Museum guard
Avocation: Musically talented, played several stringed instruments, fisherman, raised escargot
Married (1): Feb 13, 1913, Edna Marguarite Clement/Kellogg, San Francisco, California
Divorced: aft 1925 and bef 1930 census, San Francisco, California
Four children: Louis Dunand Sevenau, Ernest William Sevenau, Lucille Josephine [Jeanne Lucille] Sevenau, Eugene Martin Sevenau
Married (2): Jul 17, 1938, Margaret Barbara (Richard) Mersberg, San Francisco, California
No children

Edna Marguarite Clement/Kellogg
2nd of 2 children of Edmond Pierre Clement & Alice Josephine Yates
Note: (Edna Marguarite Clement took the last name of her stepfather, Milo B. Kellogg)
Born: Feb 25, 1896, California
Died: Dec 25, 1983 (age 97), Sonoma, Sonoma Co., California
Buried: Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, San Mateo Co., California
Occupation: Cook at Newberry’s and for Catholic priests; presser at Diemel Linen Co. in San Francisco
Married (1): Feb 13, 1913, Ernest Edward Jules Sevenau, San Francisco, California
Divorced: aft 1925 and bef 1930 census, San Francisco, California
Four children: Louis Dunand Sevenau, Ernest William Sevenau, Lucille Josephine [Jeanne Lucille] Sevenau, Eugene Martin Sevenau
Married (2): aft 1936, Gerald John “Jerry” Sutcliff
No children
Married (3): mid-1940s, Charles Solomon “Sol/Solly” Blackman
No children

1. Louis Dunand “Lou” Sevenau
Born: Dec 15, 1913, San Francisco, California
Died: Aug 20, 1996 (age 82), Windsor, Sonoma Co., California; stroke resulting in coma and pneumonia
Buried: Aug 23, 1996, Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma, San Mateo Co., California
Occupation: Municipal Railway, San Francisco Police Force (Sergeant)
Married (1): Mar 28, 1938, Velma Henrietta Marley, San Francisco, California
Four children: Stephen Louis Sevenau, Robert Kenneth Sevenau, Myrtle Ann Sevenau, Michael Gerard Sevenau
Married (2): Apr 19, 1980, Marian Alicia (Curran) Mitchell, Santa Rosa, Sonoma Co., California

2. Ernest William “Ernie” Sevenau
Born: Sep 26, 1915, San Francisco, California
Died: Nov 4, 1976 (age 61), Yountville, Napa Co. California; cancer, alcohol-related
Buried: Skylawn Memorial Park in San Mateo, San Mateo Co., California
Occupation: Truck Driver, carnival worker, middleweight boxer
Military: U.S. Navy, WWII
Married(?) (1): bef 1934, Virginia “Cookie” Cook, San Francisco
One child: Barbara Lee Sevenau
Married (2): Sep 9, 1942, Edith (Pederson) Nunes, San Francisco, California
Divorced: Jun 21, 1945 (divorce complaint filed)
One child: Ernest Lewis “Ernie/Skygak” Sevenau
Remarried Oct 16, 1966, Edith (Pederson) Nunes, Carson City, Nevada
Married(?) (3): Helen Elizabeth Gee (perhaps common-law)
One child: Jeanne Marguerite Sevenau

3. Lucille Josephine [Jeanne Lucille] “Sis/Sissy” Sevenau
Born: Jun 27, 1917, Seattle, King Co., Washington
Died: Feb 2, 1955 (age 37), La Jolla, San Diego Co., California; heart attack during surgery for an ectopic pregnancy; suffered from Addison’s disease
Buried: Cypress View Mausoleum and Crematory (columbarium) in San Diego, San Diego Co., California
Occupation: Waitress, worked in a drug store selling cosmetics
Avocation: Dancer, singer
(*not married): 1934, Cecil Jerome King, California
One child: Donna Jeanne Young
Married (1): 1935, Irvin George “Bud” Young, California
No children, but considered Donna Jean Young as his child and whose last name Donna used
Married (2): Jun 1942, Charles Alphonso “Chuck” Martinez, San Francisco, California
Three children: Charles Alfred “Chuck” Martinez, James Joseph “Jim” Martinez, Patricia Lynn “Patty” Martinez
Married (3): 1954, Ronald “Ron” Wiley, possibly San Diego, California or Tijuana, Mexico

4. Eugene Martin “Buddy” Sevenau
Born: Apr 19, 1925, San Francisco, California
Died: Jun 21, 1984 (age 59), Gainesville, Alachua Co., Florida; cancer, alcohol-related
Buried: Forest Meadows Central Cemetery in Gainesville, Alachua Co., Florida
Military: U.S. Navy, WWII, radioman
Occupation: Long-distance truck driver, professional nightclub singer
Married (1): Dec 14, 1947, Dorothy Jean Chandler
One child: Gerry Eugene Sevenau
Married (2): Sep 12, 1955, Carmella Constance “Connie” Aloi, San Francisco, California
Two children: Eugene Louis “Gene” Sevenau, Edward Anthony “Eddie” Sevenau

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Timeline and Records

Spellings and information in census and other records are retained
as reflected in the original documents

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Mar 3, 1892: Birth of Ernest Edward Jules Sevenau, 1st of 2 children of Ernest Joseph Sevenau & Marie A. Loiseau, San Francisco, California and father of four children: Louis Dunand Sevenau, Ernest William Sevenau, Lucille Josephine [Jeanne Lucille] Sevenau, Eugene Martin Sevenau

Feb 25, 1896: Birth of Edna Marguarite Clement/Kellogg, 2nd of 2 children of Edmond Pierre Clement & Alice Josephine Yates and the step-daughter of Milo B. Kellogg, whose last name she took, in California and mother of Louis Dunand Sevenau, Ernest William Sevenau, Lucille Josephine [Jeanne Lucille] Sevenau, Eugene Martin Sevenau

Feb 13, 1913: Marriage of Ernest Edward Jules Sevenau (age 21) & Edna Marguerite Clement/Kellogg (age 16), parents of Louis Dunand “Lou” Sevenau, in San Francisco, California (photo taken five months prior to their marriage)

Dec 15, 1913: Birth of Louis Dunand “Lou” Sevenau, 1st of 4 children of Ernest Edward Jules Sevenau & Edna Marguarite Clement/Kellogg, in San Francisco, California

