Myrl Brenkwitz passed away on April 17th, with her family at her side. She was 89 years old and a lifelong resident of Santa Cruz.

Myrl was born in a little house on Mission Hill next to Holy Cross Church when life in Santa Cruz was much simpler. Her parents, Albert and Mona Pori, came to Santa Cruz to start their family. Albert owned the “New Model Shoe Shop” on the Pacific Garden Mall, and Mona ran their apartment building on 2nd Avenue.

As a young girl, Myrl spent many summers at the Boardwalk and helping her parents with their businesses. She was an active flutist and pianist as all the Pori children were expected to be musical. Her father, Albert, was the First Chair violinist for the SC Symphony. While at school Myrl loved to play basketball.

Myrl went on to study music at San Jose State for two years before she met Jim. They married in 1959 and started their family shortly thereafter. Jim worked at the AK Salz Tannery in town as a color matcher/chemist for leather.

Myrl worked for Levi Strauss & Co., County Bank, and various other businesses in Santa Cruz, but her real work and passion was helping raise her grandchildren and meeting her great grandchildren as well as spending time in the garden tending to living things.

Myrl leaves behind her children Mark Brenkwitz and Brett Brenkwitz, both of Santa Cruz, as well as three grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Brenkwitz, of Santa Cruz in 1994, as well as her three sisters.