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Sidney Hersh Yateman
West Point, 1959
Be Thou At Peace
Posted by William L. Schwartz on February 15, 1999:
SID YATEMAN MEMORIAL:
Sid lived life to the fullest-professionally and socially-as a model career Army officer and later as a lawyer and real estate broker, He epitomized the Type A personality: active, on the go, moving from one project to the another , and doing them all extremely well. In fact classmates and associates who themselves were teased about leading hyper-active lives enjoyed being with Sid because he made them seem laid back in comparison.
By virtue of a prodigious work schedule, Sid managed to obtain a law degree an the same time that he was commanding the headquarters element at Ft. Ord-and did remarkably well at both tasks. Throughout his Army career, he was extremely well respected by superiors and subordinates alike. He also held the Ft. Ord homesteading record. Sid spent more time stationed at Ft. Ord than even the DA civilians.
Sid's energy level was like that of a t4en year old. When other of his contemporaries were content to sit at home surfing the cable channels, Sid was out with DeAnna learning the latest dances, or playing tennis, or jogging. And he brought exuberance and joy to even the simpler things of life. Watching Sid survey, and then attack, the buffet table at the Naval PG School Officers Club, or the Pebble Beach Country Club, was like observing the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill.
But despite the myriad of tasks he successfully tackled on a daily basis, he always had time for classmates and friends who needed his assistance or wise counsel. He genuinely cared about people. Sid also had an extraordinary sense of humor. He had the ability to not only laugh at his friend's jokes, but also to laugh at himself. Teasing Sid about trying to cram ten pounds of activity into a five pound sack always provoked a laugh or two. And despite his many achievements, he was also a humble man. Ed Burba, who frequently saw Sid and DeAnna when Ed commanded Ft. Ord, summed it up by saying that Sid was the kindest person he had ever met. Sid absolutely exuded warmth and concern for others. His presence lit up a room like the sun's rays streaming through a window.
The only creature that will not mis Sid will be the Pebble Beach raccoons. Sid declared war on the raccoon that were tearing up his property. But in a typical Sid way, instead of trying to do the little devils in, he trapped them and then transported to some out of the way destination. Of course they or their cousins always reappeared, but that did not dissuade Sid from continuing the battle. If nothing else, Sid was persistent. Even if his old station wagon should have had a sign saying "Raccoon Express."
Sid's classmate and many friends miss him tremendously. With his passing, the amount of love an caring in the world has been greatly diminished.
William L. Schwartz '59
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