Search for celebrities on Ancestry.com!Jane Phipers
Portola Valley resident
Jane Phipers, a 57-year resident of Portola Valley, died Tuesday, March 10, at Stanford Hospital. She was 82 years old.
Born in Gilroy, she received a bachelor's degree in physical education and her teaching credentials from San Jose State University. She was an elementary school teacher prior to her retirement -- having taught at Portola Valley's Little Red Schoolhouse, among other schools -- and remained an avid golfer who was active in many community and charitable causes.
She is survived by a son, Todd of Denver; a granddaughter, Lisa Haworth of Portola Valley; a grandson, Nick Phipers of Denver; a great-grandson, Austin Haworth of Portola Valley; two brothers, Tom Phipers of Colorado and Bill Phipers of Gilroy; and a sister, Charlene Hunter of Gilroy.
A memorial service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, March 22, at the Saratoga Country Club, 21990 Prospect Road, Saratoga.
Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 748 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park, CA 94025.
Lucille Kraemer
Religious of Sacred Heart
Sister Lucille Kraemer, a Religious of the Sacred Heart, who devoted her life to teaching, died March 11 at Oakwood Retirement Home on the Sacred Heart campus in Atherton. She was 76.
During her years as a teacher, she taught at Kalunga Girls School in Uganda, the University of San Diego, Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Seattle, and Sacred Heart Schools in Menlo Park.
She had lived at Oakwood since 1982 where she continued her teaching as a volunteer tutor. "She gave valued service to the Oakwood community and to the many associated with her," says Sister Catherine Baxter, director of Oakwood.
Sister Kraemer is survived by her sisters, Sister Maxine Kraemer, Religious of the Sacred Heart, San Diego; Evelyn Kraemer Francuz, Fullerton; and Angel Kraemer Kleinbub, La Jolla.
Friends are invited to a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 20, at Oakwood and to the Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Kraemer at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 21, at Oakwood. Memorial donations may be made to the Religious of the Sacred Heart, Oakwood, 140 Valparaiso Ave., Atherton 94027.
Aileen Whitson
Founder, Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra
A service to honor Aileen McCarty Whitson will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 18, at the Roller Hapgood Tinney Funeral Home, 980 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto. A 12-year resident of Menlo Park, Mrs. Whitson died on March 15 at Lytton Gardens in Palo Alto. She was 91 years old.
Born in Longmont, Colo., Mrs. Whitson marriage Thomas Tedworth (Ted) Whitson in 1923. In 1948, after a merchandising career that enabled the couple to travel throughout the Northwest, they purchased "The Drapery Shop" in Palo Alto. The store was later renamed "Whitson's Draperies" and was moved to two other locations on University Avenue. After her husband's death in 1964, Aileen Whitson continued the business until selling it in 1972.
Mrs. Whitson participated in many area philanthropic activities, including the Allied Arts Guild, the Cosmopolitan Club, and the Episcopal Church of Women. A descendant of seven Revolutionary War patriots, she was a member of the Faxon D. Atherton Chapter as well as El Palo Alto Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and served as regent of each.
She was one of the founders of the California Youth Symphony in 1953 and, in 1966, the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra.
Mrs. Whitson is survived by a daughter, Jo Ann Cuddy of Bristol, Tenn; two sons, Thomas Clinton Whitson of Sonoma County and William Michael Whitson of Palo Alto; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra, 723 Matadero Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94306.
Donnette Magoon
Native of Hawaii
A memorial service will be held between 2 and 4 p.m. Saturday, March 21, at her home, 1941 Oakdell Drive, Menlo Park, for Donnette Lee Magoon, who died March 9 after a brief illness. She was 69.
Mrs. Magoon was born in Honolulu and graduated from the University of Hawaii. She marriage Orville Magoon in Hawaii and moved first to Palo Alto, then to Menlo Park, where she resided for 35 years. The Magoons were divorced and Mr. Magoon now resides in Middleton, Calif.
