Notable Births & Deaths for Petaluma ...

Below is our list of notable people who were born, died or were buried in the area surrounding Petaluma. Please note that while we are collecting data on an ongoing basis, it's a big task and it's unlikely that our list will ever be more than a sample.

• Eve Arden
  • Born: Eunice Mary Quedens
  • Oscar nominated actress. She was born in Mill Valley (CA) on April 30, 1908 (a Thursday) and died in Los Angeles (CA) on November 12, 1990 (a Monday) at the age of 82. She is buried at Westwood Memorial Park (Los Angeles County, California).
  • Mill Valley is located 23 miles [37 km] to the south of Petaluma.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Eve Arden<1>
• Luther A. Burbank
  • Botanist, horticulturist. He was born in Lancaster (MA) on March 7, 1849 (a Wednesday) and died in Santa Rosa (CA) on April 11, 1926 (a Sunday) at the age of 77.
  • Santa Rosa is located 14 miles [22.5 km] to the north of Petaluma.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Luther A. Burbank<1>
• Raymond Burr
  • Full name: Raymond William Stacey Burr
  • Actor. He was born in New Westminster (BC) on May 21, 1917 (a Monday) and died in Healdsburg (CA) on September 12, 1993 (a Sunday) at the age of 76. He is buried at Fraser Cemetery (British Columbia).
  • Healdsburg is located 29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest of Petaluma.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Raymond Burr<1>
• Frederick Herbert 'Fred' Carroll
  • Major League Baseball. He was born in Sacramento (CA) on July 2, 1864 (a Saturday) and died in San Rafael (CA) on November 7, 1904 (a Monday) at the age of 40. The body was cremated.
  • San Rafael is located 19 miles [30.6 km] to the south of Petaluma.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Frederick Herbert 'Fred' Carroll<1>
• George Duke
  • Musician. He was born in San Rafael (CA) on January 12, 1946 (a Saturday) and died in Los Angeles (CA) on August 5, 2013 (a Monday) at the age of 67. He is buried at Hollywood Hills Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Los Angeles County, California).
  • San Rafael is located 19 miles [30.6 km] to the south of Petaluma.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: George Duke<1>
• Arnold 'Chick' Gandil
  • Major League Baseball. He was born in Saint Paul (MN) on January 19, 1888 (a Thursday) and died in Calistoga (CA) on December 13, 1970 (a Sunday) at the age of 82. He is buried at St. Helena Public Cemetery (Napa County, California).
  • Calistoga is located 23 miles [37 km] to the north of Petaluma.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Arnold 'Chick' Gandil<1>
• Charles Arnold 'Chick' Gandil
  • Major League Baseball. He was born in Saint Paul (MN) on January 19, 1888 (a Thursday) and died in Calistoga (CA) on December 13, 1970 (a Sunday) at the age of 82. He is buried at St. Helena Public Cemetery (Napa County, California).
  • Calistoga is located 23 miles [37 km] to the north of Petaluma.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Charles Arnold 'Chick' Gandil<1>
• Eleanor A. Garatti
  • Olympic Gold Medalist of the United States Olympic Swimming Team of 1928 & 1932. She was born in Belvedere (CA) on July 12, 1909 (a Monday) and died in Walnut Creek (CA) on September 9, 1998 (a Wednesday) at the age of 89.
  • Belvedere is located 26 miles [41.8 km] to the south of Petaluma.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Eleanor A. Garatti<1>
• Charles 'Chick' Hafey
  • Major League Baseball. He was born in Berkeley (CA) on February 12, 1903 (a Thursday) and died in Calistoga (CA) on July 2, 1973 (a Monday) at the age of 70. He is buried at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery (Napa County, California).
  • Calistoga is located 23 miles [37 km] to the north of Petaluma.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Charles 'Chick' Hafey<1>
• Mary Hay Caldwell Hastings
  • Actress, dancer. She was born in Fort Bliss (TX) on August 22, 1901 (a Thursday) and died in Inverness (CA) on June 4, 1957 (a Tueday) at the age of 55. She is buried at Riverside Cemetery (Winnebago County, Wisconsin).
  • Inverness is located 15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest of Petaluma.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Mary Hay Caldwell Hastings<1>
• Robert Hunter
  • Lyricist, singer, songwriter, poet. He was born in Arroyo Grande (CA) on June 23, 1941 (a Monday) and died in San Rafael (CA) on September 23, 2019 (a Monday) at the age of 78. We don't have any burial details.