Dec 15, 1913: California Birth Index:
Name: Louis D Sevean (Sevenau)
Birth Date: 15 Dec 1913
Gender: Male
Mother’s Maiden Name: Kellogg
Birth County: San Francisco

Sep 26, 1915: Birth of Ernest William “Ernie” Sevenau, 2nd of 4 children of Ernest Edward Jules Sevenau & Edna Marguarite Clement/Kellogg and brother of Louis Dunand “Lou” Sevenau, in San Francisco, California

abt 1916: mother Edna Marguarite Clement/Kellogg) Sevenau with sons Ernie and Louis (standing) Sevenau:

Jun 27, 1917: Birth of Lucille Josephine (Jeanne Lucille) “Sissy” Sevenau, 3rd of 4 children of Ernest Edward Jules Sevenau & Edna Marguarite Clement/Kellogg and sister of Louis Dunand “Lou” Sevenau, in Seattle, King Co., Washington

Jul 7, 1918: Birth of Velma Henrietta Marley, 1st of 2 children of Stephen Bernard Marley & Myrtle Josephine Beedle and future wife of Louis Dunand Sevenau, in San Francisco, California

Jul 7, 1918: California Birth Index:
Name: Velma Marley
Birth Date: 7 Jul 1918
Gender: Female
Mother’s Maiden Name: Alfiere
Birth County: San Francisco

Jan 12, 1920: U.S. Federal Census for San Franciso, California:
Name: Louis Leveuais [Louis Sevenau]
Age: 6
Birth Year: abt 1914
Birthplace: California
Home in 1920: San Francisco Assembly District 23, San Francisco, California
Street: Teddy Ave
Residence Date: 1920
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Son
Marital Status: Single
Father’s Name: Ernest Leveuais (Sevenau)
Father’s Birthplace: California
Mother’s Name: Edna Leveuais (Sevenau)
Mother’s Birthplace: California
Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: None
Able to Write: No
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
Ernest Leveuais: age 27, Head, married, born California, father born France, mother born California (Sevenau)
Edna Leveuais: age 23, Wife, married, born California, father born France, mother born California (Sevenau)
Louis Leveuais: age 6, Son, born California, father born California, mother born California (Sevenau)
Ernest Leveuais Jr: age 4, Son, born California, father born California, mother born California (Sevenau)
Lucille Leveuais: age 2, Daughter, born Washington, father born California, mother born California (Sevenau)

Jan 13, 1920: Federal Census for San Franciso, California:
Name: Velma Marley
Age: 1
Birth Year: abt 1919
Birthplace: California
Home in 1920: San Francisco Assembly District 26, San Francisco, California
Street: Collingwood Street
Residence Date: 1920
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Marital Status: Single
Father’s Name: Stephen Marley
Father’s Birthplace: Wisconsin
Mother’s Name: Myrtle Marley
Mother’s Birthplace: California
Able to Speak English: Yes
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
Stephen Marley: age 39, Head, married, born Wisconsin, father born Wisconsin, mother born Wisconsin, cribber on Public Street
Myrtle Marley: age 33, married, Wife, married, born California, father born Italy, mother born California
Velma Marley: age 6/12 mo, Daughter, single, born California, father born Wisconsin, mother born California

Apr 19, 1925: Birth of Eugene Martin “Buddy” Sevenau, 4th of 4 children of Ernest Edward Jules Sevenau & Edna Marguarite Clement/Kellogg and brother of Louis Dunand “Lou” Sevenau, in San Francisco, California

Mar 28, 1924: Birth of Robert Stephen “Bob” Marley, 2nd of 2 children of Stephen Bernard Marley & Myrtle Josephine Beedle and brother of Velma Henrietta Sevenau, in San Francisco, California

bet 1925 & 1930: Divorce of Ernest Edward Jules Sevenau & Edna Marguarite Clement/Kellogg, parents of Louis Dunand “Lou” Sevenau 

circa 1929: Ernest & Edna Sevenau’s children at San Francisco beach:
Evelyn (unkn friend), Louis, Jeanne, Ernie, Micki (unkn friend), Eugene “Buddy” in front

1930 U.S. Federal Census: no record found for Edna Marguarite (Clement/Kellogg) Sevenau (age 34) and the children in the 1930 Federal Census. The father, Ernest Edward Jules Sevenau, is listed in the Apr 15, 1930 census below as divorced. Lou would have been 16, Ernie would be 14, Jeanne 12, and Buddy would have just turned age 5.

Apr 15, 1930: U.S. Federal Census, San Francisco, San Francisco Co., California:
Besson, Augustine: Head, age 47, Divorced, age 33 at 1st marriage, born France, father born France mother born France, Year of Immigration 1897, Restaurant, Own Business
Lacabee, Louis: Lodger, age 46, Single, born France, father born France, mother born France, Year of Immigration 1919, Waiter in Restaurant
Sevenau, Ernest: Lodger, age 38, Divorced, age 20 at 1st marriage, born California, father born France, mother born California, Roofer Contractor
Storm, Margaret: Lodger, age 27, Divorced, age 17 at 1st marriage, born Louisiana, father born Louisiana, mother born French Canada, Saleslady in Dept Store
Note: name indexed as Sevenan

Apr 11, 1930: U.S. Federal Census, San Franciso, California:
Name: Velma Marley
Birth Year: abt 1919
Gender: Female
Race: White
Age in 1930: 11
Birthplace: California
Marital Status: Single
Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Home in 1930: San Francisco, San Francisco, California
Street Address: Bartlett Street
House Number: 245
Attended School: Yes
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father’s Birthplace: Wisconsin
Mother’s Birthplace: California
Able to Speak English: Yes
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship:
Stephen Marley: age 49, Head, age 35 at 1st marriage, born Wisconsin, father born Wisconsin, mother born Wisconsin, laborer for board of public works
Myrtle Marley: age 45, Wife, age 31 at 1st marriage, born California, father born California, mother born Italy
Velma Marley: age 11, Daughter, born California, father born Wisconsin, mother born California
Robert S Marley: age 6, Son, born California, father born Wisconsin, mother born California

1934: San Francisco City Directory, San Francisco, California (pg 1009):
Father Ernest Edward Jules Sevenau (age 42) and eldest son, Louis Dunand Sevenau (age 21):