Mrs. Magoon enjoyed doing arts and crafts projects and photography. She is survived by five children: Melissa Hall of Los Gatos; Michael Magoon of Boise, Idaho; Marshall Magoon of Alameda; Matthew Magoon of Orlando, Fla.; and Mary Magoon of Anaheim; and one grandson.
Edith Barrette
Woodside resident
Edith Barrette, age 64, died at home on March 10.
A native of Austria and resident of Woodside, she was a volunteer in a number of community organizations, including Friends of Filoli, Peninsula Volunteers, and Woodside town committees.
She was an avid gardener and member of gardening organizations including Woodside Hills Garden Club, California Garden Clubs Inc., the American Rhododendron Society, Santa Cruz Arboretum, and Strybing Arboretum.
A founding member of the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, she was also a member of the Committee for Art at Stanford University and a volunteer for International Studies English-in-Action, also at Stanford.
She is survived by her husband, Dr. William Charles Barrette, of Woodside; a son, William Charles Barrette Jr.; a daughter, Dr. Carol Ann Barrette of Webster, MA; and daughter-in-law, Deborah Jane Barrette.
Services were held at Redwood Chapel in Redwood City followed by Burial at Skylawn Memorial Park. Donations may be made to Friends of Filoli, c/o D. Carlson, Canada Road, Woodside.
Dr. John E. Hoff
Atherton obstetrician
Dr. John E. Hoff died at his Atherton home on March 6. He was 72 years old.
A 35-year resident of Atherton, Dr. Hoff was born in Missouri. In his more than 40 years of practice as an obstetrician and gynecologist at Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City, he delivered more than 10,000 babies. He created a well-known birthing film, which has been shown in schools across the country, and was a pioneer in supporting the presence of fathers during childbirth at Sequoia Hospital.
Dr. Hoff bred six generations of champion Doberman Pinschers. He was also a practitioner of Reiki and T'ai Chi.
He is survived by his mother, Marie Hoff; his wife of 46 years, Shirley Hoff; their six children, Dr. John Hoff, Dr. Michael P. Hoff, Dr. Gary A. Hoff, Dr. Martin J. Hoff, Linda M. Hoff, and Charles C. Hoff; 10 grandchildren; and seven siblings.
A funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Pius Catholic Church in Redwood City. Memorial contributions may be made to the John E. Hoff Memorial Fund, c/o Sequoia Hospital, 170 Alameda de las Pulgas, Redwood City, CA 94062.
Leon Everhart
Aerospace engineer
Leon Percival Everhart of Menlo Park, who worked for Lockheed as an aerospace engineer from 1938 until retiring in his 70s, died March 4 at University Branch Convalescent Hospital. He was 82.
Born in Illinois, Mr. Everhart grew up in Pasadena where he was a gymnast in his youth. He went to work for Lockheed in 1938, the same year he and his wife, Barbara were married. The family moved to Menlo Park in 1958 when Mr. Everhart came to Northern California to work at Lockheed's Sunnyvale facility.
Mr. Everhart enjoyed working on cars and was a fan of the Sunday television talk shows on current affairs.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara; daughters, Libby Varty of Los Altos and Sally Calderon of Los Altos Hills; son, Chuck Everhart of Ben Lomond; sister, Blanche Marshall of Arkansas; seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Private services were held under the direction of the Los Altos Chapel of Spangler Mortuaries. The family prefers donations to a charity of the donor's choice.
Kathryn Moore
Peninsula Volunteer
Kathryn Moore, a 54-year resident of Atherton, died at home on March 9. She was 74.
Born in San Francisco, Mrs. Moore attended Lowell High School and UCLA. A longtime member of Peninsula Volunteers, she was active in community affairs. She was also a member of the Menlo Circus Club and the Olympic Club.
She is survived by her husband, William G. Moore of Atherton; a daughter, Cheryl Jones of Mill Valley; a sister, Gloria Kennett of Atherton; a brother, Joseph Greenbach of Atherton; and grandchildren Rachel Moore of Atascadero, Cache and Ryan Jones of Mill Valley, and Fletcher Hill Moore of Palo Alto.
