Jacklyn (Sylva) Montero

JACKLYN (SYLVA) MONTERO Jackie, a long-time resident of San Leandro and more recently of Pleasanton, passed away on August 5th, 2025. A United Airlines “stewardess.” A medical secretary/office manager. A caring mother. A cancer survivor. Strong, tough, independent, not at all pretentious, and sassy later in life. Loved fast cars and men who flew fast planes. Married only five months, her first husband, Hal Trolle, was killed in action while flying a U.S. Navy jet fighter in the Korean War. Through Hersch Gott, husband #2, also a Korean War Navy jet fighter pilot, Jackie socialized with a tight-knit cadre of young Naval aviators, spouses, and widows, including squadron mate, Neil Armstrong. On a warm July 20th Bay Area night over 25 years later, her eyes were glued to the TV as Armstrong and Aldrin landed the Eagle at Tranquility Base. She was ecstatic. “Neil did it!” Jackie was devoted to John, her late husband of 55 years, a U.S. Army Korean War veteran, though she often aggravated him unmercifully. She loved family and friends: kids Nancy and Bob; step-sons Jeff (deceased), John and Joe; grandkids Joel, Aubree, Josh, Meghan, Katie and Liz; five great granddaughters; and Alva McHugh, her very best friend for 74 years. She loved the sun on her face, and was drawn to clouds in a blue sky, squirrels, the moon, and plants and trees in bloom she would excitedly point out to John from their Caddy’s passenger seat while he did his best to avoid contact with cars, bikes and pedestrians. Jackie loved San Leandro Marina sunsets, Dinah Washington, World War II era big band jazz, flocked Christmas trees, annual cross-country RV trips, the Santa Cruz boardwalk’s Giant Dipper since she was a small girl, wrist watches, costume jewelry, high tea at San Francisco’s Palace Hotel, and ice cream. And dang, that woman could dance! Many was the night she and John would “cut a rug” in the living room. A “bucket list” priority for years, she walked across the Golden Gate Bridge with Alva and family to celebrate her 80th birthday. 16 years later on the 5th of August, Jackie rounded third base at full stride and slid into home plate. “Safe!”

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