Marillyn McCormick Vanderhoof passed away from a stroke on March 22, 2021 in Davis, CA. She had been struggling for many years following a lymphoma diagnosis and treatment. Aged 94, she lived a full life, always bringing her entire family together with her outgoing personality and big smile.
Born on November 20, 1926, in Oakland, CA to Herbert Hamilton McCormick and Eva Petersen McCormick, she grew up mostly in San Marino, CA after her father’s career in the insurance industry took the family to the Los Angeles area. Later, her father Herb McCormick became editor and publisher of the San Marino Tribune from 1943 to 1977. A highlight of her childhood was posing as “Pinkie” (from the famous painting in the Huntington Library) on the San Marino float in the 1940 Rose Parade.
Marillyn graduated from Occidental College in 1947 with a bachelor’s degree in education. She married her childhood sweetheart (the boy next door) Richard (Dick) Scovell Vanderhoof on July 10, 1947. They remained married until Dick’s passing on December 4, 2013. Early married life took them to San Francisco, El Paso, TX and San Diego as Dick’s career, a medical doctor in the Navy, required. With the end of the Korean War, Marillyn and Dick settled in San Gabriel and then San Marino as Dick entered a surgical residency at L.A. County/USC hospital. They continued to reside in San Marino until 1991 when they relocated to Alamitos Bay in Long Beach, CA.
Marillyn was active in many organizations: San Marino Community Church, the Pasadena Assistance League, P.E.O. and the Occidental Alumni Association. She enjoyed playing tennis into her 80s; and she kept many close friendships with neighbors, childhood friends, and a special social group known as The Bridge Club. Marillyn was loved by many and will be greatly missed by all who knew her. The many cards, emails and flowers have been greatly appreciated by her family.
She is survived by 4 of her 5 children: Jane Vanderhoof(Peter), Mark Vanderhoof(Janet), Mary Vanderhoof(Ralph Headrick) and Karen Ward(Terry). She was pre-deceased by her daughter Linda O’Neill(Tim). She is also survived by 10 of her 11 grandchildren: Tyler Norton, Nathan McBane, Shaun Cornell, Ruth Vanderhoof Kassabian, Andrew Cornell, Kristine Vanderhoof, David Applbaum, Jenny Ward, Melissa Ward and Mark Ward. She was pre-deceased by her grandson, Richard Sterling Norton. Marillyn is also survived by her seven great-grandchildren, and nieces & nephews.
A family gathering (on Zoom due to Covid!) was a blessing to all. Later this summer, the family plans to place Marillyn and Dick’s co-mingled ashes together in the family plot at the San Gabriel Cemetery.
