If the state of California was a person, its name would be Rod Diridon Sr., who will be remembered as the \u201cfather\u201d of Santa Clara County\u2019s modern transit system. He died Friday at age 87. Diridon succumbed to sepsis and an underlying cancer of the thorax. He had been hospitalized for more than two weeks, according to his wife, Gloria Duffy. \u201cAll his values about uplifting all groups in society had some deep roots in his own background,\u201d Duffy told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201cHe believed average people should be able to get to work. He believed people should have access…<\/p>\n