1935: California Voter Registration:
Name: Louis D Sevenau
Residence Date: 1935
Street Address: 400 Oak
Residence Place: San Francisco, California
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Occupation: Stereotyper

1936: California U.S. Voter Registration:
Name: Louis D. Sevenau (age 23, living at same address his mother, Mrs. Edna M. Sevenau)
Residence Date: 1936
Street Address: 363 Page, Housekeeper
Residence Place: San Francisco, California
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Occupation: Stereotyper (typesetter for San Francisco newspaper)

1937: San Francisco City Directory, San Francisco, California (pg 1288):
Sevenau, Louis D., stereo appr Western Newspaper Union, r835 Octavia (stereotyper/typesetter for San Francisco newspaper)

Mar 28, 1938: Marriage of Louis Dunand “Lou” Sevenau (age 24) & Velma Henrietta Marley (age 19), San Francisco, California

Dec 1938: Mission High School Yearbook, San Francisco, California:
Mrs. Owens Girls Glee Club, Room 424
Velma (age 19) is front row 2nd in from the right
Note: If these dates are correct, Velma was in high school when she and Lou were married

1938: Mission High School Graduation, Velma Henrietta Marley (Lou and Velma both attended Mission High):

1939: California Voter Registration:
Name: Mrs Velma H Sevenau
Residence Date: 1939
Residence Place: 235 Bartlett San Francisco, California
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Occupation: Housewife

May 16, 1939: Birth of Stephen Louis “Steve” Sevenau, 1st of 4 children of Louis Dunand “Lou” Sevenau & Velma Henrietta Marley, in San Francisco, California

Apr 9, 1940: U.S. Federal Census, San Francisco, California (235 Bartlett Street)
Name: Louis Sevenau
Age: 26
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1914
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: California
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Son-in-law
Home in 1940: San Francisco, San Francisco, California
Street: Bartlett Street
House Number: 235
Inferred Residence in 1935: San Francisco, San Francisco, California
Residence in 1935: San Francisco
Occupation: Conductor
Attended School or College: No
Highest Grade Completed: High School, 4th year
Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 0
Duration of Unemployment: 0
Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker in Government work
Weeks Worked in 1939: 52
Income: 1500
Income Other Sources: No
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship:
Stephen Marley: age 59, Head, born Wisconsin, public works foreman
Myrtle Marley: age 56, Wife, born California
Velma Sevenau: age 21 Daughter, born California
Louis Sevenau: age 26, Son-in-law, born California, railway conductor
Stephen Sevenau: age 11/12, Grandson, born California
Robert Marley: age 16, Son, born California
Note: Lou. Velma, and their 11-month-old son Stephen “Steve” are living with Velma’s parents, Stephen & Myrtle Marley and Velma’s younger brother, Robert

1941: San Francisco City Directory (pg 1291):
Name: Louis D Sevenau
Gender: Male
Residence Year: 1941
Street Address: 247 Carlos
Residence Place: San Francisco, California
Occupation: Conductor Municipal Railway
Spouse: Velma Sevenau
Publication Title: San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1941

Circa 1942: Stephen & Myrtle Marley with son Robert Stephen “Bob” Marley, parents and brother of Velma (Marley) Sevenau:

Jul 13, 1942: Louis Dunand “Lou” Sevenau joins the San Francisco Police Force:

Source: City and County of San Francisco Police Department, Headquarters, Public Records Request