  • San Rafael is located 19 miles [30.6 km] to the south of Petaluma.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Robert Hunter<1>
• William 'Bud' Jamison
  • Actor. He was born in Vallejo (CA) on February 15, 1895 (a Friday) and died in Hollywood (CA) on September 30, 1944 (a Saturday) at the age of 49. He is buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery (Los Angeles County, California).
  • Vallejo is located 22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast of Petaluma.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: William 'Bud' Jamison<1>
• James Henry 'Jim' Landis
  • Major League Baseball. He was born in Fresno (CA) on March 9, 1934 (a Friday) and died in Napa (CA) on October 7, 2017 (a Saturday) at the age of 83. He is buried at Tulocay Cemetery (Napa County, California).
  • Napa is located 19 miles [30.6 km] to the east of Petaluma.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: James Henry 'Jim' Landis<1>
• Sacheen Littlefeather
  • Born: Marie Louise Cruz
  • Actress, model, activist. She was born in Salinas (CA) on November 14, 1946 (a Thursday) and died in Novato (CA) on October 2, 2022 (a Sunday) at the age of 75. She is buried at Otoe - Missouria Cemetery (Noble County, Oklahoma).
  • Novato is located 9 miles [14.5 km] to the south of Petaluma.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Sacheen Littlefeather<1>
• Dario Lodigiani
  • Major League Baseball. He was born in San Francisco (CA) on June 6, 1916 (a Tueday) and died in Napa (CA) on February 10, 2008 (a Sunday) at the age of 91. He is buried at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery (San Mateo County, California).
  • Napa is located 19 miles [30.6 km] to the east of Petaluma.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Dario Lodigiani<1>
• Earsell Mackbee
  • Professional football. He was born in Brookhaven (MS) on January 15, 1941 (a Wednesday) and died in Vallejo (CA) on November 9, 2009 (a Monday) at the age of 68. He is buried at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery (Solano County, California).
  • Vallejo is located 22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast of Petaluma.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Earsell Mackbee<1>
• John Walter 'Duster' Mails
  • Major League Baseball. He was born in San Quentin (CA) on October 1, 1894 (a Monday) and died in San Francisco (CA) on July 5, 1974 (a Friday) at the age of 79. He is buried at Mt. Olivet Cemetery (Marin County, California).
  • San Quentin is located 22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast of Petaluma.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: John Walter 'Duster' Mails<1>
• Jimmy McCracklin
  • Born: James David Walker, Jr.
  • Musician, composer. He was born in Saint Louis (MO) on August 13, 1921 (a Saturday) and died in San Pablo (CA) on December 20, 2012 (a Thursday) at the age of 91.
  • San Pablo is located 24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast of Petaluma.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Jimmy McCracklin<1>
• James D. 'Jim' McElroy
  • Major League Baseball. He was born in Napa (CA) on November 5, 1862 (a Wednesday) and died in Needles (CA) on July 24, 1889 (a Wednesday) at the age of 26. We don't have any burial details.
  • Napa is located 19 miles [30.6 km] to the east of Petaluma.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: James D. 'Jim' McElroy<1>
• Ronald C. 'Pigpen' McKernan
  • Musician. He was born in San Bruno (CA) on September 8, 1945 (a Saturday) and died in Corte Madera (CA) on March 8, 1973 (a Thursday) at the age of 27. He is buried at Alta Mesa Memorial Park (Santa Clara County, California).
  • Corte Madera is located 22 miles [35.4 km] to the south of Petaluma.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Ronald C. 'Pigpen' McKernan<1>
• Joseph Carl Oeschger
  • Major League Baseball. He was born in Chicago (IL) on May 24, 1892 (a Tueday) and died in Rohnert Park (CA) on July 28, 1986 (a Monday) at the age of 94. He is buried at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery (San Mateo County, California).
  • Rohnert Park is located 7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest of Petaluma.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Joseph Carl Oeschger<1>

Off-the-Road Links ...

The official website for Petaluma: www.cityofpetaluma.net/

The official website for Sonoma County: www.sonoma-county.org/

The official website for State of California: https://www.ca.gov/