Private family services were held March 12. Donations may be sent to the American Cancer Society, 1720 S. Amphlett Blvd., Suite 120, San Mateo, CA 94402, or to Peninsula Volunteers, 800 Middle Ave., Menlo Park, CA 94025.
LaVerne Cox
Environmentalist
LaVerne Cox, a resident of Woodside for 49 years, died at home March 1, surrounded by her family. She was 79.
A gathering of family and friends will be held in her memory on Saturday, March 21, at 1 p.m. at Independence Hall in Woodside.
A native of Berkeley, Mrs. Cox was graduated from the University of California at Berkeley. Active in the Democratic Party at local, state and national levels, she worked for many causes, including environmental concerns, Planned Parenthood, and Habitat for Humanity. She was a member of several sports car clubs, and was a regular attendant and supporter of the San Francisco Opera, ballet and symphony.
Maintaining the rural nature of Woodside was one of Mrs. Cox's causes. While her daughters were growing up, she was a member of the Woodside PTA, a room mother for each daughter, a Brownie and Girl Scout leader, a Pilgrim Fellowship leader, and a supporter of the Woodside Junior Riders.
Traveling overseas with her husband, Keith Cox, she lived in Nigeria for three years, where she volunteered and assisted in developing a United States Agency for International Development's nutrition program for Nigerian women and their babies. There she also began a collection of African art.
Her husband's next assignment with the United Nations was four years on the Island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. There she spearheaded and developed a cottage industry teaching local women to make baby clothes to sell to tourists. The couple also spent four years in the Sultinate of Oman, where she assisted her husband in a fisheries development program for the Omani government.
After traveling around the world and returning to Woodside in 1984, she often said that Woodside was the most beautiful place of all to live.
Mrs. Cox is survived by her husband Keith Cox; daughters Carolyn Cox-McNamara of San Rafael, Kathleen Barnes of Menlo Park, Christy Galea of South San Francisco, and Connie Ghiglieri of Flagstaff, Ariz.; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Memorials in her name may be made to Planned Parenthood, 2211 Palm Ave., San Mateo, 94403; Habitat for Humanity, 1010 Doyle, Menlo Park, 94025; Sierra Club, Loma Prieta chapter, 3921 E. Bayshore, Suite 204, Palo Alto, 94303; or Semperevirons Fund, Drawer BE, Los Altos, 94023.
Virginia Sobraske
Menlo Park planning commissioner
Mary Virginia Sobraske, who lived in Menlo Park for 27 years, died at her Sharon Heights home in Menlo Park on March l. She was 66.
An "army brat" whose father was a career officer, Mrs. Sobraske lived all over the United States and attended high school in Singapore. She met her husband, Bob, at Ft. Benning, Ga., where her father was posted and Bob was stationed. After their marriage, the Sobraskes moved to England for two years while Bob was in the service. They lived in Southern California before moving to Menlo Park.
Mrs. Sobraske co-founded and was president of the San Mateo Coast Natural History Association, which supports the state parks and reserves along the coast of San Mateo County. She served as a docent at Ano Nuevo State Reserve for over 10 years, and was vitally interested in nature, including bird watching. She also served as a docent at Filoli and was an enthusiastic photographer.
Mrs. Sobraske graduated from the Interior Design program at Canada College. After working in a design showroom in the Galleria in San Francisco, in 1981 she joined Selby House Ltd. in Menlo Park, working there for several years.
Mrs. Sobraske was a member of the Bellarmine Mothers' Club and an active member of St. Denis Catholic Church for 25 years, at one time serving as president of St. Denis Women's Guild. She was a member of the Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club.
Mrs. Sobraske served on the Menlo Park Planning Commission until illness forced her resignation last year.
She is survived by her husband, Bob Sobraske; sons John L. Sobraske of Rochester, N.Y., and William E. Sobraske of Grass Valley, Calif.; a brother, John Childs of the state of Washington; and three grandchildren.
A memorial Mass was held March 6 at St. Denis Catholic Church, Menlo Park.