History of the Police Force prior to and during Lou’s years on the force:
The Atherton Report: In 1935, the citizens of the city of San Francisco were indignant when tales of police officers having amassed huge fortunes through payoffs, graft and bribery came to light. In a convulsion of civic anger, District Attorney Matt Brady and Mayor Angelo Rossi were pressed to act, and they hired private investigator and former G-man Edwin N. Atherton. The so-called Atherton Report prompted dozens of cops to quit or lose their jobs, some went underground, one killed himself and his family. The entire police commission was forced to resign and reports of police payoffs, staged raids on gambling houses and brothels, bail bond skimming, unpaid loans to public officials and other were laid at the door of the House of McDonough.
Mar 16, 1937: Revelation of widespread graft reported in the 1937 investigation by Matthew Brady (district attorney) hired detective Edwin Atherton.
May 2, 1937: Patrolman George Burkhard, trophied marksman, shoots wife and two grown daughters then commits suicide in the midst of prosecution for falsifying documents related to his appearance at the Grand Jury graft hearings.
May 29, 1937: Riot in the Polk Gulch area on the night of the Golden Gate Bridge Fiesta.
Sep 1938: Mounted police chase striking Retail Department Store Employees Union in commercial district where thirty-five department stores are affected in general strike.
Oct 1943: “Iron Ring” police clique exposed. Certain officers are accused of participating and profiting from after hours bars, vice, “juke box racket” and gambling operations. Ostentatious displays of jewelry, cars and flashy cash decried as criminal gains (SF Chronicle October 25, 1943)
1940: Charles W. Dullea appointed chief by Mayor Angelo Joseph Rossi
May 1, 1942: meeting to establish The San Francisco Police Officers Association held with more than 100 members in attendance.
Oct and Nov 1943: San Francisco Chronicle reports accusations of police tip-offs in the Ynez Burns-Caldwell underground abortions case. Grand Jury holds hearings.
1944: Lake Merced firing range opens.
1944: V-Day riots last three days, mostly joined by men in uniform.
May 6, 1946: San Francisco Police and Coast Guard patrol boats circling Alcatraz Island in response to call from Warden James Johnston as rioting breaks out.
1946: the San Francisco Police Officers Association established.
1946: Inspector Jack Manion of the Chinatown Squad retires.
1947: The Nick de John mafia murder of 1947.
1948: Chief Michael Mitchell appointed.
1949: frame-up and arrest for narcotics possession of Billie Holiday
Sep 13–15, 1949: SF Chronicle reports on investigation of fake traffic tickets, printer claims he made them for plainsclothesman Albert E. Birdsall, Sr.
1951: Chief Michael Gaffey appointed.
1955: Chief George Healy sworn in.
Feb 1955: Reporter Charles Raudebaugh writes a 12-part series titled “the Untold Story of the San Francisco Police Dept.” for the SF Chronicle. The editors preface states; “The people of San Francisco are entitled to a full, if unpleasant report on what sort of police they are getting for their money. It must be crystal clear that these stories are not an attack on the hundreds of honorable officers on the force. Rather, this is an unmasking of “The System” itself – A self-perpetuating tradition of indolence and corruption.”
Sep 30, 1955: Chief George Healey asks for disbanding of Chinatown squad, upon request of influential Chinese World newspaper, which states that squad is an “affront to Americans of Chinese descent”.
May 1956: proposed bond issue proposition “A” to build a new Hall of Justice supported by the POA.
1956: regular POA Meetings Held at Hamm’s Brewery Skyroom.
1956: Chief Frances J. Ahern “Frank” appointed.
1957: The 1957 arrest of City Lights Bookstore publisher Lawrence Ferlinghetti on obscenity charges for publication of the Allen Ginsberg poem Howl
Oct 1957: Herbert P. Lee sworn in as first Chinese-American member of the SFPD, although there are references[where?] to other Chinese men served in the SFPD auxiliary in the 1940s.
Sep 1, 1958: Chief Frances J. Ahern died of a heart attack at a baseball game in Seal Stadium (New York Times: September 2, 1958. p. 25)
1958: Thomas J. Cahill, namesake of the current Hall of Justice appointed Chief.
Note: Cahill served from 1958 to 1970, the longest tenure as chief of police in San Francisco history.
May 13, 1960: A large group of students and citizens fire-hosed down the marble steps inside City Hall rotunda by the SFPD for protesting their exclusion from HUAC hearings, 52 arrests.
Sep 14, 1961 San Francisco Police Department vice squad San Francisco Police raided the Tay-Bush Inn and arrested 103 people. All but 14 were men accused of dancing together and kissing. Charges were dropped against 101 of them.
1961: The 1961 arrest of comedian Lenny Bruce for obscenity.
1962: Elliott Blackstone is selected as SFPD’s first liaison officer with the “homophile community.”
Apr 1962: Pacific Coast Unitarian Universalist Council meeting held in San Francisco in February contains the following: BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that we urge the creation at proper levels of government, tribunals of review and redress for police malpractice and misfeasance that shall be selected by and from the public at large having full powers of discipline, and that she shall endeavor to have enacted laws requiring that all persons with the powers of police officers shall be bonded in a sufficient amount to insure the safety of those who may have civil claims against them for malpractice and misfeasance.
1962: Dog patrol unit established.
Mar 7, 1964: Police arrest 167 of nearly 1,000 demonstrators who sat-in at the Sheraton Palace hotel in protest of the hotels failure to hire blacks.
Apr 14, 1964: Police arrest 180 civil rights demonstrators, motivated by the San Francisco NAACP, on Van Ness Avenue’s “Auto Row”, including actor Sterling Hayden and six clergymembers, who continue sit-ins at major auto showrooms such as the Wessman Lincoln-Mercury and nearby Cadillac dealership, protesting discriminatory hiring practices and demanding integration of work sales force.
Jan 1, 1965: New Year’s Eve party at California Hall (Polk Street) raided and 600 attendees lined up and photographed as homosexuals. The cases went to trial with support from the ACLU. All were acquitted.
1965: Two police officers and three ex-convicts charged with burglary of the home of ex-madam Sally Stanford in Pacific Heights, San Francisco. All but one of the accused convicted. The case was also known as the “Sally Stanford Burglary Caper.”
Aug 1966: Compton’s Cafeteria riot.
Sep 27, 1966: Hunters Point riot: A three-day riot breaks out when a white police officer shoots and kills a sixteen-year-old fleeing the scene of a stolen car. National guard cover city for two days.
1966: Police seize copies of Lenore Kandel’s book of poems, the love book, leading to another long obscenity trial. Kandel thanks police for the publicity by giving 1 percent of all profits to the Police Retirement Association.
1966 to 1967: Hippies enact walk-ins in Haight Street intersections precipitating repeated military-style police marches down the street.
1967: Police arrest dancers Rudolph Nureyev and Dame Margot Fonteyn on the roof of a house near the panhandle for being in the vicinity of pot smoking.
Dec 1968 through Jan 1969: Police repeatedly called on student protesters by Chancellor S.I. Hayakawa.
May 1, 1969: Arrest of seven young Latinos Los Siete De La Raza for the May 1, 1969, murder of an undercover officer Joe Brodnik and wounding of partner Paul McGoran.
1960s: Targeting of SFPD officers for assassination by militants alleged to be connected to the Black Panther Party.
Late 1960s: New Age philosopher Alan Watts suggests police cars be painted baby blue and white instead of black and white. This proposal was implemented in San Francisco by Chief Charles Gain in the late 1970s. Along with the new color scheme, Gain substituted the City’s seal (which appeared on almost all other municipal vehicles owned by San Francisco), with “Police Services” for the department’s traditional seven-pointed, blue star logo. Watts suggested the police wear baby blue uniforms, but this was never implemented. Later the police cars were repainted their former black and white colors with the blue star.
1960s to 1970s: The Zodiac serial killer case which rocked the Bay Area.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_San_Francisco_Police_Department

Lou’s beat on the SFPD encompassed most of the San Francisco precincts (the City is seven square miles), sometimes walking, other times in his black and white patrol car, and later on his large three-wheeler motorcycle.

May 16, 1944: Steve Sevenau’s 5th birthday party; Steve is at far left of bottom row of children, saluting, his mother Velma is with tilted head in the dark dress standing behind him:

1944: California Voter Registration:
Name: Mrs Velma H Sevenau
Residence Date: 1944
Street Address: 3360-23rd St
Residence Place San Francisco, California
Party Affiliation: Republican
Occupation: Housewife

1944: Lou & Velma Sevenau with her parents, Stephen Bernard Marley & Myrtle Josephine (Beedle) Marley; four-year-old Steve, son of Lou & Velma is standing in front of his father at an outing at the Rhododendron Garden in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park:

Circa 1945: Stephen Louis “Steve” Sevenau (age 5), 1st of 4 children of Louis Dunand “Lou” Sevenau & Velma Henrietta Marley:

May 9, 1946: Birth of Robert Kenneth “Bob” Sevenau, 2nd of 4 children of Louis Dunand “Lou” Sevenau & Velma Henrietta Marley, in San Francisco, California (circa 1946, Steve abt age 8), mother Velma, Bob abt 1 yr):

circa 1948: Sevenau family photo; Velma (abt age 29), Lou (abt 34), Bob (abt 2), and Steve (abt 8 or 9), taken at Camp Meeker. Velma’s maternal grandparents, Joseph Alfred Alfieri & Adelaide Jane “Ada/Addie” Beedle, owned a bakery in Camp Meeker located in the redwoods on the Bohemian Highway between Occidental and Monte Rio, 66 miles north of San Francisco. The family later turned the bakery into a house which became the summer home for the Alfieri and Marley families where they vacationed, the adults visiting on the large porch while the older kids hiked and played in the nearby swimming hole. Velma and the boys went up every summer from the time Bob was three-months-old until he was fourteen, Lou driving up and joining them on weekends. The kids were healthy and tanned except Bob’s right hand that Velma couldn’t let go of out of fear he’d drown, or be run over, or worse yet, abducted by wolves or bears.

