by Tahoe Daily Tribune | Jun 11, 2026 | Uncategorized
November 16, 1935 – March 9, 2026
Beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend. Survived by her two sons, Victor Khaled Zeid, (Pamela) and Richard Rashed Zeid, grandchildren, Alisha Harding (Ade), Melonie Ruvalcaba (Chuy) and great grandson Zion; Michael Spinola, her devoted and loving longtime partner of 35 years.
Maria, was the youngest of seven children. Born November 16, 1935, in the Bavarian village of Passau Germany where hard work was her hallmark.
A single mom with two boys and $65 in her pocket, she landed in America, took a job at Harveys Resort Casino, providing a living for her two sons.
Maria Zeid, full of grace, she was the epitome of resilience, strength, wisdom and generosity.
Maria retired at age 62 and loved all things Tahoe. She was an avid hiker of the Sierra Tahoe back trails, mountains and loved boating Tahoe’s clear blue waters.
Long live the memory of Maria Zeid, a legacy of love, generosity, compassion and dedication to her family. She will never be forgotten.
Maria was a member of Sierra Community Church and loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Her wishes are that no memorial services be held. The Zeid family appreciates all your thoughts and prayers.
by Tahoe Daily Tribune | Jun 11, 2026 | Uncategorized
April 18, 1958 – May 5, 2026
Mike Heil, 68, of Minden, Nevada, passed peacefully at his home on May 5, 2026. He was born on April 18, 1958, in Glendale, California.
An accomplished athlete, Mike starred as a football quarterback and flame-throwing left-handed pitcher at Foothill High School in Tustin, California. He played baseball for two years at Saddleback Junior College in Mission Viejo before earning a baseball scholarship to the University of Oregon in 1978. After graduating, he moved to South Lake Tahoe, where he lived for most of his adult life. He worked as a pit boss at Harrah’s for 18 years and later sold timeshares at The Ridge Tahoe and Walley’s Resort.
Mike was an avid skier, golfer, and fitness enthusiast who loved going to the gym. With his infectious smile, he was known as the happiest and most positive person in any room — always on time and never arriving empty-handed. His simple life philosophy was one he often shared: “Be good, be kind, be careful.” Above all, Mike loved his Oregon Ducks and took immense pride in being a Ducks alumnus.
Mike is survived by his father, Coach Bill Heil; his sister, Sue Rice, and her husband Jack; his brothers, John Heil and his wife Michelle, and Tommy Heil and his wife Stephanie; along with many loving nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his mother, Joan (Murray) Heil.
He will be deeply missed by his many good friends and all who knew him.
A celebration of life will be held in Minden, Nevada, at a date to be determined.
For more information please contact brianchene@yahoo.com
by Tahoe Daily Tribune | Jun 11, 2026 | Uncategorized
January 23, 1936 – March 1, 2026
After struggling with declining health for two years, Virginia Herman Thelin passed away at her home in South Lake Tahoe, California on March 1, 2026. She was 90 years old. In her youth, she earned a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from MIT and spent time in Türkiye, Poland, Finland and Greece. Virginia met and married her husband Mark Thelin, and spent many years living in Taiwan with him where they raised two sons, Carl and Eric who have survived her. In the 1980s she began working for the Fulbright Foundation, which she continued to do until her retirement in 1999. She and her husband left Taiwan, and earned master’s degrees in Archeology from Durham University in England. While there, Mark’s health declined, and the couple moved to Grinnell Iowa, where Mark passed away in 2014. Since then, Virgina became a resident of South Lake Tahoe, where she frequently spent several hours a day hiking with her dog.
She was co-author of The Good Life(1975), author of Taichung Harbor Area Land Use Survey(1978) and a master’s dissertation entitled “Were Burnt Mounds Derived from Prehistoric Copper Production Activities?”(2008). She was preceded in death by her brothers Fred Hermann Jr, and Robert Hermann. Donations may be made in her name to the Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine or the Southern Poverty Law Center.
A memorial service will be held at Hope Lutheran Church of the Sierra on Saturday June 20th, at 10am. (930 Julie Ln, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150)
by Tahoe Daily Tribune | Jun 11, 2026 | Uncategorized
January 31, 1958 – April 3, 2026
by Tahoe Daily Tribune | Jun 11, 2026 | Uncategorized
May 11, 1929 – May 31, 2026
Mae Rose died on May 31, 2026, in South Lake Tahoe, CA.
Mae Rose was born to Joseph and Mae (Lawrence) Morrison on May 11, 1929, near Bethlehem PA. She graduated from Bethlehem High School in 1947, and attended Moravian College until 1950 when she married Craig Kuentz, soon after he graduated from Lehigh. They lived in Pittsburgh PA and Montclair NJ before polio interrupted Craig’s professional career in 1953. They subsequently lived in North Plainfield, NJ for 42 years before moving to Manahawkin, NJ in 1995.
Mae Rose and Craig raised 4 children: David, Virginia, Howard, and Karen, who, except for Virginia who died in 2022 due to multiple sclerosis, survive her. They were married for 60 years until Craig died in 2010. They enjoyed traveling together all around the country and Canada, visiting friends and relatives and many national and state parks. After Craig died, Mae Rose and Karen traveled to Switzerland, Austria, Hawaii, Alaska, the Canadian Maritimes, and many locations in the southeastern and western US.
Mae Rose maintained an active life outside raising the kids and caring for Craig. She kept up gardens in both North Plainfield and Manahawkin, enjoyed cooking (interesting meals for the family, large-scale feasts for family gatherings, amazing variety of Christmas cookies and candy) sewing, knitting, and needlepoint. She volunteered at local hospitals, taught nursery school, played tennis and volleyball, enjoyed social outings with their many friends, and crashed toboggans on the hills of nearby golf courses. Mae Rose was a fan of dogs but not cats, and her favorite magazine was The New Yorker, which she continued to read even into 2026.
Mae Rose moved to South Lake Tahoe in 2021 to live with Karen, and although she always considered herself an East Coast girl, she greatly enjoyed Tahoe’s beaches, mountains, snow and low humidity.