Memorials may be made to the San Mateo Coast Natural History Association, c/o Ano Nuevo State Reserve, Pescadero, CA 94060.
Winifred Jones Byrne
Woodside resident for 46 years
Winifred Jones Byrne, a resident of Woodside since 1952, died Feb. 12 at Stanford University Hospital. She was 96.
Born in Hackerstown, Ireland, she was trained as a nurse and relocated to Rio de Janeiro in response to a World War II nursing shortage. There she met her husband, Jack Byrne, and moved with him to Woodside Glens when he was transferred to San Francisco's Pan American Airlines office.
She subsequently practiced as a nurse at Mills Hospital in San Mateo, as well as in private care. She was a longtime volunteer at the Woodside Village Church, where a memorial was held in celebration of her life.
Dr. Jacques M. Chiller
Portola Valley immunology expert
Dr. Jacques M. Chiller, a Portola Valley resident, died Feb. 28 in San Francisco. He was 61.
A native of France, Dr. Chiller came to the United States when he was 11. Subsequently he obtained three degrees, all from the University of Washington, all in microbiology, and all under the mentorship of Dr. Russell Weiser.
He pursued immunological work at the National Jewish Hospital and Research Center in Denver and at the Scripps Clinic Reserve Institute in La Jolla, having conducted pioneering research in understanding how immune systems distinguish among their own cells and foreign ones, resulting in autoimmune diseases such as lupus and multiple sclerosis.
Later, as president and chief executive of DNAX, an immunology laboratory in Palo Alto, Dr. Chiller guided a staff of doctors and researchers and helped them create drugs to battle these diseases.
He is survived by his wife, Ann Chiller of Portola Valley; his sons Tom Chiller of Dallas and David Chiller of Corvallis, Ore.; and his mother, Helene Chiller of La Jolla.
Private services have been held. Donations may be made to the Jacques M. Chiller Memorial Scholarship, c/o Medical Affairs Development, Box 348220, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash. 98195.
Howard Clarke Goodell
Anthony Schools founder
Howard Clarke Goodell, who founded Anthony Schools of San Francisco Peninsula, a real estate and contracting training school, died Feb. 21, at University Convalescent Hospital in Menlo Park. He was 79.
Born in Jefferson County, W.Va., Mr. Goodell graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1941. He piloted a B-25 in China during World War II, and rose to lieutenant colonel during 21 years of military service.
Col. Goodell earned a master's degree in aeronautical engineering from Cal Tech, Pasadena, in 1951. His career in aerospace stretched from the beginnings of supersonic flight to the Apollo moon landing.
In 1965 he left aerospace and founded Anthony Schools of the San Francisco Peninsula in Menlo Park (now in Foster City).
Mr. Goodell is survived by his wife, Nancy K. Goodell; sons Howard C. Goodell Jr. of Salem, N.H., and James M. Goodell of Palo Alto; daughter Katherine L. Goodell of Menlo Park; and two grandsons.
A memorial service was held March 9 at First Baptist Church in Los Altos. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to MAP International, P.O. Box 215000, Brunswick, GA 31521-5000.
Ellen Jane Flora
66-year resident of Menlo Park
Ellen Jane Flora died on March 21 at Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City at the age of 97.
Born in Conemaugh, Pa., Mrs. Flora moved to Menlo Park in 1932. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Menlo Park, a circle member of both the Menlo Park Presbyterian and the First Baptist Churches, and a supporter of Mt. Hermon and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Associations.
Mrs. Flora served 2,078 volunteer hours as a member of the Stanford Auxiliary from 1971 through 1983.
Her husband, The Rev. Earl S. Flora, predeceased her.
She is survived by her daughters, Louise Triano of Salinas and Evelyn Jorgensen of Redwood City; nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
Services were held at Spangler Mortuaries, 650 Live Oak Ave., in Menlo Park. Donations may be made to the First Baptist Church of Menlo Park, 1100 Middle Ave., Menlo Park, CA 94025, or to a charity of the donor's choice.