1948: San Francisco City Directory (pg 1734):
Name: Louis D Sevenau
Gender: Male
Residence Year: 1948
Street Address: 28 Lapidge
Residence Place: San Francisco, California
Occupation: Police SFPD
Spouse: Velma Sevenau
Publication Title: San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1948
Note: Lou’s father Ernest is listed in the directory just above him

Oct 16, 1949: WWI Draft Card:
Name: Louis Dunand Sevenau
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 26
Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head)
Birth Date: 10 Dec 1913
Birth Place: San Francisco, California
Residence Place: San Francisco, California
Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940
Registration Place: San Francisco, California
Employer: Municipal Railway
Height: 5 10
Weight: 145
Complexion: Light
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Hazel
Next of Kin: S Marley (his mother-in-law, Mrs. Stephen Marley)
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship:
Louis Dunand Sevenau 27 Self (Head)

Note: Living at 28 Lapidge Street with Velma and her parents, Stephen & Myrtle Marley

Apr 6, 1950: U.S. Federal Census, San Francisco California:
Name: Louis D. Sevenau
Age: 36
Birth Date: abt 1914
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birth Place: California
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Residence Date: 1950
Home in 1950: San Francisco, San Francisco, California
Street Name: Lapidge St
House Number: 28
Dwelling Number: 165
Occupation: Policeman
Industry: Police Dept
Occupation Category: Working
Hours Worked: 44
Worker Class: Government (San Francisco policeman)
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship:
Louis D. Sevenau: age 36, Head, married, born California, Policeman for the Justice Department
Velma H Sevenau: age 31, Wife, married, born California
Stephen L Sevenau: age 10, Son, born California
Robert K Sevenau: age 3, Son, born California
Note: Lou and Velma are living next door to her parents, Stephen and Myrtle Marley who reside at 164 Lapidge Street. Velma is seven months pregnant with their third child.

Jun 11, 1950: Birth and death of Myrtle Ann Sevenau, 3rd of 4 children of Louis Dunand “Lou” Sevenau & Velma Henrietta Marley, in San Francisco, California

Jun 12, 1950: Burial of Myrtle Ann Sevenau in Children’s Perpetual Care section sec 3130, Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Colma, San Mateo Co., California
Note: the baby was re-interred May 29, 1979 and buried with her mother Velma Sevenau in Holy Cross Cemetery, St. Michael’s sec, row 21, grave 35, in Colma, San Mateo Co., California

1951: Velma Sevenau with sons Steve and Bob in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco:

1951: Bob (with no front teeth) and Steve (probably kindergarten and 6th grade) St. Gabriel’s Catholic School, San Francisco:

Oct 15, 1953: Birth of Michael Gerard “Mike” Sevenau, 4th of 4 children of Louis Dunand “Lou” Sevenau & Velma Henrietta Marley, in San Francisco, California; the three boys, Steve, Bob, and Mike, were born seven years apart.

Circa 1953: Velma, Steve and Lou in Scout uniforms, Bob in front. Lou appears to have been Steve’s Scout Master:

Circa 1953: Bob (abt age 5), Velma, unkn man, Steve in graduation or church robes (abt age 12 or 13), and Lou, in front of their church in San Francisco.

Circa 1953: Stephen Louis “Steve” Sevenau, 1st of 4 children of Louis Dunand “Lou” Sevenau & Velma Henrietta Marley, enters St. Joseph’s Catholic Seminary (Jesuit) in Marin with the intent of becoming a priest. Six years later, he determined the priesthood was not his calling.

1954: Sevenau family photo: Lou Sevenau, unknown woman, baby Mike, Velma, Bob (age 8), and Velma’s father, Steve Marley

Oct 20, 1954: Death of Myrtle Josephine (Alfieri) Marley (age 70), mother of Velma Henrietta (Marley) Sevenau, in San Francisco; heart attack, stroke

Feb 2, 1955, Death of Lucille Josephine [Jeanne Lucille] “Sissy” (Sevenau) Wiley (age 37), 3rd of 4 children of Ernest Edward Jules Sevenau & Edna Marguarite Clement/Kellogg and sister of Louis Dunand “Lou” Sevenau, in La Jolla, San Diego Co., California

1956: Lou and Velma Sevenau move from 28 Lapidge Street in the Mission Dolores District and purchase a two-story home at 2366 33rd Avenue above 19th Avenue in the Parkside District. They live there until Velma dies in 1979; Lou then sells 33rd and relocates to Santa Rosa in Sonoma Co., California. (the house was originally built in 1938; current photo of the property)

1956: Robert Kenneth “Bob” Sevenau (age 10), 2nd of 4 children of Louis Dunand “Lou” Sevenau & Velma Henrietta Marley:

1959: San Francisco City Directory (pg 1334):
Name: Louis D Sevenau
Gender: Male
Residence Year: 1959
Address: 2366 33rd Ave
Residence Place: San Francisco, California,
Occupation: City Policeman
Spouse: Velma H Sevenau
Publication Title San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1959
1959: U.S. City Directory, San Francisco, San Francisco Co., California
Name: Ernest Sevenau
Gender: Male
Residence Year: 1959
Street Address: 2b Balmy
Residence Place: San Francisco, California
Spouse: Margaret Sevenau
Publication Title San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1959

Note: Louis D. Sevenau is Lou Sevenau’s father
Stephen L. Sevenau is Lou & Velma’s oldest son

Apr 18, 1961: Death of Stephen Bernard Marley (age 80), father of Velma Henrietta (Marley) Sevenau, in San Francisco; heart attack, stroke

Apr 27, 1962: Louis Dunand Sevenau is promoted to Sergeant on the San Francisco Police Force

Dec 6, 1962: Sgt. Louis Sevenau at an accident on Haight Street (bending over, hands on knees):

Police Sgt. Louis Sevenau and Patrolman Richard Silva marking off the spot on Haight Street where a 7-year-old boy was hit by a bus.
Source: San Francisco History Center Public Library, San Francisco Historical Photograph Collection

circa 1963: Michael Gerard “Mike” Sevenau (abt age 9), St. Gabriel school photo and St. Gabriel baseball team), 4th of 4 children of Louis Dunand “Lou” Sevenau & Velma Henrietta Marley:

May 1964: The San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco, California (pg 122):

Jun 1964: Robert Kenneth “Bob” Sevenau (age 18): 2nd of 4 children of Louis Dunand “Lou” Sevenau & Velma Henrietta Marley; Archbishop Riordon High School graduation, San Francisco

Aug 8, 1964: Marriage of Stephen Louis “Steve” Sevenau & Irene McCartney, San Francisco, California
Note: Irene is the step-sister of Catherine (Clemens) Sevenau (daughter of Carl Clemens)

1965: At the age of 52, Lou joined Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), where he was a member for 20 years

Until he quit drinking, Lou had a violent temper and for years unleashed it on Velma. It never occurred to me why she wore her green wool coat in the house when it was summertime. I remember her in that coat. I remember her sleek ceramic black panthers on each side of the living room sofa. I remember her in the kitchen in her housedress, listening to the Giants game on the tabletop radio, chain-smoking unfiltered Luckys and doing a crossword puzzle. She rooted for the Giants. No self-respecting San Franciscan would ever root for any other baseball team: they hated the L.A. Dodgers. Lou was a crossword puzzle guy too. Later in life, he took up golf.

Velma may have been unable to stand up to Lou’s heavy-handedness, but she put her foot down when it came to his brother Ernie coming around. She considered Ernie nothing but trouble, especially with newspapers up and down the state chronicling his bad habit of petty theft and trail of forged checks. However, it may have been Lou’s job as a cop that kept Ernie at bay, as the police code frowned upon officers of the law fraternizing with felons. ~ Catherine Sevenau, daughter-in-law

Apr 1966: Sevenau sons Steve and Bob dressed in their navy and army uniforms at the family home:

During the Vietnam War era between 1964 and 1973, the U.S. military drafted 2.2 million American men out of an eligible pool of 27 million. During the Vietnam War, about two-thirds of American troops volunteered, the rest were selected for military service through the draft. In the beginning of the war, names of all American men of draft-age were collected by the Selective Service System. Lou pulled strings to keep Bob out of serving in Viet Nam and got him the U.S. Army Reserves for a four or five-year stint.

=========
Viet Nam War: The human costs of the long conflict were harsh for all involved. Not until 1995 did Vietnam release its official estimate of war dead:

• As many as 2 million civilians on both sides and some 1.1 million North Vietnamese and Viet Cong fighters.
• The U.S. military has estimated that between 200,000 and 250,000 South Vietnamese soldiers died in the war.
• In 1982 the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated in Washington, D.C., inscribed with the names of 57,939 members of U.S. armed forces who had died or were missing as a result of the war.
• Over the following years, additions to the list have brought the total past 58,200.

A mass exodus in 1975 of people loyal to the South Vietnamese cause was followed by another wave in 1978 of “boat people,” refugees fleeing the economic restructuring imposed by the communist regime. Meanwhile, the United States, its military demoralized and its civilian electorate deeply divided, began a process of coming to terms with defeat in what had been its longest and most controversial war. Finally in 1995, the two countries resumed formal diplomatic relations.
Source: https://vietnamembassy-pyongyang.org/how-many-vietnamese-died-in-the-vietnam-war/

==========

Bob’s Basic Training was at Fort Ord, Monterey Co., California. He joined the reserves in 1966, Co. B 2nd Bn 362 Regt 2d Bde (BCT) and was discharged as a PV2 USAR on Nov 28, 1971. His  job in the reserves was as a clerk/typist.

Oct 7, 1967: Marriage of Robert Kenneth “Bob” Sevenau & Catherine Frances “Cathy” Clemens, Holy Name Church, San Francisco, California
Note: Cathy is the step-sister of Irene (McCartney) Sevenau (daughter of Marie McCartney Clemens)

Feb 1, 1970: Louis Dunand Sevenau retires  from the SFPD (Sergeant, Company K, star/badge #786) after nearly 28 years of service

Source: City and County of San Francisco Police Department, Headquarters, Public Records Request

Mar 20, 1970: Death of Ernest Edward Jules Sevenau (age 78), father of Louis Dunand “Lou” Sevenau, in San Francisco, California

1971/72: Michael Gerard “Mike” Sevenau (age 17/18): Archbishop Riordon High School graduation, San Francisco; 4th of 4 children of Louis Dunand “Lou” Sevenau & Velma Henrietta Marley

May 31, 1975: Death of Robert Stephen Marley (age 51), 2nd of 2 children of Stephen Bernard Marley & Myrtle Josephine Beedle and brother of Velma Henrietta Sevenau, in San Francisco, California; alcohol related, complications from a seizure

May 4, 1976: Death of Ernest William “Ernie” Sevenau (age 60), 2nd of 4 children of Ernest Edward Jules Sevenau & Edna Marguarite Clement/Kellogg and brother of Louis Dunand “Lou” Sevenau, in Yountville, Napa Co., California

Nov 6, 1976: The Napa Valley Register, obituary newspaper index for Ernest William Sevenau:
Name: Ernest William Sevenau
Gender: Male
Death Age: 61
Birth Date: abt 1915
Birth Place: San Francisco
Residence Place: Yountville
Death Date: Abt 1976
Death Place: Yountville
Burial Place: San Mateo
Obituary Date: 6 Nov 1976
Obituary Place: Napa, California
Newspaper Title: The Napa Valley Register
Mother: Edna Blackman

May 25, 1979: Death of Velma Henrietta (Marley) Sevenau (age 60); while undergoing surgery after suffering a heart attack during dinner with friends at a restaurant in Sacramento, California. Lou and Velma’s home was on 33rd Avenue in San Francisco at the time.

May 25, 1979: California Death Index:
Name: Velma H Sevenau
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 7 Jul 1918
Birth Place: California
Death Date: 25 May 1979
Death Place: Sacramento

1979: Burial Card for Velma Henrietta (Marley) Sevenau:

May 29, 1979: Burial of Velma Henrietta (Marley) Sevenau, wife of Louis Dunand “Lou” Sevenau, in Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, St. Michael’s sec, row 21, grave 35, in Colma, San Mateo Co., California. Her 3rd child, Myrtle Ann Sevenau who died at birth on Jun 11, 1950, was reinterred with her.

Apr 19, 1980: Marriage of Louis Dunand “Lou” Sevenau & Marian Alicia Imelda (Curran) Mitchell, the 2nd marriage for both, in Santa Rosa, Sonoma Co., California. Marion and her 1st husband Tom Mitchell were friends with Lou and Velma in Camp Meeker on the Russian River. (photo taken Sep 18, 1986, Santa Rosa)

Apr 19, 1980: California Marriage Index:
Name: Louis D Sevenan (sic)
Gender: Male
Birth Year: abt 1914
Age: 66
Marriage Date: 19 Apr 1980
Marriage Place: Sonoma, California
Spouse Name: Marian A Curran
Spouse Age: 65

Dec 25, 1983: Death of Edna Marguarite Clement/Kellogg Sevenau Blackman (age 97), mother of Louis Dunand “Lou” Sevenau, in Sonoma, Sonoma Co., California

Jun 21, 1984: Death of Eugene Martin “Buddy” Sevenau (age 59), 4th of 4 children of Ernest Edward Jules Sevenau & Edna Marguarite Clement/Kellogg and brother of Louis Dunand “Lou” Sevenau, in Gainesville, Alachua Co., Florida

May 3, 1994: Death of Marian Alicia Imelda (Curran) Mitchell Sevenau (age 82), 2nd wife of Louis Dunand “Lou” Sevenau, in Santa Rosa, Sonoma Co., California; heart attack

May 1994: Burial of Marian Alicia Imelda (Curran) Mitchell Sevenau, Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery (Sec L2, Row 17, Grave 31), in Colma, San Mateo Co., California. Marian is buried with her 1st husband, Thomas Joseph Mitchell.

1996: U.S. City Directory, Sonoma Co., California:
Name: Louis D Sevenau
Birth Date: 10 Dec 1913
Address: 907 Adele Dr, Windsor, CA
Second Residence Date: 1996
Second Address: 907 Adele Dr, Windsor, CA
Third Residence Date: 1994
Third Address: 485 Jane Dr, Windsor, CA
Fourth Residence Date: 1994
Fourth Address: 485 Jane Dr, Windsor, CA

Last group photo of Lou Sevenau and his three sons, Bob, Mike, and Steve:

Aug 20, 1996: Death of Louis Dunand “Lou” Sevenau (age 82), 1st of 4 children of Ernest Edward Jules Sevenau & Edna Marguarite Clement/Kellogg, Windsor, Sonoma Co., California; of a stroke resulting in a coma and pneumonia

Aug 20, 1996: California Death Index:
Name: Louis Dunand Sevenau
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 13 Dec 1913
Birth Place: California
Death Date: 20 Aug 1996
Death Place: Sonoma
Mother’s Maiden Name: Blackman (note: Clement/Kellogg)

Aug 20, 1996: Social Security Claims Index:
Name: Louis Dunand Sevenau
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birth Date: 10 Dec 1913
Birth Place: San Francisco, California
Death Date: 20 Aug 1996
Father: Ernest J Sevenau
Mother: Edna M Kellogg
Notes: Nov 1936: Name listed as LOUIS DUNAND SEVENAU; 18 Sep 1996: Name listed as LOUIS D SEVENAU

Aug 22, 1996: The San Francisco Examiner (pg 15):

Aug 23, 1996: Burial of Louis Dunand “Lou” Sevenau (age 82), 1st of 4 children of Ernest Edward Jules Sevenau & Edna Marguarite Clement/Kellogg, in Holy Cross Cemetery (St. Michael’s sec, row 21, grave 35), along with his wife Velma and infant daughter, in Colma, San Mateo Co., California.

Lou’s funeral was small, six family members including his three sons, a few police officers standing at the back, and retired Police Chief Thomas Cahill whom Lou had served under for 30 years. After the funeral service at the San Francisco chapel, an honor guard of five mounted police on horseback and a large escort of uniformed motorcycle police slowly escorted the procession of two black limousines through the streets of San Francisco, reflecting honor and respect for Lou’s service and dedication to the force.

1996: Robert Kenneth “Bob” Sevenau, 2nd of 4 children of Louis Dunand “Lou” Sevenau & Velma Henrietta Marley:

1997: Michael Gerard “Mike” Sevenau, the youngest son of Louis & Velma Sevenau, writes and publishes a book on business sales: How to Beat the Sharks When the Water’s Polluted: Or How to Succeed in Sales When Your Product Stinks

“Filled with everyday sales tips that provides the right to push to invigorate anyone working in sales, but especially those whose job is to sell something that isn’t exactly perfect. Drawing from 25 years of in-the-trenches sales, Sevenau shares his vast knowledge with such tips as how to turn the competition’s strengths into weaknesses, how to use your own insecurity, and why sales reps should never take a lunch.”

Aug 3, 2014: Death of Stephen Louis “Steve” Sevenau (age 75), 1st of 4 children of Louis Dunand “Lou” Sevenau & Velma Henrietta Marley, in Reno, Washoe Co., Nevada; prostate and lung cancer; cardiac arrest in the hospital. Steve was a collector of knowledge and disposer of people. Diagnosed as bipolar, he was high on arrogance and low on empathy, blind to the fact that he alienated most everyone in the family. Not an iota of his hoarded intelligence could seep in to realign those circumstances.

Aug 31, 2014: Death of Michael Gerard “Mike” Sevenau (age 60), 4th of 4 children of Louis Dunand “Lou” Sevenau & Velma Henrietta Marley; perished in a fiery car crash as the result of a drunk driving accident three weeks after the death of his brother Steve. Mike had quit drinking, until that night.

Sep 4, 2014, Bay City News, Alamo, Contra Costa Co., California:
ALAMO — A man who died after he was trapped in a burning vehicle last weekend has been identified as an Alamo man.
The California Highway Patrol said 60-year-old Michael Sevenau died after the silver 2000 Jaguar he was driving went off the road, hit a tree and caught fire. The wreck happened just after 12:30 a.m. Sunday. An investigation showed the Jaguar was traveling east on Stone Valley Road and wound up in the west side of the road before colliding first with some mailboxes. The Jaguar then spun around, broke through a wooden fence and went down a dirt embankment before hitting the tree.
Police are still investigating whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash. Investigators have not yet determined if Sevenau suffered a medical issue while he was behind the wheel. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sep 4, 2014, Danville-San Ramon News, Contra Costa Co., California:
Authorities have identified the 60-year-old man who died in a fiery car crash in Alamo over the weekend.
Michael Sevenau of Alamo was killed in the one-car wreck reported around 12:30 a.m. Sunday on Stone Valley Road near Hidden Valley Road, according to the Contra Costa County Coroner’s Office and the California Highway Patrol.
The CHP responded to reports of a silver 2000 Jaguar that went off the road, hit several mailboxes, plowed through a wooden fence and into a tree and caught fire. The fire engulfed the car with Sevenau trapped inside, according to the CHP. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The CHP continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash and has not yet determined whether alcohol or drug intoxication was a factor. Confirmation of Sevenau’s cause of death is pending the results of toxicology tests, which could take another six to eight weeks to receive, according to the coroner’s office.

Jan 22, 2015, SFGATE, San Franciso, California:
The victim, 60-year-old Michael Sevenau of Alamo, had crashed while intoxicated and died of extensive burns, according to the Contra Costa County coroner’s office.

***************************

Stephen Bernard Marley & Myrtle Josephine Beedle Line (parents of Velma)

Stephen Bernard Marley
Son of Bernard Marley & Anna E. “Annie” Breen
Born: Jun 28, 1880, Turtle, Rock Co., Wisconsin
Died: Apr 18, 1961 (age 80), San Francisco, California; heart attack/stroke
Buried: Apr 20, 1961, Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma, San Mateo Co., California
Occupation: Tile setter, cribber, San Francisco Board of Public Works (started as laborer, promoted to head deputy)
Married: abt 1915, Myrtle Josephine Beedle, San Francisco, California
Two children: Velma Henrietta Marley, Robert Stephen Marley

Myrtle Josephine Alfieri
5th of 7 children of Joseph Alfred Alfieri & Adelaide Jane “Ada/Addie” Beedle
Born: Mar 29, 1884, Occidental, Sonoma Co., California (father born Italy, mother born California)
Died: Oct 20, 1954 (age 70) San Francisco, California; pneumonia (asthma), stroke
Buried: Oct 22, 1954, Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma, San Mateo Co., California
Early occupation: Dressmaker
Married: abt 1915, Stephen Bernard Marley, San Francisco, California
Two children: Velma Henrietta Marley, Robert Stephen Marley

1. Velma Henrietta Marley
Born: Jul 7, 1918, San Francisco, California
Died: May 25, 1979 (age 60), Sacramento, Sacramento Co., California; heart attack
Avocation: Catholic Church volunteer
Buried: May 29, 1979, Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma, San Mateo Co., San Francisco, California
Married: Mar 28, 1938, Louis Dunand “Lou” Sevenau, San Francisco, California
Four children: Stephen Louis Sevenau, Robert Kenneth Sevenau, Myrtle Ann Sevenau, Michael Gerard Sevenau

2. Robert Stephen “Bob” Marley
Born: Mar 28, 1924, San Francisco, California
Died: May 31, 1975 (age 51), Fort Miley Hospital, San Francisco, California; alcohol-related, complications from a seizure
Buried: Jun 3, 1975, Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma, San Mateo Co., California
Military: WWII, Sgt. in U.S. Army Air Force, served in England
Occupation: San Francisco Policeman (mounted police officer in Golden Gate Park)
Married: May 8, 1949, Emma Victoria Gaviglio, San Francisco, California
Two children: Robert Stephen Marley, Jeffrey James Marley

**************************

2009: A note from me to Mike Sevenau, my brother-in-law and youngest son of Lou & Velma:
Hi Mike,
Might you go to the cemetery and take a good picture of Ernest Sevenau’s headstone for me and get the name of the place as you go through the gate? Ernie could probably use a visit and a prayer from from someone in the family and as you are the only one who knows where he is buried, you’re nominated.

I have pictures coming from Pattie Barton. She has worked on this with me for many hours now, and last night her sister Donna filled in a number of missing pieces. The Sevenau family line has gone from two pages to fifteen. It’s looking good. Gerry and Kathleen Sevenau also emailed me two fabulous letters that I will add to the family tree. They both tell a lot about the family. They are looking for pictures too. Jeanne mailed me a photo of her with her dad. Looks like a Sevenau, which appear to be a handsome lot. Terrilyn Lannes (Estelle’s side) is also helping. The most interesting thing for me is trying to keep all this straight as my memory is going the way of dandelion dust.

I have had four phone conversations with Steve. He’s been very interested and quite nice to talk to (for a change). His prostate cancer has not metastasized so he’ll be here for a while. He also has some pictures for me. I emailed Bob (for the rest of you, my ex-husband, Mike’s brother; Steve is their oldest brother) with some questions but have not heard back. 

I thought this line would take a few hours. It looks more like a few weeks, and has been totally enjoyable and quite fun. I keep saying: “where did that wife come from??? Where did this kid come from??? Another husband??? Arrghh.” Edna went from three husbands to two and then back to three. She was married to a man old enough to be her father, a Union Civil War soldier. Then I figured out half her kids went by their step-father’s name rather than their birth name so I’m looking for family in all the wrong places.

I feel like I am getting to know these people. A likable, unreliable, good-natured, irresponsible, hard-working, flaky lot who all seemed to have gotten tangled with drink and drugs. The best part is we will have pictures of most of them.

Be well, Catherine 

2023. Researched and compiled by Catherine (Clemens) Sevenau, with the contributions of cousins, kin, and fellow researchers, especially to Robert Marley who provided many of the Marley photos and Steve Sevenau who sent me an envelope of the Sevenau snapshots.

Note: The cemetery headstone photos from Find A Grave contained herein are the property of those who photographed them.